How to Get Rid of Imposter Syndrome

When you’re scared to join group runs because you’re slow and they’ll find out you're a phony.

When you’ve trained solidly for months but feel like a fraud at the starting line.

When you're uncomfortable talking about your race because you don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression you did something impressive.

When you can’t feel proud of your race because it was a fluke and you couldn’t have done it without luck and a lot of help.

In other words, when you’re feeling imposter syndrome, try this:

Stop fighting it.

Start welcoming imposter syndrome as good thing.

It’s not something you have, like cancer - it’s a phenomenon you experience when you grow.

Because you feel it when you’re standing at the chasm between how you're used to seeing yourself and the runner you’re becoming.

Like someone who’s finished her first 100 and still doesn’t see herself as a 100-mile runner. Yet.

It’s a normal part of being a person who’s daring to find out what she’s capable of. 

A positive sign you’re willing to live this life you’ve been given and not settle for so-so.

You’re going for extraordinary.

When you feel it, you’re simply standing at this natural but awkward, in-between gap between now and future.

I see imposter syndrome this way because I’ve bridged this gap over and over again in my life.

As an average high school runner whose coach told her not to bother trying out for the college team, and believed him, but years later decided to find her place in running anyway.

As a female in the 1980s who thought she was bad at math, went to engineering school when women weren’t welcome there yet, and decided she’d figure it out somehow.

As an ordinary ultrarunner who’s done something extraordinary, finishing 134 100-mile races, and gets called “legend.”

I found imposter syndrome isn’t a reason to wait where you are until it somehow disappears. 

It’s an exciting sign you’re on course to a bigger running life and to run toward the discomfort.

You’re making enough progress to hit the upper limit on how you see yourself and if you keep going, you’ll shatter it. 

So when imposter syndrome appears, celebrate and keep doing the daily work of seeing yourself as the new version you’re becoming.

If you’re having trouble seeing yourself as that new version, don’t worry.

It’s totally possible - it just takes practice, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Getting help through imposter syndrome can speed up the process and make all the difference in the world.

I’ve done it, I’ve helped clients do it, and I know for sure you can too.

Email me and let’s talk about what we’d do to get you there.  

You deserve the extraordinary running life that’s waiting for you on the other side.