. . . and following your heart
Deliberate: to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully
It often seems that runners fall into two camps: the ones that analyze everything from what they eat, to how much to run, to which races they should run. And then there are the runners who just jump in feet first, so to speak
I’ll bet you can guess which camp I fall into most often if you’ve been reading this blog for a while!
Pondering, which means to weigh mentally, to deliberate, to meditate, can achieve the opening of the spiritual eye’s of one’s understanding.— Joseph B.Wirthlin
Being deliberate is important
Even *I* have been known to just jump right in. I’ll bet even the most deliberate runner does, from time to time. Because sometimes it’s more important to follow your heart than to spend your precious time being deliberate.
I’m sure we’ve all had times when we feel called to do something, but even then, it’s important to take at least some time to deliberate on why you feel so called. Is it an internal calling — something you just know in your heart you are meant to or want to do? Or is in an external calling — something you are doing because your friends are doing it or someone is telling you you really ought to try it?
Usually external callings are not as satisfying as internal callings.
Stupidity is the deliberate cultivation of ignorance.— William Gaddis
Sometimes you just have to follow your heart
Making deliberate decisions can be important. But listening to your heart is important, too.
Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.— Andrew Jackson
I have run a few races on what appeared to be a whim — a trail half marathon because they said there’d be chocolate (there was — read about it here); a shorter trail race, the day after a long run, because it was a beautiful day for it (read about it here); the one and only RW Heartbreak Hill Half (because I got to run partially on the Boston Marathon course).
I don’t think you can ever go wrong if you truly listen to your heart. Just make sure it is your heart you’re listening to, no someone else’s.
It’s important to pick races for deliberate reasons. It will help motivate you to train. It’s equally as important to choose your races with your heart, because that, too, will motivate you to train. Deliberate and heart are like yin and yang — you need both to find balance in your life. — Chocolaterunsjudy
I am linking up with Debruns and her Wednesday Word
I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.
This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup
Tell me in the comments:
Do you tend to deliberate on which races to run?
Where has your heart led you to?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
I like to think my approach is a combination of both!I have been known to follow my heart and jump in to a race at the last minute but….I do consider all the factors to make sure I can do it.
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I usually pick my halfs really, really carefully. A lot of thought goes into it. And then once in a while I just jump in. 🙂
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I’m mostly a follow your heart person. Carpe Diem.
But I do make deliberate choices for some races based on the course such as Dash to the finish and views such as the Florida bridges.
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I always consider the views! But there are so many races to choose from it can be hard to decide!
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Yes it is. Locally I have a hard time choosing. Sometimes, it’s just who else is running it.
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I do think about which races to run. I remember a few years ago I signed up for a lot of them and did them for fun. I didn’t care, I was happy to be out there running. Now I also like to run for fun but also to compete with myself and to get a few PRs I am more diligent with my training and don’t want to race too much. This year I have a few in my calendar but mostly will not race.
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I don’t have a whole lot on my calendar this year either. I’d like to have a little more, and maybe I will, but yes, training is important to me!
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I also think I am a combination of both! As you say, it is important to make sure you are following your own dreams and not someone else’s or what you think yours should be
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I, of course, think being a combination is a good thing. 🙂 Never pays to be too rigid!
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I am in both camps. I don’t get all caught up in the analyze everything from what they eat, to how much to run. I want to enjoy the runs, not make them another full time job. I have one of those already.
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Luckily I don’t have a full time job. 🙂 But then again, I have other interests too!
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I tend to over think things if I let myself. Pulling the trigger and committing to run my first half and full marathons in 2007 was a huge leap for me. One that worked out rather well, thankfully. Typically I’m not one to show up unprepared.
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Signing up for my first half was definitely huge for me! Although I did just kind of jump into that because friends were *supposed* to run it. That, and Vegas.
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I am definitely guilty of analyzing all the things – sometimes to the point where I’m beating myself up for random choices. With regards to races, maybe I jump in feet first (throwing my name in for a lottery, etc) but mostly, I plan. I’ve never registered for a last minute race. It’s not in my nature. BUT, I am learning to follow my heart which is why I signed up for that trail 50k this year even after I had already decided I was doing MCM.
Although, I might be convinced to do a race on a whim with the promise of chocolate (or wine) afterwards. haha 🙂
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I have definitely registered last minute for local races. For a half — never. The closest I ever came was a few years ago when I did a half at the beginning of May & felt so good I was ready to sign up for a half I’d been eyeing for a while the very next week — of course it had sold out months ago,
So I found another one at the end of the month. It did not go as well, but I’m not saying I would never do that again. 🙂
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I plan everything out with training, but I’ll jump feet first when deciding which race to run. Whichever one makes me excited at the prospect is the one I’ll sign up for.
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That’s interesting that you follow a plan but jump into races!
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I think I’m somewhat deliberate, but a whole lot more spontaneous. But I guess even my spontaneous endeavors do have some forethought with them…maybe I’m deliberately spontaneous? (try to say that three times really fast LOL)
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I think being deliberately spontaneous can be a good thing. 🙂
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I love this post. I run far too many races “for fun” – which is fine to get your miles in, but it gets expensive. I am trying to be better about being “deliberate” about races to actually race
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I like to race, but it’s also kind of tiring. For me, anyway. So I race a bit less often than some people (and more than others).
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Listening to your own heart instead of someone else’s is solid advice! I think too many times runners want to do things just to keep up with what everyone else is doing.
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It is really important not to always go along with the crowd, but it seems like in the age of social media, FOMO comes into play way too often.
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I am mostly deliberate in my race choices and planning these days, but if someone suggests a race last minute and it sounds fun (and I’m trained for that distance), I’m in! Like you said, we’ve gotta listen to our hearts, too.
Thanks for linking up!
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