2026 Challenge Reflection #2:
River Road Half Marathon in Gallatin Gateway, Montana - April 2026
My second half marathon came on the heels of my first half marathon, just over a month later. I was riding the high of my first accomplishment, a race I nearly didn’t attend but scaled several hurdles to make it happen. Less than 36 hours after crossing the finish line, I saw stars as the River Road Half Marathon crossed my screen with a sign up fee of $0. Barely thinking twice, I registered and made the recommended $10 donation and texted my friend from the last race to ask if she was in. Like any sane person, she told me no; but that was okay, because I had already decided I was in.
Hello Imposter Syndrome
37 days after crossing the finish line, I found myself staring at the steering wheel in the parking lot of a tiny school on a community about 15 miles outside of Bozeman, Montana. What had seemed like a great idea after my first half marathon was currently filling me with dread.
Who did I think I was? Signing up for a second half marathon after finishing the last one second from last… Did I think I was a runner or something?
As the other runners pulled in around me I stared at my dollar tree shower caddy on the seat next to me. Filled with fuel, head phones, hair ties and other race day gear, I knew it was time to load my vest and figure out where this shuttle was.
I pushed the cocktail of anxiety and fear from my head and got out.
The “shuttle” was some guy with the run club hosting the event and his truck. He was friendly enough and chatted animatedly with the other riders and I nodded and amiled weakly.
It felt like they all knew eachother and I had a giant flashing sign over my head that read “OUTSIDER”
My Worst Nightmare
When we got to the start line, there was a table with to grab my bib and a tripod with a race timer and a baby playing in the mud. Everyone was chatting and catching up, clearly good friends and I realized what I had somehow missed up until this point:
This was less of a race and more of a Saturday morning run club meet up.
Aka my worst nightmare.
A run club isn’t my worst nightmare because there is anything wrong with them. It’s because I feel like there is something wrong with me. I have a massive case of imposter syndrome and it is the worst when it comes to running. I struggle to feel like I belong in runner spaces: run clubs, race expos, running stores… in all of these spaces that nasty little voice whispers “you don’t belong here.”
But I was here so I had to battle my fear and get on that start line.
Doing It Scared
Standing at that start line was one of the times I have felt most out of place and uncomfortable in my own skin. I had to fight the urge to walk away from the group multiple times.
Finally the race commenced and we took off, running down a dirt road where other runners quickly left me in the dust. Alone on the road is where I was most comfortable so this worked well for me and I settled into my cadence.
The route was an out and back, with the turn around point at a buffalo farm. The only “aid station” was a small folding table with a water cooler perched on it. I thought about turning around no less than 6 times in the first 5 miles. I didn’t.
Truthfully, a morning filled with blue skies, baby goats and buffalos on a flat road make it hard to complain so I won’t.
As other runners began to lap me and we exchanged the typical friendly waves and words of encouragement I have come to now associate with race culture, my discomfort began to melt away. Maybe no one else thought I was as out of place as I felt.
No Medal Doesn’t Mean No Reward
The finish line felt weird because by the time I made it back, most people had finished, packed up and headed home. The remaining group was small and the clapping almost obligatory. But it didn’t matter because I knew I had done something huge for myself. This race was one more opportunity in which I carved out space for myself in the running world.
This race began paving the way for me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit more with each race I attended. It helped build my confidence showing up in this space. And it showed me that I was capable and I belonged.
River Road was entirely free to sign up for and priceless in what it gave back to me with each mile.
My last race: Run to the Pub Half Marathon
Next race: Montana Women’s Run
