Crossing the Finish Line Doesn’t Automatically Make You a Marathoner… Or Does It?

Finishing 42.195 km should be enough to convince anyone. Yet for many amateur runners, the medal around their neck doesn’t silence that nagging inner voice: “Am I really a marathoner?”

✓ Between constant comparisons, self-doubt, and the search for recognition, imposter syndrome has quietly crept into the running world.

We always picture the marathoner, arms raised, beaming in front of the finish line arch. In reality, another emotion often takes hold—more insidious: doubt. Some insist they didn’t really “run” a marathon because they walked at the 35 km mark, while others feel they don’t deserve the title because it took them over five hours. Julien, 32, recalls a particularly vivid experience of imposter syndrome: “I had just finished my first Paris Marathon. I was exhausted but so proud… and yet the first thing I told my friends was, ‘I ran 4:52, so it doesn’t really count.” A telling statement, as if the effort itself held no value unless it fit into a “performant” category.

This feeling often stems from constant comparison. Social media has only amplified it: every weekend, Strava, Instagram, and Facebook are flooded with impressive times and heroic stories. When Eliud Kipchoge conquers Berlin in 2:01 or your colleague finishes a marathon in 3:20, it’s hard not to measure your own performance against theirs. The problem is that this comparison erases a simple truth: a marathon – whether run in 2 hours or 6 – remains the same course, the same distance, the same challenge. Forgetting this, many amateurs reduce their achievement to a number, as if 42.195 km suddenly becomes shorter because someone else ran it faster.

| Legitimacy is a Matter of Perception

Imposter syndrome, well-known in professional life, translates perfectly to amateur sports. Many marathoners only feel legitimate if those around them acknowledge their effort. “When I told my colleagues I ran a marathon, their first question was, ‘Oh, but in what time?’ I said 4:40, and I could feel their smiles stiffen a bit,” says Sarah, a long-distance enthusiast for almost three years. “Since then, I’ve struggled to call myself a marathoner, as if I have to justify it.” This need for external validation often shapes how one perceives their own performance. Yet being a marathoner shouldn’t depend on a time or someone else’s judgment – it should be about the personal journey that got you to the finish line.

| When the Mind Gives Out Before the Legs

The striking thing is that the challenge isn’t just during the race, but afterward. The body recovers in days, but the mind can cling to that sense of not being “good enough.” Some run multiple marathons just to reassure themselves, as if collecting medals proves their belonging. Others, like Thomas, a 41-year-old experienced runner from Grenoble, avoid mentioning their achievement for fear of being asked their time. “I’ve been running for ten years and done three marathons, but I don’t really talk about it. I always think: real marathoners aim for 3 hours. I just survived the distance.” Here, imposter syndrome acts like a persistent shadow: suffering and crossing the line isn’t always enough – you also have to feel entitled to call yourself a “marathoner.”

| Reclaiming Pride in the Effort

The key might lie in shifting perspective. Sports psychologists often emphasize that a marathon isn’t just about the finish time – it’s about the process. Every long run in the cold, every weekend sacrifice, every ache managed in training contributes to a runner’s identity. As Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie told The Guardian: “When you run a marathon, you face the distance, not the other runners or the clock. In long-distance running, you have to learn patience. You don’t need to start fast. But training is what really matters.” Framing the effort within this broader context restores value to the experience. Being a marathoner doesn’t mean breaking records; it means embracing a journey far bigger than the finish line.

| The Final Sprint

The word “marathoner” carries weight, which is likely why it triggers so much doubt for those who claim it. It evokes endurance, courage, and resilience. Yet there are no hidden rules: no minimum time, no required pace. Legitimacy doesn’t equate to performance – it’s about commitment. So yes, even the runner who walked at 30 km, the one who took five hours, or the one who swore never to race again… all are marathoners. And the next time that inner voice asks, “Am I really legitimate?”, perhaps the simplest answer will do: there are no impostors at the finish line of 42 km.

➜ Check out the marathon calendar

Dorian VUILLET
Journalist