Yes You Can?

Long distance athletes often face a unique psychological battle with uncertainty.  One starts a marathon, Ironman triathlon, 50-kilometer ski race, or even a six-hour bike ride and a little doubt exists about completing the event.  Will I be able to hold the pace?  Are there too may hills?  What if the weather turn atrocious?  Can I endure?


Then one encounters a moment when certainty reaches a tipping point.  Short of an unseen disaster, the athlete knows they can make it a few more minutes, kilometers, strides.  The mental boost this gives the athlete is tremendous.  It is not always a turn of speed but the relaxation from the mental stress of the unknown starts to fade.  


Interestingly, this moment of cross-over is often very much in our control.  What if we decided the certainty of finishing was going to take place 5 kilometers sooner?  What if we were so bold that we never doubted the result from the start?  How would it change your perspective if you moved uncertainty forward in an event?