It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Lots of metaphors about the PhD and the viva recall marathons. They suggest perspective on how much time is involved, the pace, the determination and so on. It’s even common to see writers talk about the viva as the final mile of the PhD journey.
The viva is the last big challenge – but marathons aren’t 26 miles in length.
A marathon is 26 miles and 385 yards.
After 26 miles of progress there’s still a little more.
Not quite a quarter of a mile.
Submission is the 26 mile marker. The viva is that last 385 yards. Still a little to do. A little more work. A little more determination. But you really are almost there.
