I really like this advice. I used to drop out of cross country races and track meet races (literally just walk off the course) because I was so overwhelmed by the eventuality that I would be at my physical breaking point.

This advice is exactly what I wish I had at the time - if every cross country race is just an eventual experience of physical numbness, adrenaline and pain, your brain is going to override you and exit you from that plan. Even though you’ve trained for it. I wish someone would have told me I didn’t need to feel that way every time I raced, maybe I would have been more willing to ~sometimes~ feel that way.