It's not about how fast you go. It's not about how far you go. It's a process.

I always tell beginning runners: Train your brain first. It's much more important than your heart or legs.

If you train your mind for running, everything else will be easy.

Why run? I run because I am an animal. I run because it is part of my genetic wiring. I run because millions of years of evolution have left me programmed to run. And finally, I run because there’s no better way to see the sun rise and set... What the years have shown me is that running clarifies the thinking process as well as purifies the body. I think best - most broadly and most fully - when I am running.

Don't compare yourself with anyone else. The world is full of runners, so you'll probably see one every time you circle the block or your favorite park. Some will be thinner than you, some smoother-striding, some faster. But don't let this get you down. There's only one runner who really counts: you. Running is your activity. Make it work for you, and don't worry about anyone else.

Here’s my mantra: ‘Every mile is a gift.’

It's not about speed and gold medals. It's about refusing to be stopped.