You Don’t Want to Be Done

Late in a race, when you're exhausted and the finish is still too far away to feel real, you're convinced you want out.

You want to be done. You want to see the finish line, or at least the next aid station. You want the race to be over.

But here's what's actually true: you don't want to be done. You want to keep gaining.

You just forgot.

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Try this. You're 25 miles from the finish of a 100-miler. You have a choice - go backward 25 miles, or go forward 25 miles.

Which do you pick?

No question. You go forward. Every time.

Ask yourself why, and you'll find your desire again.

For me it's this: I've already seen what's behind me. And I don't want to lose the miles I’ve already gained. No way. I want to see what's ahead. I want to get to the next aid station. I want to keep gaining ground.

I already have so many miles, and I have way less left to go.

That's not the voice of someone who wants to quit. That's someone who wants to finish.

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Once you see it that way, it shifts. You stop having an internal “are we there yet” tantrum and start feeling curious about what's ahead. Hopeful there's something good to eat at the next aid station.

And you have a snack. Snacks always help.

Now you’re invested back in the race. Back in the race you signed up for - the one you don't get to run every day.

You still want those miles ahead of you, so go get them.