You just crushed a marathon in 3:49, shaving 30 minutes off your PR.
When your friend congratulates you, the first words out of your mouth are: “Thanks, but it doesn’t really count, I’m still pretty slow.”
Sound familiar?
Here’s the shocking reality: research shows [1] that between 56-62% of high-achieving individuals experience imposter syndrome, the persistent belief that their success is undeserved despite objective evidence proving otherwise.
And runners? We might be the worst offenders.
I’ve watched first-time 5K finishers apologize for their pace before anyone even asked.
I’ve heard ultrarunners downplay completing 50 miles because they weren’t fast enough.
I’ve seen Boston qualifiers minimize their achievement because someone else ran faster.
The pattern is universal: runners at every level struggle to own their identity.
If you’ve ever introduced yourself with “I’m not really a runner, but…” or felt like a fraud pinning on a race bib, this article will show you why these feelings happen, and how to move past them.
A study [2] found that imposter syndrome shows a moderate correlation with both depression and anxiety.
Left unchecked, it doesn’t just steal your joy, it can drive you away from running altogether.
Understanding the psychology behind imposter syndrome and learning practical strategies to challenge it can transform your relationship with running.
Let’s look at why so many runners struggle to call themselves “real runners”, and what the research tells us about overcoming it.
What Actually Makes Someone a “Real” Runner?
Here’s the answer you’ve been looking for: If you run, you’re a runner.
That’s it.
No minimum pace requirement exists.
No distance threshold qualifies you.
No body type determines eligibility.
No race schedule validates your identity.
As running legend Bart Yasso puts it: “I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.”
Marathon results include no asterisks noting who walked.
The finish line doesn’t care about your splits.
Consider this: approximately 50 million Americans [3] participate in running or jogging, representing about 15% of the U.S. population.
For the first time in history, data shows [4] that female runners outnumbered male runners in 2018, accounting for 50.24% of participants worldwide.
These millions of runners span every imaginable pace, body type, and experience level.
They’re all real runners.
The most damaging myths about runner identity involve arbitrary gatekeeping based on speed, consistency, or achievement.
But you’re still a runner when you’re injured.
You’re still a runner when life gets busy and your mileage drops.
You’re still a runner when you walk during your run.
You’re still a runner when you choose a 5K over a marathon.
Professional athletes have off-seasons, why can’t you?
The Comparison Trap and Social Media Distortion
Psychologist Leon Festinger proposed social comparison theory [5] in 1954, arguing that humans have an innate drive to evaluate themselves by comparing with others.
This natural tendency becomes turbocharged on social media.
A meta-analysis [6] of 48 studies involving 7,679 participants revealed that exposure to upward comparison targets on social media has an overall negative effect on self-evaluations and emotions .
The impact on body image was even stronger.
Here’s why social media makes everything worse: people curate their content.
They post their fastest runs, best races, and most photogenic moments.
What you don’t see are the bad training days, the injuries, the runs that felt terrible, or the races that didn’t go as planned.
Research shows [7] that people with a stronger tendency to compare themselves with others are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of social media.
When you scroll through Instagram seeing nothing but PR celebrations and Boston Marathon qualifications, you’re comparing your entire experience, including the struggles, to everyone else’s highlight reel.
The solution isn’t to abandon social media entirely, but to consume it more intentionally.
Curate your feed to include runners of all paces and body types.
Unfollow accounts that consistently trigger comparison spirals.
Limit passive scrolling and increase authentic engagement.
Remember that every post represents a curated choice, not reality.
Claiming Your Runner Identity Right Now
When you accept your identity as a runner, something shifts.
You start treating yourself like an athlete.
You prioritize proper fueling instead of “earning” calories.
You schedule rest days as essential training rather than laziness.
You invest in quality shoes because runners need appropriate equipment.
This isn’t about arrogance, it’s about self-care.
The practical strategy starts with language.
Stop using “just” before your achievements.
It’s not “just a 5K”, it’s a 5K, a distance that challenges millions of runners.
Remove caveats and apologies from running conversations.
State your accomplishment once: “I ran a marathon in 4:52.”
No need to add “so it doesn’t really count” or “I’m not that fast.”
Practice speaking about your running without minimizing it.
The next time someone asks about your running, try this: introduce yourself as a runner without qualifiers.
Not “I’m trying to get into running” or “I’m not really a runner, but…”
Just: “I’m a runner.”
You might feel uncomfortable at first.
That discomfort is imposter syndrome trying to protect you from imagined exposure.
Feel it and say it anyway.
Your Running Journey Belongs to You
Here’s the truth about comparison: there will always be faster runners.
There will also always be slower runners.
Neither fact determines your legitimacy.
The only meaningful comparison is with past versions of yourself.
Are you more consistent than six months ago?
Do you enjoy running more than when you started?
Have you overcome obstacles that once seemed impossible?
These are the metrics that matter.
With approximately 621 million [8] runners globally, the sport includes infinite variations of what “being a runner” looks like.
Some run for mental health.
Others chase PRs.
Some run socially; others run solo.
Some race frequently; others never pin on a bib.
All are equally valid.
Moving Forward With Confidence
The research is clear: imposter syndrome affects high achievers across every domain, from healthcare professionals to Olympic trials qualifiers.
But studies [9] also show that cognitive behavioral interventions focusing on addressing imposter feelings can improve outcomes.
The most effective intervention might be the simplest: claim the identity.
Say it out loud right now: “I am a runner.”
No caveats. No apologies. No qualifications.
Whether you’re lacing up for your first mile or your thousandth, whether you run 15-minute miles or 6-minute miles, whether you race every weekend or never at all, you are a runner.
The moment you put on shoes and move your body through space, you joined the club.
No one has the authority to revoke your membership.
Not the faster runner who passes you on the trail.
Not the social media account posting impossible achievements.
Not even the doubting voice in your own head.
You are a runner.
You always have been.
