Humble: having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance
It took me a while to wrap my head around the difference between humble & modest (next week’s word). A little sleuthing, and it turns out humble refers to your behavior towards others, and modest is your opinion of yourself.
I’ve been lucky, so far, to only run into runners who are supportive and encouraging, no matter their ability or speed. I’ve heard tales of other runners being told they aren’t running if they run over a 10 minute mile – why even bother?
And for the record, I think I ran under a 10 minute mile once in a race & thought I was going to die. And it was only for that first mile. And I don’t think I’ve ever ran a mile that fast since.
So the runner who tells you you aren’t a runner if you run over a 10 minute mile is not a humble person.
The person who treats everyone they meet with kindness, from a homeless person to a person of means, is humble.
Which begs the question: am I humble?
And I think the answer is sometimes I am & sometimes I’m not. I do my best to treat everyone with kindness: thanking volunteers & the police at races; the checkout girl/guy; in short, I try to treat others the way I’d like to be treated.
There are the also times when I point out the things I do “right” to my husband, insinuating that he is not doing it as well – not so humble. Often it’s not my intent to insinuate anything, but I know more often that not it comes across that way.
Am I humble as a runner? I think so. It’s probably easier to be a humble runner when you’re not a very talented runner.
Thanks, Deb, for posting this topic – it’s nice to stretch my brain a little bit.
What does humble mean to you? Do you think you’re a humble runner? Humble person?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
These Wednesday Word prompts really do stretch my brain and my writing ability! Great take on this week’s word.
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Yup, I like to be challenged physically AND mentally. Sometimes, anyway!
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I also spent some time trying to figure out the difference between the two (humble and modest)! Being humble always comes back to the golden rule, as you said: Treat others the way you would want to be treated. I definitely try and do that in my everyday life. But every once in awhile it’s easy when you’re having a bad day to just get wrapped up in yourself. Remembering not to take it out on anyone else brings us back to humility.
And as far as running goes? If you run, you’re a runner. As they say, whether it takes you 6 minutes or 16, a mile is still a mile.
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It would be so demoralizing for someone to say why bother to me, because I’m slow. Thankfully, no one has. Because one of the best side benefits of running is confidence. I know it happens to people, tho.
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I love ALL runners and a “true” runner does too!!
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Oh, no! I had enough trouble with humble! Next week we’ve got to do modest??? I like your take on humility very much — it’s one of those things that’s hard to define (and hard to do), but you know it when you see it, right?
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LOL, I know; right? Took me a while to figure out. Learning is good!
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Not thinking of yourself as better than other people…that’s what comes to mind to me. In this sense, yes, I am humble.
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I definitely think you are, Natalie. You’re one of the nicest persons I’ve met!
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Thank you. You’re pretty nice, too 🙂
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After reading your take, I think I missed my mark…I do love that we can all put our own twist on it and I agree it is easier to be humble when your not a great runner like myself. Enjoyed reading your post!
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I don’t really think anyone’s take is wrong. & it’s really interesting reading them! Thanks for reading mine.
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oh..this was helpful- humble refers to your behavior towards others, and modest is your opinion of yourself. I think I am a humble person. i don’t like attention on my self much. I am working on my yearly appraisal for work and having the hardest time giving myself credit for things I have accomplished this year.
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I think most women are raised that way!
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Very good point about the difference between modest and humble.
The heat and humidity have my full respect, I never think I can out do them lol Pace is relative, like weights, some folks just make it look so easy! I am not so talented a runner either, but i try hard 🙂
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I think we all try hard. Some just seem more successful (or talented).
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I hope I am encouraging to and supporting of all runners. I try to be. This is a great reminder to treat everyone the way you’d like to be treated.
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Well, you’ve bern supportive so far. 🙂
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I’m not sure I’ve thought of the difference between humble and modest before, but that makes sense. Hopefully I’m a bit of both.
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I’m not sure I ever thought about the difference before – that’s what made this so hard! In a good way.
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I was humbled by all of the mud when my team ran Ragnar WV, and even more so when a 70’ish-year-old woman ran past me while telling me that I could do it. How was she not slipping and falling like the rest of us? 🙂
Thanks for linking up!
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Oh my, that would be humbling! I’m always being passed by someone at least 70 without mud. Heck, I’m just always being passed!
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