The Runna Podcast Anna Sitar: Start Running Before You Feel Ready! | Build Running Confidence
Jan 9, 2026
Join Anna Sitar, a content creator and endurance athlete who transitioned from swimming and Zumba to marathon running. She shares her inspiring journey from a novice runner to tackling marathons, emphasizing that you don’t need to feel ready to start. Anna discusses the lessons learned from the Honolulu and London marathons, including overcoming self-doubt and the importance of resilience. With ambitions set for New York, she emphasizes enjoying the race while pursuing personal bests, reminding us that confidence is built one run at a time.
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Impulse Triathlon Sparked A New Path
- Anna decided to enter a sprint triathlon on a whim, buying a road bike the night before and doing her first open-water swim the day before the race.
- The experience reignited her love of multi-sport events and led directly to her falling in love with the run portion.
First Marathon Was A Transformative Trip
- Anna and her brother chose the Honolulu Marathon as a friendly, non-qualifying destination race for their first marathon experience.
- Finishing Honolulu taught her grit and provided a transformative confidence boost despite heat, hills, and a charley horse.
Marathon As Proof, Not Content Currency
- Anna links training achievements to psychological proof of capability because social media's shifting goals left her craving concrete wins.
- She used the marathon as a measurable challenge to rebuild confidence beyond online metrics.