When it comes to fitness (and life in general), it’s easy to compare your current performance to your past peak. We remember those moments when we were stronger, younger, faster, and seemingly unstoppable. But the truth is, progress isn’t always about breaking personal records — it’s about finding success where you are today.
(We also aren’t very good at thinking back, we often weren’t as ‘fit’ or as ‘lean’ as we think we were).
My Post-Ultra Marathon Reality Check
I haven’t shared much about it until now, but the seven weeks after my ultra marathon have been tough. My training felt inconsistent, my body and legs felt weary, and every run seemed harder than it should have.
Recently, I ran 10 kilometers at an average pace of about 6 minutes per kilometer. By my (usual) standards this was not very impressive:
- Just eight weeks ago, I ran 30 kilometers at this same pace, including plenty of hills.
- Two years ago, I completed a full marathon over 30 seconds per kilometer faster.
So why bother celebrating this run? I should just beat myself up about the fact I’ve ‘lost all my fitness’.
Looking Beyond the Numbers
Despite the slower pace, this run marked several important milestones for me:
- First run over an hour since the ultra: I hadn’t spent this much time on my feet in a while, and it felt great to get back to longer efforts.
- First double-digit distance post-ultra: Hitting 10 km again is a mental and physical boost.
- First pain-free run since the ultra: No niggles, no lingering soreness.
- Heart rate finally matching effort: After weeks of residual fatigue, my body finally feels like it’s catching up.
- Learning to keep “easy” runs truly easy: Many runners struggle with this, and I’m no exception.
These “firsts” mean more than any finish time ever could.
Why It’s Important to Redefine Success
One of the biggest mindset shifts for runners (and anyone pursuing long-term health and fitness) is learning to accept that your definition of success evolves over time.
It’s tempting to hold ourselves to old standards — the pace we ran in our twenties, the numbers we hit before an injury, or the strength we had before life got busy. But life changes, and so do we.
When we cling to old versions of ourselves, we set unrealistic expectations and rob ourselves of accepting and celebrating where we are. Instead, we should focus on what we can do today and celebrate the wins that move us forward, no matter how small they seem.
The Takeaway: Focus on Your Current Wins
Next time you catch yourself comparing your current self to a younger, faster, or stronger version, pause. Remind yourself that the goalposts have moved — and that’s okay.
You are allowed (and encouraged) to find success in today’s efforts. Whether it’s your first pain-free run back, a new distance milestone, or simply showing up when you didn’t feel like it — these are all victories worth celebrating.
