Shut up! You’re fast!

Because you’re also slow.

Let’s just skip the part where you tell me that you’re slow. I already know you’re slow. What’s with that look you’re giving me? Oh, no you don’t! Don’t pretend you’re hurt! You were literally about to tell me how slow you are! Yeah… that’s what I thought. Besides, the only reason I know you’re slow is because I know you’re fast! How about that for turning the tables on you? Weren’t ready for that one were you? Good! I like when athletes are on their toes. It means they’re sprinting and sprinting means you are running fast! See what I did there? I’m good. I know. Let’s open up our dictionaries… where is your dictionary? Don’t you dare open up an app on your phone! I’ll just read from mine for both of us. (And by the way, invest in a good dictionary. They’re basically an assistant coach.) 

Okay, let’s read the definition for fast. It’s an adjective… let’s see… first definition… firmly fixed… nah. Second definition… firmly loyal… nope. Definition #3… okay… here we go… characterized by quick motion, operation or effect: moving or able to move rapidly. That’s the one! Sometimes we start at #3! 

If you’ve ever run with me or read some of my drivel then you know I like to break down the definitions of words. And that means I’m already looking up the definition for quick. Quick is also an adjective and definition #1 is acting or capable of acting with speed such as… and I’m dropping down to 1(c) for this now and I’m reading… marked by speed, readiness, or promptness of physical movement. 

Okay. We got what we need. Now let me ask you a few questions. Actually, I only got one. Can you move slowly? Yes? Great. Then you can move fast too. Because the only way to move slowly is to be able to move faster than slowly. That’s why you can say you’re moving slowly. Because you’re (hopefully) comparing your slow speed, movement, reaction time to your less slow speed… less slow movement… less slow speed. Of course, we could just fast forward through the silly flirting here and just get busy by admitting what less slow means. 

That less slow speed of yours is also known as faster. Way more fun to refer to it as faster. Also takes way more guts to refer to that other speed of yours as faster. (You have guts too by the way. Yes you do. Nobody that starts a run is without courage. More on that in a later post.) Okay, let’s do this… think about that run you went for yesterday or the day before that or imagine the run that you’re going to do today. There is a really good chance that you would describe to me your running as slow on this particular run. 

Why that word? Well, if you’re aware of all the paces and speeds and gears you have inside of you then the answer is simple. You referred to it as a slow run because you know you can run faster. Way faster! Don’t believe me? Fine, we can test my hypothesis. I want you to go for a run. And I want you to run as hard as you can from the moment you cross the starting line. Just throw it down. Let it rip! Roll! About thirty seconds into this epic run I want you to ask yourself if you could slow down. If the answer is yes… then I win. And if I win then you have my permission to slow down from your fast running and ease into a luxurious, easy, and slower run for the rest of the time you have penciled in to enjoy some movement. 

If I’m wrong and this blistering pace that you are running is somehow also so slow that you can't slow down without literally stopping… then you win. And what do you win? Well, you get to run for a long, long, long time at this pace. Granted, I don’t think that’s possible because you are supposedly running as hard as you can but also so slow you basically not moving but maybe I’m wrong about all this and you’ve found one of the many loopholes that exist in this weird ass universe of ours.

Was that sarcasm? It was. Indeed it was. 

Alright, I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page here. And the page we share only has a few words on it: You're Fast.

Don’t worry… I’m not forgetting that you’re slow too. How could I? You tell me… all.. the… time. And it’s good to know. Because knowing you’re slow proves you’re fast. And knowing that you are capable of running both fast and slow means you know you have the ability to run fast or slow whenever you want to.

You can increase the effort or decrease the effort on your runs when you see fit. You can charge up a hill at great speeds or ease off the gas on a downhill. You can sprint that last stretch to your mailbox at the end of a run or you can leave that mailbox behind at the starting line running a pace even a snail would smirk at. You have the deed to your running. You have full ownership of your runs. You have complete control of the controls of your run. 

What you don’t have is that overused and tired lie anymore. The lie that you are not fast. Because you know the truth. Yes, you're slow. But that was never the whole truth. So, go ahead and say it all and not just the slow part. Because you can't be slow unless you're fast.