The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you'll receive. But it's just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey.

The label of 'marathoner' has, from the beginning, been awarded to those who went the distance under their own power, whether they ran, walked, crawled or tiptoed. When you cross that finish line, you've entered an elite group. About one-tenth of one percent of the population has done it. Don't let anyone take that great achievement away from you.

There's an old adage that for every second too fast per mile in the first half of the race, you'll run at least 2 seconds slower at the end.

When I finish a run, every part of me is smiling.

The most important force inside you for feeling better all the time is the will to get more fit.

If you're laboring up a steep hill, imagine that a towrope is attached to the center of your chest, pulling you steadily toward the top.

We are designed to run and we increase our chance of daily happiness when we do so.