Running the Right Race: Knowing When to Pivot or Persevere

Ever found yourself prepared for one race, only to realize you're running a different one altogether? It’s disorienting when you’ve trained and planned for a specific goal, only to find out midway that things have shifted. The race you thought you were running isn’t the one unfolding before you. We get so caught up in persistence, in staying the course, that we rarely stop to ask if this is still the right race for us. It’s a classic dilemma — when do you stay the course and push through, and when do you pivot, change direction, and adapt to the new reality?

In my case, as I approached the 10km mark during what I thought was the first leg of the Fontainebleau half marathon, I was mentally preparing for the second leg. To my surprise, I was handed a medal and congratulated for completing the 10km race! Confused, I was not even halfway past the half-marathon mark — how could I be done? That’s when I realized that due to event delays, the 10km race, originally scheduled before the half marathon, had been pushed to the same time. Without understanding the French announcements about the changes, I had unknowingly run the wrong race.

At that moment, I faced a dilemma: should I accept the 10km personal best and stop or push myself to complete the half marathon, knowing I had already run 10km? My mind and body were geared towards finishing a half marathon, so I decided to test my limits. With determination, I pressed on and completed the half marathon, despite the initial confusion. This experience became a testament to the power of our mindset — sometimes the race we think we’ve finished is only the beginning, and pushing ourselves further reveals what we are truly capable of.

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Ben Saunders, the Arctic explorer, discussed the power of stepping into the unknown in his TED Talk "Why Bother Leaving the House?". Known for his extraordinary feats, like skiing solo to the North Pole and trekking 1,800 kilometers across the Antarctic wilderness, Saunders explained how his journey was filled with harsh isolation, brutal cold, and mental challenges. However, Saunders argued that the real adventure lies not just in the physical challenges but in pushing yourself mentally and emotionally. He stressed that life’s most important journeys happen when we challenge ourselves to go beyond comfort, embracing uncertainty and difficulty.

His philosophy resonates deeply with the idea that we must sometimes change course, not because the path ahead is easy, but because we’re driven by a deeper, inner desire to push our limits and grow. He reminds us that the journey is rarely linear, and stepping out of our comfort zones is where real transformation happens.

Saunders puts it best when he says, “To experience, to engage, to endeavor — that’s where the real meat of life is to be found.”

In my case, I chose to press on, pushing myself to complete the half marathon despite having already finished the 10km race. It wasn't the race I had planned for, but adapting to the situation showed me how powerful the mind can be when it aligns with a new goal. And the truth is, life often requires us to adapt to new realities and reframe our expectations.

It happens in various parts of our life, whether it’s a career path, a relationship, or even a personal challenge. We often think that changing course is a sign of failure, but in reality, it can be the most intelligent choice. Sometimes, the external situation forces us to pivot, as in my case, where race delays led me to unknowingly join the wrong race. Other times, the decision to shift direction is driven by an internal realization — a change in our goals, desires, or values. Knowing when to stick to the original plan and when to adapt requires self-awareness and the courage to choose the path that best aligns with the present circumstances.

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Here is a framework I came up with to guide myself on this question. I call it the ASP framework:

1. Revisit Assumptions: Start by questioning the assumptions that underpin your current course. Consider whether the conditions have changed and if your initial expectations still hold or need to be adjusted.

2. Stakeholder Management: Engage with key stakeholders to gather input and perspectives you may have missed. This ensures alignment and support for any changes that need to be made, keeping everyone on the same page.

3. Personal Conviction: Reflect on your personal beliefs and long-term goals to assess if the current path still aligns with your purpose. Sometimes, an inner shift signals the need to pivot, even when external factors seem stable.

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If the greatest challenges are often the ones within, then leadership is about calling others, including our own inner resistant selves, to embark on a journey into the unknown. As leaders, we frequently face decisions on whether to continue with a task, course-correct, or even change direction entirely. Like a captain navigating a ship through unpredictable seas, we must assess when to stay the course and when to pivot, ensuring we guide our teams with clarity and adaptability in the face of new circumstances. The ability to adjust while keeping sight of the ultimate destination is what defines effective leadership.