The Confident Runner

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be that confident runner, standing at the starting line knowing you can finish?

Knowing you can handle all the climbs, problems, and lows ahead?

You can be.

Confidence isn’t the province of “athletic”, fast, or elite runners.

It comes from inside - from what you think about yourself. It’s as simple as that.

Seeing ourselves as confident is only impossible because we resist it so hard. We ruminate so much on the reasons we can’t be confident that it seems true.

But it’s also true you can become the type of confident runner you admire.

The first step is to start believing it’s possible.

I won’t lie - this simple step is often the hardest, so don’t despair.

Every time you catch yourself thinking how far away you are from the confident runner in a video or photo, remind yourself that what you see in them is possible for you too.

And keep at it, because this next step is fun.

Think of a confident runner you admire. What does she think, feel, and do?

You might imagine it like this:

1. Mindset

First off, she probably accepts reality, bad runs and all. She understands there will always be a mix of positive and negative, even when you’re confident.

She takes responsibility for where her mind focuses and redirects it out of negativity, complaints, and useless comparisons.

And she spends more time planning the future she’s building than dwelling on the past.

2. Environment

She finds ways to surround herself with supportive, confident people who bring out the best in her.

She trains in places that raise her self concept.

And she puts herself in races that demand confidence instead of cruising along in her comfort zone.

3. Training

She obviously trains with discipline. It builds her confidence and sets her up for a worry-free race she can be excited about.

She’s willing to adapt her training to life when she needs to, instead of beating herself up, because she believes in herself more than the plan.

And here’s a big one - she celebrates how she’s grown in training. She knows the small, everyday steps add up to something big.

3. Racing

This is where she makes it happen.

She trusts 100% - not in the outcome - but in herself.

She may not know what’s going to happen in the race but she trusts herself to do her best.

And she makes it safe to go out there and risk. No matter what, she’s proud of herself.

Once you have a clear picture of how she thinks, feels, and acts, find ways to do the same.

The more you do this, the more you become the confident runner you admire.

It’s a practice I’ve used many times over the years, and part of the process I use to help clients build their confidence for the big races they face.

It works.

If this post helped you, pass it on to a friend.

It might be exactly what they need today.