Lies runners tell themselves

FYI: if you're putting one foot in front of the other, you are a runner

Brittany Hambleton May 19, 2021

Whether you’re new to running or you’re a seasoned veteran in the sport, from time to time insecurities will rear their ugly heads, often manifesting as lies that tell us we’re not good enough or we should give up. While these insecurities may never go away completely, managing them effectively will allow you to enjoy the sport and continue doing it over the long term. Check out these common lies runners tell themselves and do a self-check to see if they’ve ever put a damper on your training.

I’m not a runner

This is probably the most common lie runners tell themselves, and we’ve heard this from beginners all the way up to experienced marathoners. “I’m not an athlete” is another similar lie that goes hand-in-hand with this one, and we’re here to tell you not to listen. Famed running coach and co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman, once said “If you have a body, you’re an athlete,” and we stand by that. There’s no magic number of races you have to do or specific times you have to hit in order to qualify as a runner. If you’re putting your shoes on and getting out there, you’re one of us.

I’m not a real runner until I’ve done a marathon

This lie is an extension of the first. If completing a marathon is the only thing that qualifies you as a “real runner” then by that logic an Olympic 800m athlete doesn’t make the cut, and we all know that’s certainly not true. Completing a shorter distance makes you just as much of a runner as someone who does marathons — again, if you’re out there putting one foot in front of the other, you are, in fact, a runner.

I’m not good enough to call myself a runner

On that note, you also don’t have to run a certain speed in order to qualify as a runner. Many runners tell themselves “when I run ‘X’ time, then I’ll be a real runner”, but the problem is that the needle keeps moving. Once you achieve that goal, you set another one, and suddenly the importance of the old goal fades. Celebrate every accomplishment, be proud that you pushed yourself and tried, and remember that if you’re out there trying, you can absolutely call yourself a runner. (And if you have no specific goals beyond the pleasure and enjoyment of running, that qualifies also.)

I need to run well to earn respect from my peers

Many runners fall into this trap, thinking they need to run certain times or distances in order to gain respect from their running friends, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Of course your running buddies want to see you succeed, but your running performance has no bearing on how much they like and respect you (if it does, you may want to consider finding a different group of friends). You are valuable no matter how fast or far you run.

I’m defined by my past

Remember that no performance, good or bad, defines who you are as a runner or a person. There are a lot of ups and downs in running, and dwelling on one bad performance will do nothing but bring you down and hamper your progress. Likewise, if you define yourself by a past performance, you may get frustrated later on if you’re having trouble reproducing that result. Celebrate the wins and learn from the losses, but don’t hang your hat on one run.

I haven’t done enough

With apps like Strava and Instagram, it’s easier than ever to follow other runners and see what they’re doing. It can be fun to give kudos or get inspiration from another athlete, but there’s a dark side: the comparison trap. It’s easy to look at someone else’s training and think “they’re working so much harder than I am.” Remember that you are an individual athlete with individual needs, and your training isn’t going to look like someone else’s, nor does it have to. Trust the process, trust your training, and don’t worry about what others are doing.