The marathon can humble you.
To be a consistent winner means preparing not just one day, one month or even one year - but for a lifetime.
I often lose motivation, but it's something I accept as normal.
I also feel it usually takes four or five races to hit your best marathon for your body to be accustomed to the training AND the race itself.
No one who works a forty hour week will ever beat me.
A change of pace in terms of your running pace will give you strength psychologically.