Why Race When the World is On Fire?

Last week, I had a session with a client preparing for a big, exciting race—one that’s outside his usual routine. The goal he’s set for himself is ambitious and deeply personal. It’s going to take a lot of work, but he’s committed to making it happen.

Or at least, he was.

In our session, he voiced something I’d already noticed in other runners—it’s hard right now to stay motivated about race goals.

With so much chaos and bad news coming at us nonstop, fresh worries seem to appear daily, and the uncertainty ahead feels overwhelming. It’s hard to know which threat to focus on before another takes its place.

In comparison, races can seem trivial. It doesn’t feel like a time to be excited about something like running when the world is, sometimes literally, on fire. And when every day brings new concerns, it can feel impossible to justify spending time and energy on a race.

If you’re feeling this way, it’s natural to start considering dropping down in distance—or not racing at all.

You’re just not excited about it anymore. It’s become an obligation you wish you hadn’t committed to—something in the way of more pressing priorities.

The problem is that this reaction is driven by a survival mindset—an automatic, knee-jerk response to the seriousness of everything happening around you.

You’re viewing the race as an either/or equation: Either you can stay focused on world events, or focus on the race—but not both. Running feels like a distraction from what matters, and with the constant uncertainty, it seems like a new crisis is always just around the corner.

Besides, you’re exhausted. You don’t feel like you have the energy or focus left to race. It feels like failure is inevitable.

In a modern version of the “freeze” response, the natural reaction is to do nothing—especially something like an ultramarathon that requires a huge amount of effort.

But survival mode is just one perspective. It’s not wrong—but it’s also not the only way to look at things.

Before you make any decisions about your race, take a moment to consider the opposite view. Why does training and racing still matter—to you, to those around you, and to the world?

Running the race, despite everything going on, can help you:

• Feel better - When you decide your race doesn’t matter, you’re essentially telling yourself I don’t matter. While skipping the race might seem logical in the moment, it may ultimately make you feel worse.

• Raise your energy - Constantly monitoring for threats is exhausting. Running a race might require physical effort, but it can also give you a mental breather, a recharge in a safe space—helping you sustain your energy for the long haul.

• Do good in the world - When you hold yourself back from living fully, you also limit the good you can do. Freezing and not racing doesn’t help the world. Showing up, sharing joy, and taking part in something meaningful does.

• See a Brighter Future – When you face the impossible in a race and believe, against all odds, that something better lies ahead, you strengthen the muscle of possibility. That belief doesn’t stay on the trail—it carries into the rest of your life. If you can trust in what’s possible during a race, even just a little, you can begin to see what’s possible in the world.

It’s entirely possible—and worthwhile—to race well while the world around you is in chaos. In fact, now might be the time you need it most.

There’s no right answer. You always have the power to choose—race or don’t race. But rather than reacting out of stress, make the decision intentionally, with thought and purpose.