Better Than You Were Yesterday

Just over a week ago, I posted this on Facebook:

"It's not about being better than someone else, it is about being better than you were the day before." -Unknown

I have been thinking about that statement since then.  I had this to post while I was out for my usual Sunday morning run and didn't think anything about it again until that night.  I had been trying to get some inspiration for what I was going to write here last week but I just didn't get any.  Most of the time my ideas come while I'm running.  I didn't come up with anything, so I didn't write anything last week. I could have but it would have been rushed and I wanted it to be good.

Now back to the statement above.  I did think about the statement a lot over the last week and realized that it can apply to any part of your life, not just running.  We train over a period of time to help us to be our best on race day.  During that time, we do become better than we were the day before.  We strive to go farther and/or faster.  The greatest thing about running is that we don't have to compete with anyone.  It's a competition against ourself.

I've been listening to a podcast by a guy named Andy Andrews.  I've also read a couple of his books.  He put things in a way that make you want to be better.  The name of the podcast is "In the Loop".  One of the podcast was about his father dying when he was 19 years old.  He talks about how he didn't know much about his dad.  What he liked, what kind of books he liked and thing such as that.  If you can, listen to some of the podcast and you will be better.  Be sure to go here and listen to him singing "Amazing Grace".  You will laugh out loud.

Over the last few months, I have made many new friends out on Highway 350 and I can tell you that they are all about being better than they were the day before.  They are a great group of people.  Most can run faster than I can they still tell me, "Good job!" when I come dragging in after a 12 miler and they past me three miles back.  It makes you feel good!

My first run out on 350 was back on June 2nd and Jeff where there with me every step of the way of that half marathon distance.  I've told a few people this, including him, but I want to put it in this post.  If it hadn't been for Jeff getting out there with me, letting me slow him down, and giving me all of the encouragement, I don't think I would have progressed as much as I did during the summer.  Thanks, Jeff!

I've still been busy getting my miles in that last couple of weeks and have even had the opportunity to "pay it forward".  I ended week before last with just over 30 miles (my best ever) and last week only got in 19.8 because I only got to run two days.  On Saturday, Jamy and I just met downtown and headed out.  I decided to not get up early and just do my last three miles solo instead of the first three.  My run ended up being just ten but it was all good.

Last Sunday, my running buddy, Jamy, brought along Christina.  She has been running about nine weeks and she came along to run the Coke route with us.  I got an early start and had already ran almost 4 miles before I met them on the course.  By the time we got back downtown, Christina had ran her farthest distance.  It was a great run all in all.  Slowing down help her and me too.  I needed to slow my pace to recover from my run on Saturday.

That's going to do me for this week.  I have a 5K coming up this weekend so will tell you all about it next week.