Even at the highest level, in any physical effort over 4 or 5 minutes, the pace is not overly fast.
Or, at least it is consciously controlled – effort is placed carefully, in particular for the first 95% of the event.
This is not the case in single lift efforts, or sprints. Here, while there is still composure, there is often pure maximal effort for the duration of the event.
Learning to pace, or learning to consciously gauge and control your output at a higher level while remaining calm, in these longer events (doing a marathon? Even more important) is often more important than actual top end aerobic capacity.
The even split, or negative split (finish faster than you started) is a powerful tool to develop.
Your best overall performances will come from cultivating:
– Sustained effort
– Impeccable form and attention
– Patience with output (holding a certain amount back until the right moment)
– The ability to gauge how long the event will “feel” before it begins
While this is all particularly relevant for the physical world, it translates to project management, planning a holiday or starting an artwork.
