The 12-Mile Race
Advice I like to share:
When everyone starts to slow down on the last mile of the race, keep running.
Most people mentally check out the moment Thanksgiving leftovers hit the fridge.
They treat the last 30–35 days of the year like a bonus level that doesn’t count.
But here’s the reality:
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s is roughly 8% of your entire year.
Eight percent isn't huge, but it is also not nothing.
Eight percent, repeated over 10 years, becomes almost a full extra year of reps, training, and progression (or more commonly, progression lost).
Today - December 1st - starts the month almost everyone starts to slow down for.
Here is how I like to look at it:
Imagine every year is a 12-mile race.
Most people sprint right out of the gate. From January to February they are in a full stride.
But then, they quickly realize that they can’t hold that pace for long. By March they are already gearing down.
By April they are at a more at a sustainable pace.
By July, they might have already taken a break or two.
By August they need a reminder that they are still in fact, in a race.
In September or October they might start to pick up the pace again.
But then comes November, the cold weather, the holidays, the time off work, the family obligations, the turkey, the gifts, the cookies…
By mile 12, they are practically sitting down, rationalizing how they “deserve a break.”
Here’s the crazy part:
Mile 12 is where the crowd thins.
Mile 12 is where competitors gas out.
Mile 12 is where a small amount of effort creates massive separation.
If you simply jog that final mile, while everyone else is sitting on the curb, you can win by a ridiculous margin.
Not because you were faster all year.
But because you kept moving.
The last month of the year is the ultimate arbitrage.
Everyone else is slowing down. You are quietly compounding.
All because you didn’t quit at mile 12.
Mastery is built in the moments where you just do the thing, when others don’t.
Here are some tactic to apply today:
Pick one simple, intentional action to do daily until the year ends:
1 extra round of focused drilling
20 minutes of technical study
1 page of training notes
An extra walk, ruck, lift, or mobility session
An extra sales call or two
Writing a thank you note
The habit doesn’t need to be big.
It just needs to exist.
Because small, consistent reps in a 'slow’ month is how you win the 12-mile race.
The year is not over.
Not even close.
The last mile is where you start to separate yourself.
Here's your reminder: when everyone starts to slow down, keep running.
Until next Monday,
Tim
PS:
It’s Cyber Monday — 20% off everything on https://www.thepractitionersjournal.com/
If you’ve been waiting to start being intentional with your training, your journaling, or your routine… this is the best window you’ll get all year.
Finish strong and let everyone else nap on the sidelines.
