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The Competition

Posted By: Randy GageFebruary 24, 2009

So I was out doing my cardio when a young guy ran past me.  I figured he was a lot younger than me, so he should be running faster.   Then a big guy lumbered past, but obviously he needed to run harder, because he was fat and had weight to lose.  Then an old guy passed me up, but I figured at his age, he needed the extra exercise.   (Okay, so I’m validating my laziness.  I hate cardio.)

As you’ve probably deduced, I jog pretty slowly.  More like a fast walk.  Until I get close to back home, where I sprint to the end.  The point is this:  I am not competing with any of those others joggers.  I have my routine to burn fat, exercise my heart, and keep me in shape for softball.  The only competition I have is myself.

How about you...

Life is not a competition to see who is better, smarter, richer or more successful than you.  So stop beating yourself up.  There will always be someone prettier, richer, or thinner.   It’s about you being the best you that you can be.  Becoming what you are capable of becoming.

The only competition is with who you want to be.   And that’s a competition you can win every time.

-RG

14 comments on “The Competition”

  1. Thanks for validating the purpose of exercise or anything else for that matter. My kids make fun of me because I'm not passing people when I go out for my run's (well, slow jogs) as well. I'm like you, not competing w/ others, just myself to stay in shape, burn fat and exercise my heart. Great post!

  2. Randy, glad I stumbled across you on twitter last week. I've always really enjoyed your writing and insights into life. Glad to tap back into it.

    FYI, last month gave my 17 yr old niece one of your Vision Boards for her birthday! Excited to see how she applies it.

    Kevin Wilke
    Start Your Online Business
    http://www.NitroBlueprint.com

  3. Great post. This is why I took up powerlifting. Its just you and the bar. What your opponent does is out of your hands. Once I really grasped this and took up Aikido to complement the brutal regime of powerlifting, I found myself having much more fun and learning much faster then in the past, when I would have compared myself to the much better students and got caught up in my emotions of self worth. Now I smile all the time, even when a 14 year old girl throws me across the room!

  4. Randy

    I was waiting for the punchline, when I got a punch in the chest.
    I understand validating what I do. Now I realize I need to put more validation into who I want to be.

    Very introspective post, Thank you for it.

    Gary McElwain

  5. Randy, you are a true Teacher!

    Reminds me of Thoreau's quote: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

    Lowell

  6. So true. Makes me feel guilty that I've not been running lately though.

    I have such a love/hate relationship with the whole thing!

    It's alright when you're in flow with it but if you stop for a while....well.. Any thoughts from you regular runners?

    Rachel

  7. Im the same as you Randy, I jog slowly and when Im on the treadmill and people next to me are cranking up the pace I feel guilty and lazy.
    Its as though I should be going as fast as them and its hard not to get sucked into other peoples way of doing things.

    What Im doing works for me, I`ve managed to lose weight by doing things my way, others may have lost weight alot quicker by their methods but I know if I try and emulate their path I end up failing.

    Im so glad that you wrote this post Randy it makes me feel as though Im not alone in what Im doing and I dont have to follows others.

    Of course I am being lazy and I should increase intensity of my exercise but I`ll do it my way and when I`m ready not according to the person next to me.

    Have a Great Day everyone!

  8. Randy,

    Great post. It's great to know even somebody like you you teaches/advises on prosperity and living life to the full has thoughts like these, even if you only real competition is actually with yourself.

    Phew

    Happy Travels

    A

  9. Great thought provoking post Randy. Having just moved house and still unpacking and sorting, I'm getting enough exercise just doing that. Haven't been to dance class since Xmas, but have been for long walks along the coastal path @ weekends when we've had the time. I do what I want to do, when I want to do it. I'll be 50 this year and I'm still slim and fairly fit. Must be my age, but I am way past punishing myself by pushing so hard on anything. I've realised that your greatest competition is yourself, so take your foot off the pedal and have some fun.

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  • 14 comments on “The Competition”

    1. Thanks for validating the purpose of exercise or anything else for that matter. My kids make fun of me because I'm not passing people when I go out for my run's (well, slow jogs) as well. I'm like you, not competing w/ others, just myself to stay in shape, burn fat and exercise my heart. Great post!

    2. Randy, glad I stumbled across you on twitter last week. I've always really enjoyed your writing and insights into life. Glad to tap back into it.

      FYI, last month gave my 17 yr old niece one of your Vision Boards for her birthday! Excited to see how she applies it.

      Kevin Wilke
      Start Your Online Business
      http://www.NitroBlueprint.com

    3. Great post. This is why I took up powerlifting. Its just you and the bar. What your opponent does is out of your hands. Once I really grasped this and took up Aikido to complement the brutal regime of powerlifting, I found myself having much more fun and learning much faster then in the past, when I would have compared myself to the much better students and got caught up in my emotions of self worth. Now I smile all the time, even when a 14 year old girl throws me across the room!

    4. Randy

      I was waiting for the punchline, when I got a punch in the chest.
      I understand validating what I do. Now I realize I need to put more validation into who I want to be.

      Very introspective post, Thank you for it.

      Gary McElwain

    5. Randy, you are a true Teacher!

      Reminds me of Thoreau's quote: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

      Lowell

    6. So true. Makes me feel guilty that I've not been running lately though.

      I have such a love/hate relationship with the whole thing!

      It's alright when you're in flow with it but if you stop for a while....well.. Any thoughts from you regular runners?

      Rachel

    7. Im the same as you Randy, I jog slowly and when Im on the treadmill and people next to me are cranking up the pace I feel guilty and lazy.
      Its as though I should be going as fast as them and its hard not to get sucked into other peoples way of doing things.

      What Im doing works for me, I`ve managed to lose weight by doing things my way, others may have lost weight alot quicker by their methods but I know if I try and emulate their path I end up failing.

      Im so glad that you wrote this post Randy it makes me feel as though Im not alone in what Im doing and I dont have to follows others.

      Of course I am being lazy and I should increase intensity of my exercise but I`ll do it my way and when I`m ready not according to the person next to me.

      Have a Great Day everyone!

    8. Randy,

      Great post. It's great to know even somebody like you you teaches/advises on prosperity and living life to the full has thoughts like these, even if you only real competition is actually with yourself.

      Phew

      Happy Travels

      A

    9. Great thought provoking post Randy. Having just moved house and still unpacking and sorting, I'm getting enough exercise just doing that. Haven't been to dance class since Xmas, but have been for long walks along the coastal path @ weekends when we've had the time. I do what I want to do, when I want to do it. I'll be 50 this year and I'm still slim and fairly fit. Must be my age, but I am way past punishing myself by pushing so hard on anything. I've realised that your greatest competition is yourself, so take your foot off the pedal and have some fun.

    Leave a Reply to ari Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


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