Nobody Cares…

Whether you have just started running, or have been doing it a while, there is a chance that you might feel like an imposter. Even become slightly paranoid that people are watching you, judging your pace, your form, or whether you “deserve” to call yourself a runner. But here’s the best and most freeing truth: nobody actually cares.

At Ladies Run Club, and within the InnerFight community in general, we do LOVE to celebrate people’s success. It’s great to see a client on a journey to a better way of living. Be it through running, the relationships they hold, or just becoming a better human. 

However, I see many people stopping themselves way ahead of their own potential. They get in their own heads about what others think. Stress that they might be the slowest person at Track Tuesday, or believe they are not as worthy if they do not PB a race.

So, here are a couple of questions for you… have you ever judged someone else for being slower than you? Have you ever thought less of someone because they came in slower than expected/planned in a race? The answer is most likely “no” to both. 

Running is not about proving yourself. It is about showing up for yourself. The reality is that most people are too busy with their own lives (and their own runs) to worry about what you’re doing. The only person whose judgment truly matters is yours. For context here, I pulled up on a track session 800m in a few weeks back; no one noticed… Another firm reminder that everyone is busy focusing on their own session, rightly so. 

Instead of seeing this as discouraging, flip the script. The fact that nobody is obsessing over your pace, distance, or effort means you have full permission to run however you want! You don’t need to justify your love for running to anyone. Whether you enter races, run solo, run in group, in the morning or evening. It is all up to you! There is absolutely no right or wrong. 

Welcome to the freedom of running. <3