Feasible alternative

Judge the result against the realistic option you could actually have taken, given your money, time, and skill at the time. Not the ideal outcome, not zero effort, but the best real substitute that was on the table.

Judge the result against the realistic option you could actually have taken, given your money, time, and skill at the time. Not the ideal outcome, not zero effort, but the best real substitute that was on the table.

Example

Your realistic options this spring were a 5K training plan or the gym three mornings a week. Against the gym, which would have left your 5K near 31 minutes, your 28:40 looks like a good call, not a slow race.