75% Complete

Lie to yourself. Tell yourself you need to go much further than you actually do. Convince yourself ahead of time that what you need to do is far beyond what is actually required. When you believe the lie, begin. Your mind is now so focused on the made-up destination that you will reach the end of the challenge before you even realize it’s already over. This tactic is rooted in the idea that the last quarter is where people quit. The last 25%, after 75% is already complete is where the minds of people give out. The last 25% is made up of space where the finish line isn’t necessarily in sight. Space where you need to summon all the remaining strength, grit, and mental fortitude just to continue. Space where people think they have nothing else to give so they stop. Their mind gives out. When their mind gives out, their body follows. This strategy morphs the last 25% mentally and turns it into just another leg in the race. There is no mental feeling that you are in the final 25% if you believe you still have another mountain to climb. Convince the mind of your determination to finish, and you will approach the finish line without realizing it.

It’s a common belief amongst ultramarathon runners that a 100-mile race begins around mile 80. With a majority of the race over with, a little over 75% complete, they find themselves entering a new void where they “begin” their race. This void can only be entered by having accomplished the 80 preceding miles. Many ultramarathon athletes claim they do these races so they can relish how they feel after mile 80. They have prepared for this exact moment. The exact moment when they think they can’t go another step. These people want to suffer. These people have told themselves that they have 20 more miles left, and mean it. They will finish the race. But this mentality is also rooted in the idea that the first 75% tends to go relatively smoothly. It’s the last portion of the event where the body begins to break down and things start to fall apart. Find a way to conquer the last portion and finish the race. Trick the mind and keep going.

The idea of stretching the goalpost and overemphasizing where the finish line is applies to many avenues of life outside of the world of distance running. Yes, you can tell yourself you’re running a marathon when you’re only running a half-marathon but not everyone has running goals in mind. You can set sales figures for your company that are far beyond what you expect them to be and then convince yourself to keep working until you come close. You can mentally prepare yourself to do 500 burpees if you really intend to do 300. By 250, you will mentally feel halfway done but will be nearing the true finish line. The brain is malleable and stretches to what you want it to believe. Convince yourself that your journey is much further than it actually is and you’ll reach your destination without the mental toll of what those “last couple of miles” really feel like.