This article examines the theme of living deliberately, a concept prominent in both American philosophy and literature and one pertinent to the broader field of Kinesiology. The method for this project includes comparing the practices and commitments of Old Order Amish runners, as described by Bart Yasso (2012), with the writings of John L. Parker (1978) and Henry David Thoreau (1964). Several tensions become apparent when examining these works, tensions which provide a deeper understanding of what it means to strive towards a deliberately lived existence. This article focuses on three such tensions: work and play; the individual and community; and depth and breadth of experience