How to Keep Going

Runners facing a big race often worry about being able to finish it.

They list reasons why.

The distance - 50k, 50 miles, 100k,100 miles, 200 miles - is a long way.

Cutoffs are tight.

The course has a lot of elevation, technical, hot, or cold.

But the most common worry - by far - is about themselves.

What am I going to do - if I get lost, cold, dehydrated, tired, sleepy, queasy, scared of the dark, down - when it gets hard?

“Am I going to be able to keep going?”

You want to know negative thinking won’t overpower you, you’ll be able to handle it all, and it will all work out your way.

And much as I’d love to convince you how fabulous you are, that won’t answer the question in your mind.

Because it’s not really a question.

It’s a decision masquerading as a question.

“Am I going to keep going,” is a decision.

A decision is “the action or process of resolving a question,” and there’s no one that can resolve this question but you.

You have three ways to resolve it:

• “No.”

• “I don’t know.”

• “Yes.”

“No, I won’t be able to keep going,” seems scary at first but it really doesn’t make much sense.

If you’re going to start the race, why would you decide this? Only when you only intend on cutting it short. Like when you’re restricted by your airline flight time, doctor’s orders, or some other factor.

Not often.

The second option, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep going,” just delays the decision.

You’ll be tempted to do this when you don’t want to make the wrong decision.

When you’re worried what others will think or you know you’ll be hard on yourself if you don’t finish.

It seems safer and easier to doubt until the race is over and you know but the downside is all that waiting and worrying costs you time and energy.

And putting the decision off until the race and deciding in the moment when you're tired, dirty, and the finish seems like a long way off could easily cost you a finish.

Not the strongest option.

That leaves, “Yes, I’ll be able to finish the race.”

Your mind may balk at this one but look at the reasons for choosing it.

It feels better.

It’s possible.

It’s a stronger way to start a race.

It’s more efficient. If you decide ahead of time, your decision is made and you have one less unknown to deal with during the race.

And most important, it’s the only way you’ll every be sure of your answer. The only way to know what you’ll do in the hardest of moments is to say, “Yes, I can finish this,” and give yourself the chance to carry through.

One of the reasons we sign up for these races is to answer this question for ourselves. To see what we’ll do in the hardest, darkest moment.

No one can tell you and it’s not something you passively wait to find out.

It’s a decision you make.

And I invite you to save time and energy and set yourself up for success by deciding right now, “Yes, I’ll be able to finish the race.”

And live into it.