Runners are the ultimate celebration people. Running is just so intense, you're really experiencing life to the fullest.

Running is a very natural activity. If you get too caught up, you find yourself constantly seeking to make running something that it isn't. You should let it be what it is - a very simple activity. Running has become too complicated for many people and they wind up turning sour on the sport, or losing the focus of their direction.

The advice I have for beginners is the same philosophy that I have for runners of all levels of experience and ability -- consistency, a sane approach, moderation and making your running an enjoyable, rather than dreaded, part of your life.

Runners...you're competitive, but you want to have fun, too. You want to enjoy life. And runners really get to do that, I think-after we recover.

If you want to win a race you have to go a little berserk.

I also feel it usually takes four or five races to hit your best marathon for your body to be accustomed to the training AND the race itself.

My guess is many top athletes, distance runners included, use performance-enhancing drugs, enough so that the problem must be tackled.