go the distance complete a difficult task or endure an ordeal.

☞ Go the distance is a metaphor from boxing that means, when used of a boxer, 'complete a fight without being knocked out' or, when used of a boxing match, 'last the scheduled length'. In the USA there is an additional baseball-related sense: 'pitch for the entire length of a game'.

2013Pop Matters So many people have tried and so many have failed and very few have, as you say, gone the distance.