the.com/long haul

means A long haul is an extended, demanding stretch of effort or time that requires sustained endurance rather than a quick burst of energy.

from The phrase comes straight from the language of transport — 'haul' meaning the distance over which goods are hauled, pulled, or dragged. A 'long haul' originally described a lengthy journey for freight, especially the stretch truckers or shippers covered before unloading, as opposed to a short local run. By the 20th century it had been pulled, so to speak, into everyday metaphor: any slow, effortful undertaking — a sickness, a career, a marriage — became 'the long haul,' trading cargo for commitment.