It’s not very smart to start a 200m sprint at the 210m mark. Starting further back on a marathon is less of an issue.
The best place though depends on what you are trying to achieve.
Big projects with long timelines require much more planning and preparation than short sprints. The best place to start is a few steps back, making sure the fundamental assumptions are appropriate and conducive.
Ideally, short sprints would be better with a running start.
