Rules or Freedom?

Freedom.

One difference that’s created success for me over the years is that I see ultrarunning as freedom.

It’s been the one place in my life I get to decide how I want to do it, how I want to define success, and what’s possible for me.

Other people have their opinions but I’m free to filter out what works for me and leave what doesn’t.

I get to do it 100% my way.

Freedom gives me the power, as the dictionary says, to “act, speak and think as [I] want without hindrance or restraint.”

I talk with a lot of ultrarunners who see ultrarunning differently - as a set of rules they have to learn and follow.

Other people’s opinions matter, either as something to be followed or rebelled against.

And they have to do it 100% the right way to have a chance at being successful.

This approach limits them and turns ultrarunning into a joyless task.

It’s like this: imagine you’ve landed in a foreign country called Ultrarunning.

You’re excited to be here but the food and customs are unfamiliar, you have no map and you feel lost.

So you start asking the people around you for a map.

They give you one. It shows you cities, roads and most importantly, the country’s border. Good - now you know what’s what and the limits you’re operating within.

You also ask these people for the rules so you don’t look stupid or make mistakes. They tell you where you should and shouldn’t go, how you should live, and the right way to do everything.

Relieved to know the limits and rules, you set about following them perfectly so you can successfully fit in to this country.

Now, imagine you land in this same exciting country the same way but instead of asking someone for a map, you give yourself the freedom to take pencil, paper and supplies and start exploring the country for yourself.

You explore the map border and find to your surprise there’s no border at all.

You discover that you like some of the places you should, and some you shouldn’t.

You decide it’s nice to know what people think is right, but you’re going to do your own thing, pursue your own goals, live your own way…and you’ll still belong here just fine.

One approach limits you to the way things are, one frees you up for something new.

If you want to see what you can really do, give yourself the freedom to:

- Experiment and discover how much more is possible for you.

- Make mistakes and learn from them so you’re always becoming a better ultrarunner.

- Listen to your gut and do things your way when it’s right for you, even if everyone else is doing it differently.

Rules are easy - follow them.

But they only get you so far.

Freedom takes more effort - you figure things out for yourself.

But it’s the only way to become the truly confident, long-term successful ultrarunner you want to be.