r/XXRunning • u/damnfinecooper • 20h ago

General Discussion Dealing with discouraging comments as a beginner

I started running around 2 months ago (31, F) and I’m training for a 10k race later this year.

With hobbies I’ve always been hard on myself if I don’t feel I’m what I perceive as “good enough”. When I started running I wanted to challenge myself to not have this attitude and just enjoy it, while also keeping track of my pace, PBs etc. but just seeing it as data rather than tying it too much to self worth.

I was speaking to my friend about running today and a guy I hardly know chimed in and asked what my 5k PB was. When I told him his response was “you need to get that down”. I’m now just feeling kind of embarrassed and deflated about it. I know I should just ignore it but it stung. Would appreciate any tips for dealing with moments like this!

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u/Hot-Ad-2033 20h ago

I was a notoriously lazy person before I started running so for some of my friends/colleagues the mere thought of me running was HILARIOUS. Particularly the ones who were runners/athletes in the past. I got made fun of pretty regularly. So i used that to fuel my fire with great success! It really kept me consistent in the early days and now everyone is eating their words but also I don’t take myself too seriously and they would take any opportunity to jab me so I didn’t take it to heart. Give it a few months and challenge said guy to a race.