Now back on the track after an extensive injury lay-off, Beijing Olympics 1500m silver medalist Nick Willis can reflect on a more relaxed approach to his running.
Willis, 26, has had to go through some difficult times over his relatively brief running career including overcoming injuries, psychological demons and the problems involved in dealing with success.
A hip injury followed by surgery kept Willis out of competitive racing for nearly a year before he took part in the Capital Classic in Wellington just over a week ago.
While the public has witnessed his highs of Beijing 2008 and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006, there have been difficult times to endure too.
"The most frustrating part was the seven-week period before I actually got the diagnosis while I was in New Zealand. You can't start your rehabilitation and start taking positive steps forward until you know what it is and I just had to wait.
"Once I had the surgery there were issues regarding it, such as being on crutches for weeks and not being able to walk, let alone jog. It was a humbling experience to say the least but just like my running training I set goals and got on with it," he told Sportal New Zealand.
"Two or three months into it I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and see that I was going to get back to full fitness, and that the surgery was a success.
"But for the first couple of months you're worse off after the surgery than when you first have it," he said.
An unlikely outcome of his rehabilitation is that it has contributed to a more relaxed racing temperament for Willis as he feels the pressures of public speaking are far more difficult to handle than the pressures of racing.
"After having success there's somewhat of an expectation [public speaking] and it's an opportunity to use your platform as an athlete to have a positive influence.
"When you're speaking in front of tens or hundreds of thousands of people and you're meant to entertain them with just your words for 45 minutes, it's difficult.
"It's never easy doing that but once you step onto the sports field after that experience it just feels like a piece of cake compared to having to speak to all of these people. Running seems easy after that."
"I think one of the reasons we let anxiety get the better of us in those big moments is because we're wondering, 'What if I fail? What's everyone going to think when I come home?' That's the same way I feel when public speaking.
"It's helped me a lot and it's something that I'm going to continue, even though I don't enjoy it so much, I know it's something that helps me on the sports field."
While some of his greatest achievements could lie ahead of him, Willis still takes time to ponder his future outside running and hopes to leave something behind him once he hangs up his spikes.
"I always keep an eye around the corner a little bit. I don't want my career to end and be sitting on the couch wondering what's next.
"I've always got a toe out the door so that there will be somewhat of a transition but at that same time, this is my moment to make