Pavlov's at it again

It must be something about Saturdays, but my friend Pavlov took control of me again this morning.

I heard the much quicker steps coming up behind me. I noticed my stride lengthening a bit, but I didn't increase my cadence - too obvious.

Then a young lady cruised past me fairly effortlessly. I thought, "She's too fast for me".

My pace quickened and I found myself maintaining the distance between her and me. I wasn't thinking, "I must catch her", honest.

After another quarter of a mile she started to slow a little and I couldn't help myself, I went past her and maintained the pace.

But it gets worse.

Further along I spied another runner ahead of me. He went down a road that I hadn't intended to run down. Guess what, I went after him and overtook him at the bottom.

There's no denying it. I can't say I'm not competitive, but why do I do it?

I think it's probably reminding myself that I am good enough as I am. Although why overtaking someone I've never met in my life before does that, I don't really know.

I will definitely have to keep Pavlov locked in the house four weeks tomorrow when I'm pacing other runners in the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon. It wouldn't do to race the people who I'm helping to achieve their goals.

Thinking about it, helping others achieve their goals and dreams actually beats competition by a mile (no pun intended) for me as a sense of satisfaction, so I should be fine.

Pavlov's runner

Is it just me or is there something in all of us (those of us who run anyway) that when we see another runner, or runners, ahead of us, can't quite resist seeing if we can speed up a little to see if we might be able to catch them, and even overtake them?

It happened to me this morning. I feel like Pavlov's dog, not that I'm suggesting that I salivate when I see other runners, at least I don't think I do. I'd better check when it happens next time.

But I go through the whole thought process...

"No, that's silly and meaningless to see if I can catch them."

"It will interfere with my natural speed and rhythm of running, and might even make injury more likely."

"Oh, I seem to be speeding up. If I go just a tiny bit faster I might even catch them."

"Yay, how about that I overtook them right at the top of the hill. Result!"

"I'd better keep up the pace otherwise they might overtake me back again, and besides if I slow down they'll know I was just trying to overtake them and I'll look stupid."

All this happened to me this morning.

Is it that I'm competitive?

Or maybe, it's just that it introduces an element of a game into the run, which makes it even more fun and interesting. After all, challenges and stretching our comfort zones is good, isn't it?

Who am I trying to kid! I like to look good (don't we all?) and I just can't resist an opportunity.