By Christopher Cudworth

Getting to the finish requires us to dispense with worry.

Insecurity is not the friend of any endurance athlete. When we’re fit we worry that we’re not fit enough. When we’re unfit we worry if we can get fit in time for the next big events. When we’re somewhere in between we worry that the events in which we’ve chosen to participate are a bit too challenging. Our goals make us worry. Expectations too.

All those worries, and for what? Pretty much all we can actually do is take the fitness we have and apply it the best we can. That’s true in running, cycling or triathlon. You can’t worry your way to wonderful performances.

I learned that lesson years ago during the runup to the Prairie State Games, a quasi-Olympic event held in the state of Illinois.

I’d qualified easily in the 5000 meters event by winning…