Monday, August 28, 2006 2:37 PM
Healthy Competition
By Kristen
I am ridiculously competitive. As a child and adolescent gymnast, I was always pushing to do the most chin-ups, score highest on the balance beam (my best, and favorite event) or edge out my nemesis in a state competition. Though it’s been a long time since I’ve been in the gym, my competitive streak hasn’t left. At first, I started running as a way to keep in shape -- a few miles a day several times a week. I’d never run competitively in my life, until the other day. And, no, it wasn’t an organized race.
Running is something that OH (Other Half) and I do together -- sort of. We live by a big park, and instead of running side-by-side we run in opposite directions around the perimeter. This has its advantages: I can use my headphones without him feeling like I ignore him, plus I’m not distracted by his stride or breathing (Does this bother anyone else?). The problem is, I can’t stop my competitive streak. If he reaches the halfway point before I do, I get extremely agitated -- and he doesn’t understand why! (Yes, I understand that he is a guy, and has stronger leg muscles… but still!) He typically finishes about one or two minutes before I do -- in other words: just enough to really bother me. The last time this happened, I silently sulked the entire way home. When he asked what was wrong, I blurted out, “You always win! I never get to finish first!” To which he answered, “I can slow down a little bit on that last hill if it will make you happy.” Oops. At that moment, I realized how whiny and ridiculous I was being.
Not only was I wasting energy on being angry (I bet I could have pulled out a winning sprint at the end of mile seven, otherwise), I was unnecessarily starting an argument. At the end of the day, we both covered the same ground, both exercised, and both used each other as inspiration to work as hard as possible. Lesson learned: it doesn’t always matter how quickly you get there, or who gets there first, as long as you finish the challenge.
Do you and your DH exercise together? How do you deal if he is faster or stronger? Plus, we’re always looking for suggestions for fun new activities -- bonus points if they’re things I can do better than he can! (er, just kidding, of course…)
Instead of letting my competitive streak get the best of me, next time I vow to check out these ways for OH and I to chill out together: http://www.thenest.com/articles/article_love.aspx?articleid=A50826162401