The Best Race I Never Ran (The Friday Ficks S5 E35)

Every Labor Day in New Haven, CT there’s a legendary 20k race - part national championship, part festival, and always unforgettable. Twenty five years ago this weekend, I had it marked as a must run on my marathon training calendar: perfect mileage, on-course support, and a cold beer at the finish.

Then life stepped in. My first daughter arrived nine days early, on the Saturday night before the race. Suddenly, the decision wasn’t about pace, training, or logistics. It was about values.

I could have run. The timing “worked.” But something bigger was calling. That weekend, I realized the race would always be there. Leia’s first few days in this world would not.

Roy Disney once said, “Decision-making is easy when your values are clear.” In that moment, mine were. The finish line I chose wasn’t on the streets of New Haven - it was in the hospital, holding my newborn and standing with my wife.

Success isn’t just about what we say yes to. It’s about what we’re willing to say no to, especially when the decision tests our priorities. The right “no” can be the most powerful yes you’ll ever make.

I’ve since run that race 12 times. But the one I skipped? That was the best race I never ran.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl