Hi there my running friend this is Coach Claire Bartholic, the Planted Runner, and this is the

Run to the Top Podcast, one of the first and only running podcast dedicated to making

you a better runner with each and every episode. We are created and produced by the

expert team of running coaches at runnersconnect.net where you can find the

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One thing that many runners seem to have in common is that we are champions at diminishing ourselves.

When we first get into running, we tell everyone that we are not really runners. Sure, we just put on our running shoes and went for a run,

but we're not really runners because real runners are somehow different than that.

Or we'll go for a long run and for whatever reason we feel like we need to stop and take a quick break.

Maybe get a drink of water or just take a breather.

And instead of celebrating that we went on a long run that, let's face it, the vast majority of the world does not do,

we'll say something like, yeah, but I had to stop in the middle and catch my breath.

And then we will ruminate ourselves into a big

downward spiral of negative thoughts about our running, our fitness, and our

self-worth, all because we stopped for five seconds on a 10 mile run. The list of examples of

negative self-talk in running goes on and on and on. Our splits at the track

aren't good enough. We didn't get a personal record at that race. We go on vacation and

feel guilty about having a tropical drink and not sticking to the running schedule.

I'd like to flip this entire mentality around right now.

If you run, you're a runner, and if you are a runner, you're an awesome runner.

Don't believe me?

...