Humility and Truth Pt. 1

Humility and truth – as a title it sounds rather grand and forbidding, like a Victorian lecture on virtue, morals or anything else requiring a stiff backbone. But that cannot be right; I am not trying to bolster an empire or preach a normative sermon. I am only writing about running – a simple physical activity, a recreation.

But it is not so simple and I believe that anything that takes time and effort, teaches its own lessons. You not only learn the techniques of the task itself, how to run better or shape a piece of wood more accurately or solve equations, you learn about the way you approach the task. Are you soft on yourself or relentless? Will accept imperfections or only be satisfied with the best? Are you pragmatic or idealistic? These questions and more are being played out all the time and mostly there is a mixed bag of answers. However you gather them up and over time they form a pattern and you know where you have to try harder and you know your limitations

This is where humility comes in. You cannot maintain any illusion of innate superiority. There are always people who can run faster or longer, or faster and longer. There are always people who overcome more difficulties. It doesn’t matter where in the pack you are, there are always people you think should be at your level and sometimes they are running away from you. You vow to be better in future but that vow is in itself a recognition of humility – you know you could do better.

It is not just a matter of speed. There are people who are slower who show great virtue. At the moment I am using the gym a lot and I regularly see people working to overcome physical limitations. A couple of people in particular can barely walk, yet they struggle onto the treadmill, hold onto the bar and move their legs faster than would otherwise be possible. One of them has obviously had a stroke and has to use his left hand to lift his right arm into place. It takes him ages to set himself up on the various machines but he never gives up. I think about these people more than the fit and toned. I wonder if I would be as determined if I was so limited in my movements.

Yet to balance all this humility there has to be an inner feeling of satisfaction. You need to feel good about what you achieve as well as recognising the achievement of others and for this running is perfect. If you do what you can, within your own boundaries, you feel good. Each run has the potential of being a small victory.

Whenever I see someone out on the roads, running at whatever pace, I see someone doing their best. There is a community of us, all doing our best. Being part of that is a source of both humility and satisfaction.