Own Your Story!

News flash: I'm not elite! I don't compete for prize money. I like taking pictures and stopping on trails to eat snacks.

I still try, though. I train year-round. I hire a coach for myself. I set ambitious goals. I sign up for several races every year and genuinely try to run my best. Yet, there are certain stories I tell myself: that I lost the genetic lottery, that I'll always be the slow one, that I'll never quite measure up, that I don't truly belong. But none of those stories are true, and I'm ready to flip the narrative. 

I won the genetic lottery. It's true I'll never be fast enough to be elite, but I don't need to win races in order to set ambitious goals and enjoy running in beautiful places. My body has allowed me to slowly yet consistently build up my running abilities over many years. I've achieved goals I didn't even dare dream ten years ago. I won the genetic lottery.

It's actually okay to be the slow one. I've attended group runs where I struggled to keep up in the back of the pack. I've been dropped by faster runners. I've tried to hide the fact that I'm gasping for air while others ramble on as if they're chatting in a cafe. But I still achieve my goals. I have finished multiple ultramarathons, including two 100-mile races. I am the same person who has struggled, been dropped, gasped for air, and who has crossed many finish lines and achieved many goals. It's okay to be the slow one.

I do measure up. We've all heard it before: comparison is the thief of joy. What are you measuring yourself against? Who is unwittingly stealing your joy? It can be difficult in the era of Strava and social media to resist comparing ourselves to others. But I am here to own my story. I'm just another runner out in the world trying to improve myself and enjoy a hobby that is supposed to be fun. Isn't that the same for all of us? I do measure up. 

I do truly belong. One of the biggest things that first drew me into trail running was the feeling of acceptance. It felt different than the culture of road running. Mile times were less important than simply doing something hard and adventurous. The culture of trail running has changed in some places to be more competitive and elite-focused, but there are still plenty of spaces where the grassroots, old-school vibe still exists. I do truly belong (and so do you). 

We all have stories we tell ourselves. These stories can either hold us back or propel us forward. If you desire to flip your own narratives and set ambitious goals, I'd love to coach you!

You can reach me at: jen.singlesteprunning@gmail.com 

Jen and Ryan Wold are trail and ultrarunning coaches living in Ouray, Colorado. Click here to learn more!