Understanding and Working With Fear in Your Sport

Jun 16

Fear Isn’t a Sign You’re Weak,

It’s a Sign You’re Stepping Up!

Let’s get one thing straight: fear is not the villain.

Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior, or someone trying to get back into a sport after time off or injury, fear will show up. It’s part of being human, especially when you care deeply about something that comes with risk.

In outdoor sports, fear is amplified. Mountain biking, trail running, snowboarding, climbing.. these aren’t just hobbies. They’re things that demand our attention, focus, and physicality. And fear reminds us of that. But the goal isn’t to not feel fear. The goal is to know how to work with it.

1. Understand What Kind of Fear You're Feeling

Fear can be:

Protective – A signal from your body that something actually isn’t safe (e.g., you're too tired, the feature is too advanced today).
Narrative-based – Rooted in old stories about your worth, perfectionism, comparison, or what others will think.
Triggered by past trauma or injury – Your brain is doing its job to keep you from harm again.

Learning to pause and ask: What is this fear trying to tell me? is a powerful act of self-trust.

2. The Stretch Zone: Where Growth Lives

You don’t grow in comfort. But you don’t grow in chaos either. You grow in the stretch zone - the space between safety and overwhelm.

In this zone, fear might still show up, but you can recognize it without being ruled by it. You can breathe with it, work with it, and learn how to tell the difference between a “no” and a “not yet.”

3. Rallying Isn’t Always the Answer

There’s a time for “get back on the horse”, but it’s not every time.
Pushing through fear without the foundation of self-trust can lead to setbacks or injury. Rallying is a tool - and one best used when you’ve built up your capacity to discern when it serves you.

Take your time. Build your base. One brave step at a time is still forward.

4. Start Building a Relationship With Fear

Here are a few small practices to work with fear instead of against it:

Name it. Saying “this is fear” out loud can be grounding.
Breathe with it. Let it move through your body - not just your head.
Talk back. Acknowledge its presence and reassure yourself: “Thanks for trying to keep me safe. I’ve got this.”
Review after. After something scary, debrief what you learned. This reinforces growth instead of avoidance.

Closing Reflection:
Fear isn’t a flaw. It’s a companion on the path to growth.
Learn to understand it, and you’ll unlock so much more than courage - you’ll uncover clarity, trust, and a deeper connection to your body and sport.

👣 Whether you’re coming back after injury, pushing your edge in sport, or trying to find your way again — this work matters.