Welcome to Running Scared, a mentoring organization that helps female high school runners better manage race-day nerves by pairing them with female college runners.

My name is Mia O’Neill, and I wish Running Scared existed for me when I was in high school. I’ve always loved running, from the first time my feet left the ground as a six-year-old running community track, to my life today as a collegiate track athlete. But despite my love for the sport, the motion, the adventure, the sisterhood…racing scares me.

The idea for Running Scared was born the summer between my freshman and sophomore years in college. I was home cheering on my high school team at their divisional meet, and I noticed how nervous many of my former teammates were. I wanted to rush the infield and tell them, “I get nervous too. You’ve got this.” 

Suddenly, I remembered how others had used small acts of kindness to help me with my race anxiety. A hug from a friend. A supportive note from a coach or parent. A pep talk from a teammate. These little gestures have big power. And this type of support lets female runners know they’re not alone, and that they can feel anxious and still run fierce.