The best ultra runners in the world have persevered to get big wins or continue fighting to finish respectably. When something goes wrong for Jim deep into a race, he completely throws in the towel and doesn't continue to fight. He had only 7 miles to go last year, yet he supposedly sat on the curb after a wrong turn and wallowed in pity.
http://www.runnersworld.co.za/news/ryan-won-western-states-not-jim-get-over-it/