Listen now (6 min) | Have you ever seen a long-distance athlete pause for a few seconds after running a long stretch, crouch down as they catch their breath, and the sweat trickles down their face onto the ground. They have a look in their eyes when they look up and back at the path they have to get back onto. It's a look of preparation as they map out their next steps, and they launch ahead with a stride that is almost a leap. It's the athlete's liftoff as we know it to be.