When I started running, those last miles seemed (and sometimes still seem) so long and arduous, but this year I’ve been able to look at them with more perspective. Compared to the marathon, mile 15 is barely a thing. If I could come in at a 7:45 at mile 26, why not anything else? What couldn’t I do?

It’s learning to recognize the feeling of fatigue and then dismiss it. If you’ve been there enough, it becomes less daunting and more familiar. I thought of the elite runners who burn out instead of always running a steady pace.