How One Wrong Assumption Cost My Client a Finish

Picture this: You're grinding through mile 80 of a 100-mile ultramarathon. 

You’re exhausted, but your determination is strong. You're keeping a good pace, you’re at peace being in the back of the pack, and you're going to do everything you can to make it to that buckle.

Then you hear footsteps behind you.

You turn around and see two fresh-looking runners holding race markers. You’re surprised to see them until realize who they are - the race sweeps. 

In a moment, your heart drops. Your carefully constructed mental fortress crumbles. "I'm done," you think. “It’s over."

This exact scenario recently derailed one of my coaching clients. She was running strong in a challenging A-race when the sweeps caught her. She gave up and walked into the next aid station where she was pulled for time. 

Only later did she learn the truth that could have saved her race—and it's a critical lesson every ultrarunner needs to know.

The Costly Misconception

Here's what you might get wrong: Sweeps are not the same as cutoff.

This seems obvious when you read it, but in the heat of a challenging race, when you’ve been working your hardest - when fatigue clouds your judgment, emotions are fragile, and you can’t go faster - the distinction doesn’t seem to matter. 

It’s easy to think of sweeps as the grim reaper of racing - the human embodiment of cutoff. The death of your dream.

But this thinking is fundamentally flawed, and it will make you quit a race you can actually finish.

What Sweeps Actually Do

Race sweeps have a job, but it might not be exactly what you think. In general, their primary responsibility isn't to enforce cutoffs—it's to stay behind the last runner and pull markers off the course. They pull flagging tape, pick up dropped gear, and ensure no one gets left behind on the trail.

(Side note: They’re also not there to pick up trash. Don’t litter.)

Think about what this means:

- If the last runner is 5 hours ahead of cutoff, the sweeps can be 5 hours ahead too.

- Depending on when they start and how hard it is to pull markings, they may be way behind cutoff

- Sweeps follow logistics, not cutoff schedules

The sweep’s position tells you absolutely nothing about your standing relative to cutoff times. They might be cruising comfortably ahead of schedule, they might be struggling to keep up with a surprisingly fast back-of-the-pack runner, and they might be bogged down with markers.

The Race-Saving Response

If you encounter sweeps during your race, here's what to do instead of panicking:

Question your assumptions. Your brain will want to jump to conclusions. That's normal. But you’ve invested a ton of work and race day isn't the time for assumptions.

Check the facts. How are you actually doing against cutoff? Pull out your phone, check your splits, do the math - whatever you need to do. Ask the sweeps directly—do they know where they stand relative to cutoff times?

Communicate your needs. If their presence is rattling your nerves and affecting your performance, it's okay to ask them to hang back or stay out of sight. Most sweep crews are understanding about this - they might have even been where you are.

The Bigger Picture

This sweep situation illustrates a crucial truth about ultras: your biggest obstacles are often mental, not physical.

My client had trained her body beautifully. She had the fitness to finish her race. But she didn’t spot the common assumption she was making - “my race is over” - and not questioning that assumption cost her the race she'd worked for. 

This is exactly why mindset training isn't optional for ultrarunners. When you train your mind alongside your body, you develop the mental ability to spot these thought errors in real-time. You learn to pause, question, and verify rather than react from emotion.

Your Mental Training Starts Now

The next time you're out on a long training run, practice catching and questioning your assumptions. When your mind tells you that you're too slow, too tired, or too far behind, ask yourself: "Is this actually true, or is this just a story I'm telling myself?"

Because on race day, the difference between a buckle and a DNF often comes down to your ability to distinguish between facts and the stories your mind creates.

Don't let a sweep crew—or any other mental trap—steal your finish. Train your mind like you train your body, and you'll be ready when these moments arise.

This approach worked perfectly for my client. In her next race, she was mentally prepared and finished beautifully. 

Like hers, your race is waiting on the other side of that mental training. Make sure you're ready for it.