Accepting Reality…….and yes, that’s me. 😃

As the cold weather has well and truly arrived in my region, I have retreated into the indoor comfort of the gym. I have never been a huge fan of gyms, preferring the open road, although the warmer environment is growing on me. One aspect of treadmill running is the degree to which you can manipulate the profile of your run and the computer then presents various performance data back on the screen. I have found this to provide many positives and one inescapable negative.

I usually exercise for an hour, sometimes more but not less. Today, at the end of 60 minutes the screen announced 60 minutes – 6km – 5% incline….and, for some reason, 500 calories. At first, I thought that was fair enough as I wiped down the machine but then my mind wandered. 6km in an hour,,,,,I used to run 42km marathons as a youngster. Today, that would’ve taken me 7 hours!!!! And only IF, I could maintain that pace for 7 hours!! I was shattered.

Marathons weren’t my forte and I only ran a handful but from memory my best time was around 3:30 – half of my current pace over 60 minutes. I began to rationalise my situation. I’m nearly 60, I’ve had major surgery, blah, blah, blah. Nothing seemed to reassure me.

I have long been aware of the “comparison paralysis” that can strike individuals. I have been careful not to compare my lot in life to others, particularly as an author, or how my career has progressed with its ups and downs. And, as a boy from the rougher end of town, I have never envied anyone’s possessions and lifestyle…I just feel blessed with the loving family and life that I have. However, these are all comparisons to be made against others.

As I stood at the foot of the treadmill, I realised that I was now playing the comparison game against my younger self. No-one else – just me.

I made my way to my car and sat there, contemplating a 7-hour marathon. My body ached at the thought and my feet screamed out in rebellion. Slowly, I allayed my body’s protests as logic slowly overtook the adrenaline. Yes – I am older. Yes – my body isn’t what it used to be. They are the realities of life that have taken place over the tyranny of time and have been beyond my control.

It was now time for me to accept that reality and be thankful both that I’ve made it this far and that life has been kind to me. Physically. I may have passed my peak but there is still a reasonable amount of fight left in my frame and from where I sit, the future still looks bright. I just need to make the next day better than the present one and not draw comparisons to a “me” that has left the starting blocks long ago.

Even so, I might have to give that 6km/hour pace a bit of a shake. 😀.