In that critical moment about two-thirds of the way through the race when you’re hurting more than you’ve ever hurt before, your job is simple: You say yes. You don’t worry if you can maintain it. You say yes and extend the game a little longer, and a little longer, giving yourself a shot. At that critical moment with a mile to go, my confidence was preoccupied with a heated debate as to whether I belonged there at all. It sucked all the power out of my legs, leaving me shuffling along toward a distant last.
