The real competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit

Running is just such a monastery- a retreat, a place to commune with God and yourself, a place for psychological and spiritual renewal.

The answer to the big questions in running is the same as the answer to the big questions in life: Do the best with what you've got.

To keep from decaying, to be a winner, the athlete must accept pain - not only accept it, but look for it, live with it, learn not to fear it.

There are as many reasons for running as there are days in a year.... But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child.

If marathoners finish they win.

The most important thing I learned [from running] is that there is only one runner in this race, and that is me.