As the season unfolds, the reality of the buildup means going to where the podium lives.
But at the fifth Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, taking the next steps meant the prospect of world leads, upsets and inching up the rankings.
Trackside and from the confines of the field, photographer Donald Reynolds took liberty in locking in each frame as the results flickered for the crowd overhead.
For some athletes — win or not — making the journey to next meeting is a guarantee while others pivot and find solace in the soul of the city.