What is Success? - By Ken Norris
More to the point - What is failure?
Failure is the inability to maximise your potential. If you do not achieve your potential, whether it is to run a 4 minute or a 10 minute mile, you have failed! You have succeeded when you have tried, and can honestly say, "on the day, I could not have run better" If that is the case, THEN YOU ARE A SUCCESS!
TARGET THE OPPOSITION
Many athletes are obsessed with times or distances. What really matters is "Who did I beat?" If you compete regularly for your club, you will meet many of the same competitors time after time. Look at the opposition. Who is always just in front of me, just out of my reach? Tell yourself, he or she is MY target. Concentrate your mind. How can I beat them. YOU, CAN DO IT. Be positive! Nothing is impossible. Keep telling yourself, "you can do it" and train hard with that in mind. Have they got a weakness you can exploit? Who beat them last time, how can I do it next time? Don't just accept defeat as your lot. Aim to close the gap on your target in every race until you can beat them. When you have done it, who is next? Times and distances don't matter. It is PEOPLE you should try to beat. As you progressively beat opponents, your times and distances will automatically improve.