Belief Begins Before The Finish

/April 14, 2026

The Moment That Sparked This Blog Post

I was running on the treadmill and watching Formula 1: Drive To Survive. This particular episode was about the Mercedes and Ferrari teams. The focus was on Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton, not exactly everyday athletes. Yet, here was Lewis Hamilton talking about self belief as a person and an athlete. Hearing his words connected to me to him in a way that I had never considered before.

It was during this episode that Lewis Hamilton was talking to school children when he was asked what advice he would give to himself at their age. It was the kind of question I often hear but rarely ask of myself. Before I could answer the question, Lewis gave his answer.

His answer surprised me. He told them that he would tell his younger selt to believe in himself. He went on to say that even today, he has to remind himself of that. I want you to keep in mind that he is a multi-time World Champion in Formula 1. I would have thought that his self-confidence would be sky high. Except, here was was on my screen commenting on how difficult the season was and how he had to believe in himself.

For the next 20 to 30 minutes of that particular treadmill run, I went through the various moments in my life where I had to believe in myself despite feeling like the world was stacked against me. That is also when I started to think about the concept of whether or not it was the world or was it just me being against me.

When Self-Doubt Becomes Identity

I have a high case of imposter syndrome that was started by not being me thanks to wondering if I was Hispanic enough. From an early age, I would wonder if I was good enough. That manifested in a mindset that I was going to prove you (whomever you was) wrong. Reality is that I was proving myself wrong but I didn’t know it at the time.

When I first started running, I was naive. I didn’t know anything about anything. Running was free and all I wanted to do was to finish that first 13.1 mile race. I didn’t have a clue what would come of it. What happened was that the bug hit. The next 13.1 was going to be faster. I was going to prove that this first finish was not a fluke.

This mindset continued for nearly every race, especially when I got into triathlon. I was not a kid that swam competitively. I just splashed around. Now, I have something to prove. I had to believe in myself to get into the water and swim that 1.2 mile or 2.4 mile leg of the triathlon I was participating in.

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The Swim You Never Finish

8 Ironman finishes later and I still stand on the shores of the water wondering if I am good enough to get through the swim. The last time I did enter the water, I did not get out and jump on the bike. I DNF’d in the water at Ironman Wisconsin because I didn’t believe that I could do it. There is a story about burnout here, but I will save that for a later date.

When I launched Run Tri Bike, I believed that I could run a business, profitably. I believed that I could generate an audience that advertisers would want to be a part of. Out of the gate, I proved myself right.

As time went on, the business got harder just not in the way that you think. Sure it is difficult to think about stories that should be told. That wasn’t the hard part. Posting to social media to generate impressions also wasn’t the hardest part.

The hardest part was believing that I was good at business. See, if a post doesn’t generate the impressions that I thought it would, I worry and stress. Why worry and stress? Well, it is because those are metrics that advertisers are buying media on. I put a lot of pressure on myself to produce those impressions but under duress of being a good business owner. It wasn’t because of not being creative.

And when I am anxious about something the results stop mattering. Have a post that generates quite a bit of attention….not good enough. That reel that I thought would crush only to fizzle…..anxiety goes up another notch. That is when we start trying to squeeze blood from a stone. I start questioning if I’m good at business. It can become a vicious circle.

The Ironman Analogy of Life

That may seem like a thin line but it is also debilitating. If I don’t believe I am a good business owner then how am I going to be creative or know how to share what is an interesting story. These things get tossed around like an Ironman swimmer heading into the ocean while the waves are crashing down on them.

You try to come up for air but the next wave hits you. You finally make it out of the water and the headwind on the bike picks up. If that wasn’t enough, the hills are never ending. Then comes the time when you are heading into T2 to rack your bike.

Your running shoes go on. You take those first steps that feel a little wobbly but then your mind kicks in. I have done this before. I know how to do this. This is something that is second nature.

The Shift From Doubt to Knowing

That is where I am today. I went through those first few years of wondering if I am a good business owner which has led me to today. I believe, rather I know, that I am a good business owner. After all, you don’t run a business for 6 years unless you have something successful.

It is in this stage, the running stage, where I have come to realize that the best story is the one I am passionate about. The best social post is the one where I am deeply involved and care about. Those great podcasts? Yeah, those happen because I am leaning into the conversation instead of just talking.

Belief Over “Fake It Till You Make It”

Belief in yourself is not easy, especially when the world seems stacked against you. I don’t believe in the fake it until you make it. Rather, I believe in believing in yourself. Asking yourself the hard questions. Finding out what lights your heart on fire then pursuing it.

Pursuing it with a passion creates confidence. Going after your goal to be the best YOU that there can be. Not the best that the world tells you that you can be.

That self belief will get tested. It always does. Having the stories behind you to remind you that you can do it…..invaluable.

My message to you. Self belief is fragile but if you take a moment to breathe, reflect and process then you can do the thing you have set out to do.

The Everyday Athlete’s Truth

As an everyday athlete you have goals. It may be to run continuously for 10 minutes or qualify for Boston. Either way, the goals start with believing in yourself. If you don’t have that now, don’t worry because I believe in you.

I will hold onto that belief until you believe in yourself.

When you’re self belief as an endurance athlete helps you overcome your self-doubt, I’ll hand you the torch and say:

You Got This.

Jason Bahamundi Run Tri Bike Magazine Owner Triathlete Ultra Runner Trail Runner

Jason Bahamundi, founder of Run Tri Bike, is a passionate and accomplished endurance athlete dedicated to proving that there is a spot at the starting line for everybody and every body. With a background deeply rooted in the world of triathlons, running, and cycling, Jason has not only excelled in his personal athletic endeavors but is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive world of endurance sports. This led him to establish Run Tri Bike, a platform that serves as a hub for enthusiasts to connect, share experiences, and access valuable resources. Jason's genuine enthusiasm for endurance sports, continues to inspire individuals to pursue their goals and embrace the transformative power of an endurance sports lifestyle.