Benny Smith
Nov 92 min read
When Identity Becomes the Enemy: The Athlete’s Trap
At some point, every serious athlete crosses a line: the moment when the sport stops being something you do and quietly becomes who you are. You stop saying I run and start saying I’m a runner. It’s a subtle shift, but it changes everything. That identity can be powerful fuel. It keeps you accountable when motivation fades, and it provides a sense of belonging in a world that doesn’t always understand why you’re up at 5:00 a.m. chasing watts or pace or heart rate zones. But w
