You don’t have to feel ready to start running

That Imposter Feeling

There’s something I regularly hear from people who want to start running.

“I want to start running… but I don’t feel ready yet.”

Sometimes that means:

• I’m not fit enough.

• I need to lose some weight first.

• I’m too slow.

• Everyone else looks like they know what they’re doing.

And sometimes it’s harder to put into words. Just a quiet voice that whispers “I’m not a runner — maybe this isn’t for me”.

So shout this from the rooftops — right from the start:

You don’t have to feel ready to start running. You just have to be willing to begin where you are.

Running isn’t just for runners

Somewhere along the line, running picked up a reputation. It became something for people who are:

• Naturally sporty

• Quick

• Confident

• The people who say, “I’ve always been a runner / fit / athletic”

But running isn’t a personality type. It’s not a body shape. And it’s definitely not something you have to earn by suffering first.

At its heart, running is just a movement skill — and it can be learned, gently and gradually, by real people with real lives.

Confidence doesn’t come first

One of the biggest myths is that confidence has to come before you start.

That one day, you’ll wake up feeling brave, motivated and certain — and then everything will click.

In reality, it nearly always works the other way around.

Confidence grows after the action (the first awkward jog).

After the first time you surprise yourself.

After you finish the action (the run) and think, actually… I did that.

You don’t run because you’re confident.

You build confidence by running — one small step at a time.

Starting small isn’t a failure

Another fear I hear a lot is this:

“If I start slowly, I’ll never improve.”

But starting small is how progress lasts.

It’s how bodies adapt. It’s how habits stick. It’s how people stay healthy, motivated and injury-free.

Walking breaks aren’t cheating. Short runs still count. Feeling slower than you expected is completely normal (in fact, it is to be encouraged!).

What running looks like at BraveKind

At BraveKind Coaching, I keep things simple and human.

I focus on:

• Consistency rather than intensity

• Kindness rather than criticism

• Progress that fits around real life

That might mean:

• Running twice a week, not every day

• Adjusting plans when life gets busy

• Listening to your body instead of pushing through regardless

Running should add to your life — not become another thing you feel you’re failing at.

If you’re hesitating right now

If you’re reading this and part of you wants to start running — or come back to it — but another part feels unsure, self-conscious or nervous… you’re not alone.

You don’t need to be fearless.

You don’t need perfect kit.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

You just need one small, brave step.

And then another.

That’s how it starts.

Where courage meets consistency.

Begin where you are.

— Tim