Fear of failure as a female trail and ultrarunner
Last month I received a WhatsApp from an athlete in the current Breaking 250 cohort training for Atacama Crossing later this year. Here’s what she said:
“Realised something today. I’m scared of running fast in case I fail.”
In school we’re taught failure is a lack of success but it got me thinking, what if success wasn’t in the absence of failure, but despite failure. I hate to break it to you but fear of failure can block you from finding out what you’re truly capable of.
According to research conducted by SheRACES 45% of runners are put off entering races because of a fear of not making the cut-off times. This was a survey of over 1,800 runners, that’s 1,800 women who already run. Can you imagine what that percentage might look like for someone who’s totally new to the sport?
Here are 6 common fears of failure I see in female trail and ultrarunners:
Fear of a DNF (Did Not Finish)
Fear of coming last
Fear of running alone in the dark
Fear of not making cut-off times
Fear of letting family/friends/crew down
Fear of running fast
Since coming back from the inaugural Breaking 250 retreat last month, the countdown for Atacama Crossing is on and fear of a DNF (Did Not Finish) or not making cut-off times are all very real fears surfacing in the Breaking 250 training group right now.
There are no finish line guarantees when you come inside of Project: Breaking 250, the program and what you get out of it is very much dependent on you, your commitment to the process and what action you take based on the coaching calls and resources available to you.
But I created the Breaking 250 platform to empower you, to celebrate your superpowers and to cultivate a support network that allows you to thrive within an incredible community of women who are all on the same journey.
And one of the reasons why I choose to work with an ultra distance event organizer: RacingThePlanet, despite the fact that it is female founded, is the event is set up to allow for generous cut-off times even though it is considered a more “extreme” endurance challenge.
Approximately 20% of competitors will run most of the course, 60% combine running with walking, and 20% walk the entire course. A competitor that can complete 40 kilometers/ 25 miles in 10-12 hours should be able to meet the cut-off times.
Breaking 250 exists to make “extreme” less intimidating, more welcoming and ultimately give you confidence that a finish line is possible for you.
We even celebrate not finishing too. In last year's cohort two out of the eight women in the team didn’t cross the finish line. So next time you catch yourself scared of failing, lean into it and embrace the unknown. You’ll always learn more from a DNF than from an event you comfortably finished.
Are you in?