You know it's going to hurt, you know you are going to struggle, but you Have to work on your form, stay upright, the sooner you get there the sooner the pain is over.

Every runner has a specific motivation and inspiration for running a marathon. This year, all 36,000 of us will 'run together' to demonstrate the spirit of the marathon. We will still have our individual motivations, but we will be unified under the Boston Strong umbrella.

I think [my kids] are runners. They definitely have the background. I try to help them as much as I can.

Most of us have enough areas in our lives where we have to meet others' expectations. Let your running be about your own hopes and dreams.

I love to read autobiographies. [What is your favorite autobiography?] the autobiography of Coach John Wooden. Everybody has a struggle so it's about seeing how they overcome it and be the best they can.

Nobody said it's going to be easy. You have to dig into yourself. Think about your family. Think about the journey itself. THINK IN THE MOMENT.

But I also realize that winning doesn't always mean getting first place; it means getting the best out of yourself.