Not only is [a half marathon] a good test for the marathon, it is also good for those who feel they were just getting going in a 10K and are physically and mentally primed to go further. A half marathon is a good test of your endurance, without the physical punishment of going the full 26.2 miles. More so even than the 10K, it will teach you about patience, pacing, and how to negotiate a wider range of physical and emotional cycles.

Some people feel 'transformed' from the first day they begin running; others feel that it's just plain hard work. Most of us realize it is both. I know how great running can feel, but I also know it can feel not so great, even downright awful! It can be fun, but it takes work to have that fun.

One day you are happy and laughing and the next you are crying.

Sustained motivation is essential to achieving your potential.

My goal has always been to introduce other people to running. They might accomplish something they never thought they could.

I don't think I would have been such a good runner if I hadn't enjoyed it.

There is something about the ritual of the race - putting on the number, lining up, being timed - that brings out the best in us.