Ran my first race Sunday.
Frankly, I had reservations about participating in a competitive run. Firstly, paying to run kinda makes no sense to me. The money went to a good cause…I think. At least I got a t-shirt and two packs of dried prunes. Secondly, running has been so good to me I didn’t want to taint it with any of my competitive hang ups. You have to understand, I was that kid on the soccer team that would cry when we lost. Plus, my life is a constant competition, I deal with enough losing daily. The last thing I want is to feel like a loser from something I’ve come to enjoy so much. However, an interesting lesson was learned on race day. I told myself I wouldn’t pay attention to time or who I beat or who beat me. I was going to enjoy a nice Sunday run with a few friends. When I crossed the finish line the computer didn’t post my time so it was easy to ignore. I knew I wasn’t the first guy and I wasn’t last. Good enough for me, I felt great. I analyzed my run, thought back to where I could have pushed and where I should have held back to save juice for the down hill sprint. Should have left and gone on with my day. Before heading to breakfast my friend convinced me to recover my time. I think he was more curious than me. Once I got my time, I felt like shit, didn’t want to run ever again. Felt like the whole thing was a waste of my time. Guys were running sub 5 minute miles. That’s world record caliber! Compared to them I was world Tortoise caliber. Funny how a few numbers can ruin a beautiful Sunday. I had to think about it all day. What’s eating Gilbert Sung?
I came to realize, competition brings the best and worst out of me. There is a place for competition, it weeds out the lazy and rewards the hard working exceptional. But when it comes to running I have to ignore the numbers. Running has made me into a better person in many ways. Not because I’m faster or can run longer, the people I run with have encouraged me to be a better person. After every run we are better than the hour or two before we met. I feel like I’m not so alone in life. It’s easy to get together with people and grab drinks and party it up. The next day we are that much more hung over, that much more broke, that much more regretful. So, maybe that’s the point of these ‘races’, to encourage one another, friend or stranger. The races are a reminder we aren’t alone. Thousands of us are trying to be better. Doesn’t really matter how fast we cross the finish line, together we climb that hill of life. Pretty simple, pretty cool. Can’t wait til the next one.
Be good party people. Adios.
Nice, inspirational message. Thanks!
The toughest competitor you will ever face is yourself….or the easiest.
Sung, I really wanna share this with my friends who run. As a person who’s been at that bottom rung in running, I know how it feels to post a score you’re not proud of. Keep up the good work and you’ll win the next!
It was really a fun day and a fun event. Long ago, I gave up the notion of being the best, but I will never give up the idea of doing my best. It was really rewarding to cross the finish line, but it was just as gratifying to watch others cross, no matter their time or place of finish. I can’t wait for the next race, the next workout and the next big lunch afterwards with the gang.
Sung, I’m so proud and envious of you! As someone who is really out due to injury (I snuck in a run about a week ago because I missed it so much, and my knee hasn’t quite returned to non-screaming.), I hope you just enjoy that beautiful feeling of flying! Isn’t it like flying? I always thought so, even when I was going 11 min miles.
And as someone who was never a competitive runner (mid-to-back of the pack), the best thing about a race is when you look around, all those people are your friends. They understand the same joy as you. And in the end, if anything, ‘true competition comes from true co-operation’. All those people are cooperating to help you become a better you, whatever that may mean…
much love in your direction….
One word of criticism if I may Sung hyung…
You seem to be too self involved. I don’t know where your insecurities have spawned from – most likely bad paradigms carried on from childhood, like myself, but you seem self centered.
You inspire me man. Your craft does not go unnoticed but you seem to be too worried about making a career out of acting for money, competition, maybe some sort of self acknowledgement and satisfaction.
“Look at all those people down there. They follow the rules for what? They’re letting fear lead them. Life is simple. You make choices, and you don’t look back.”
It’s the scene I watch everyday after an audition if I’m feeling depressed. Maybe that means nothing to you. In fact, maybe you’re too big of an actor now to really care for anyone else.
And the endorphins don’t hurt, either!
sung- you should mix up your running w/ some yoga…the deep breathing exercises has helped me with endurance and the stretching is just great! just a thought…
you are awesome Sung. I’d ride a bike next to you while you’re running any day.
Not only are you getting physical and social benefits from running, but you are sharing what it does for your spiritual journey. Thank you. I am rooting for you from the sidelines.
@Mikey–You are completely entitled to your opinion, but I don’t see Sung or his writing that way. I think he’s just being transparent about his true feelings. We all have inspirational lines from movies, lit, etc. that spur us on, but none of us can live from that confident and inspirational place every day.
So thank you, Sung, for keeping it real, but balancing complaints and insecurities with the positive life lessons you have learned. You know I am on the sidelines cheering for you…