Last week Rachel Entrekin set a new record as the fastest person to complete the Cocodona 250 — one of the most brutal ultra marathons on the planet.
Across 253.3 miles of desert and mountainous terrain, runners face more than 38,000 feet of climbing, remote trails, long stretches between towns, and multiple nights on foot. Entrekin covered it all in 56 hours and 9 minutes, finishing more than an hour ahead of second place.
In an interview after the race she described the moment the imposter thoughts arrived.
“What are you doing? You’re going to blow up. You’re going out too fast and too hard.”
She was leading the race — and still her brain tried to talk her out of it.
Then she flipped the tape.
She reminded herself of the work she had done, the races she had finished, and the strength she had built. She looked at the reality in front of her. She was in the lead. She was ready — and she asked herself the question that changed everything.
If anyone is going to win this, why can’t it be you?
Entrekin later said that women especially tend to talk themselves out of even trying because “We think we’re not qualified or we don’t have experience.” Her mantra — why not you? why not try? — carried her through the next 200 miles.
Your Brain Is Telling You Porcupines
This is something I talk about often in my keynotes and workshops.
Our brain wants us to stay comfortable, and our comfort zone is coated with a thin veneer of fear. Our brain produces thoughts that undermine us and quietly sabotage us into stillness.
Just because you have a thought, doesn’t mean it’s real.
Sometimes all it takes is ten seconds of courage to flip the tape, challenge the story, and take one tiny step forward. Small, incremental action compounds into progress over time.
Ask Yourself the Same Question
So, the next time your brain offers you a reason to hold back, try asking yourself the same question Rachel did.
Why not you?
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