It might sound strange, but even after countless hours of training runs and ultra-marathons, I still sometimes feel like an imposter. Whether I’m out on the trails or hanging with my running club, there’s this nagging voice saying, “You don’t really belong here.” Silly, right? But brains are funny like that.
This year, I decided to do something about it. Instead of letting those doubts dictate my actions, I’m working on a mindset shift. Part of that includes being bolder in how I engage with the running community.
For instance, one of the running Facebook groups I’m in has a weekly post encouraging people to share their training runs and invite others to join. Great idea! Except… I rarely post. On the rare occasions I do, it’s usually last-minute—like 5 a.m. the day of. Why? Honestly, it’s a mix of “What if no one comes?” and “What if I’m too slow and hold people back?” Classic imposter syndrome logic.
Then I remembered something from my men’s group, F3, which has a philosophy called “free to lead.” The gist? You don’t need permission to take action. Whether it’s organizing a pop-up workout, grabbing lunch, or starting a community project, you share what you’re doing, invite people, and go for it. No guarantees anyone will join, but that’s okay too.
So, I decided to put it into practice. I posted my training run plans on Facebook an entire 22 hours in advance (practically a lifetime compared to my usual!) and waited. To my surprise, people responded—quickly. They asked about the start time and location, and before I knew it, I had a small crew joining me.
The morning of the run came, and so did the people. Despite the chilly, grey weather, we hit the trail together. It wasn’t just about the miles; it was about the company, the conversation, and proving to myself that I do belong here.
Here’s the thing: whether it’s running, fitness, or any part of life, you don’t need permission to show up. Imposter syndrome will whisper all sorts of nonsense, but you can choose to tune it out. Post the run. Share your plans. Take the lead—even if it’s just for yourself. You might be surprised by who shows up.
Now, I’m curious: Where in your life could you take action, even if it feels a little bold or scary? Because if I can overcome imposter syndrome on the trails, you can too.