Go ahead and embarrass yourself!
When I got back into triathlons about 10 years ago, I met a guy that recruited me to go on a run around the “Orting Death Loop”. After I had committed, he informed me to arrive at his house at 3:15 AM. Not only was I nervous about a run and time like that, but when I got there there were about 10 very happy fit looking people warming up and chatting. They were bent on to go to the Ironman in Canada and qualify for Kona. I was outclassed and intimidated.
In the meantime, I bought a new high efficiency washing machine. I did not know to use special soap and much less of it.
As a result of too much soap my shorts began to foam starting at the crotch. At about mile 15 the soap foam was undeniable as it got larger and seemed like it encompassed most of my lower body. Further down the road the chaffing combined with grinding soap into the wounds altered my gait provoking comments like “Where did you get this guy?”
If embarrassment killed, I would have certainly died that day.
I did finish the run, painfully humiliating as it was.
Now when we chat about “remember when” that incident usually comes up.
It did not kill me. Those people are still my running buddies today! When they have parties, they still invite me!
If fear of embarrassment hampered babies, they would not learn to walk. Imaging walking and falling onto their bottoms with load full of poop oozing out the side? It doesn’t seem to bother them. They just get back up and go.
So, some don’t race or try other new things because they don’t want to humiliate themselves. In who’s mind is that?
I recently bailed on doing a marathon and switched to the half during the race. I was too sick to care about my disappointment and embarrassment. Later that day I was talking to my neighbor. When she found out I finished the 13.1 mile course, she was amazed. She had no clue or care about the time. I could have told her it took 4 hours to run 13.1 miles and I still would have been her hero! So, why would what other people think stop you? News flash: They don’t care.
Those that love you and most in the community totally support you.
And what about wearing those tight uniforms? Many don’t have the ideal body for that. Get used to it. It gets worse over time. Then your choices are to sit on the sidelines and watch or get over it and get moving.
Remember at the end of the day it is mostly your opinion that counts.
So, don’t let others wreck your good time, especially you!
In the meantime, I bought a new high efficiency washing machine. I did not know to use special soap and much less of it.
As a result of too much soap my shorts began to foam starting at the crotch. At about mile 15 the soap foam was undeniable as it got larger and seemed like it encompassed most of my lower body. Further down the road the chaffing combined with grinding soap into the wounds altered my gait provoking comments like “Where did you get this guy?”
If embarrassment killed, I would have certainly died that day.
I did finish the run, painfully humiliating as it was.
Now when we chat about “remember when” that incident usually comes up.
It did not kill me. Those people are still my running buddies today! When they have parties, they still invite me!
If fear of embarrassment hampered babies, they would not learn to walk. Imaging walking and falling onto their bottoms with load full of poop oozing out the side? It doesn’t seem to bother them. They just get back up and go.
So, some don’t race or try other new things because they don’t want to humiliate themselves. In who’s mind is that?
I recently bailed on doing a marathon and switched to the half during the race. I was too sick to care about my disappointment and embarrassment. Later that day I was talking to my neighbor. When she found out I finished the 13.1 mile course, she was amazed. She had no clue or care about the time. I could have told her it took 4 hours to run 13.1 miles and I still would have been her hero! So, why would what other people think stop you? News flash: They don’t care.
Those that love you and most in the community totally support you.
And what about wearing those tight uniforms? Many don’t have the ideal body for that. Get used to it. It gets worse over time. Then your choices are to sit on the sidelines and watch or get over it and get moving.
Remember at the end of the day it is mostly your opinion that counts.
So, don’t let others wreck your good time, especially you!
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