This part from the write up of D'Amato's record breaking run really struck me:
"Often when someone breaks a record, you’ll hear them talk about feeling great and being in the zone. Not D’Amato. She woke up on Sunday believing she was capable of breaking the record. Once she got out there, however, she admitted in a post-race press conference that the race was “a struggle.”"
I think too many people at all levels expect to feel good for their best performances and that can be inhibiting. If you only expect to run well when you feel good then any little thing that seems off on the day can hold you back. If you're doing something you haven't done before, then it should feel hard - if it feels easy, you're working within yourself. If you go in expecting to hurt, then you're in a better place to deal with it and still meet your goals