The Comparison Trap: What Beginner Runners Can Do When Everyone Seems Faster, Fitter, or Stronger

Why Comparison Feels So Heavy for Beginner Runners

If you’re just starting your running journey, it’s almost impossible not to compare yourself. Maybe it’s the neighbor who runs past your house like she’s floating. Or a friend who casually signs up for a half marathon while you’re still working through a run-walk interval.

And don’t get me started on Instagram. The more you scroll, the more it feels like everyone is running farther, faster, or training for something bigger than you. It’s like there’s an unspoken pressure: if you’re not chasing longer distances or faster paces, are you even trying?

Here’s the truth: I’ve been there.

When I started running, I wasn’t athletic at all. I was a working mom squeezing in runs between daycare pickups and work deadlines. My pace was slow, I took plenty of walking breaks, and I felt like I didn’t belong in the “real runner” world. Even now, after completing marathons and even an ultra marathon, I still compare myself — and I’ve caught myself wondering: Should I be doing more? Should I be faster? 

The Hidden Problem with Comparison

They say: comparison is the thief of joy. Instead of celebrating what your body just did — like running for 5 minutes without stopping — you end up focusing on what someone else is doing “better.”

For beginner women runners, that comparison often sounds like:

• “If I can’t run without walking, does it even count?”

• “She’s running 10K already, and I can barely finish 2K.”

• “Everyone else seems fitter — maybe I just wasn’t meant to be a runner.”

On Instagram, this comparison becomes amplified. The trap is believing that their pace or their distance should be your next goal. But here’s the hard question I’ve been asking myself lately: is it worth doing more if I’m no longer having fun?

Because at the end of the day, the most important measure of success isn’t speed or distance — it’s joy. If you’re not enjoying your runs, what’s the point? 

How to Break Free from the Comparison Trap

1. Redefine What “Good Enough” Means

Your pace and your distance are already good enough — in fact, they’re ideal for you right now. Running is not about reaching someone else’s standard; it’s about finding your own rhythm and celebrating progress at your level.

When I trained for my marathon, my success wasn’t measured in pace. It was measured in consistency, and in showing up despite mom life chaos. 

2. Ask Yourself One Simple Question: Am I Having Fun?

Before you push for longer runs, more mileage, or faster splits, pause and check in with yourself: 

• Am I still having fun?

• Does this feel sustainable?

• Do I leave my runs feeling proud, or drained and pressured?

Here’s a reality check: the vast majority of us are not earning a living from running. Most of us will never stand on a podium and guess what? That’s completely fine. What matters is the sense of accomplishment that comes from surpassing our own goals, no matter how big or small.

I’ll be honest with you: I’m facing this right now. I had set my sights on a 55K race, but the training has been tough. Some days, it feels like I’m forcing it. And I keep asking myself: Do I want to pursue the 55K, or should I cut down to 25K?

The truth is, whether I run 55K or 25K doesn’t change anything about who I am as a runner. I know I can do it, but at what price? And the only question that really matters is: Am I still having fun? 

3. Use Walking as a Strength, Not a Weakness

So many beginners feel embarrassed about walking. But here’s something I learned: walking is part of running. Even marathoners use walking breaks in training. I’ve taken walk breaks during long runs myself and I still crossed the finish line proud.

Walking doesn’t make you less of a runner. It makes you a smarter, more sustainable one. 

4. Measure the Wins That Actually Matter

Forget the Instagram feeds filled with pace screenshots. Instead, track things that tell your story:

• How many times you run per week.

• How you feel afterward (energized, proud, more patient with your kids).

• The sense of confidence you’re building along the way.

Those are the wins that truly matter. 

The Only Runner You Need to Beat Is Yesterday’s You

The comparison trap will always be there, especially in a world where every scroll shows someone faster, stronger, or training for more. But your journey doesn’t need to look like theirs.

Whatever your pace, whatever your distance it’s good enough. It’s ideal for you.

Because here’s the truth: most of us aren’t running for medals or money. We’re running for something bigger: confidence, accomplishment, and joy. And if you can finish a run with pride and a smile, you’ve already won.