Train at your current fitness level, or slightly above — not where you want to be.

For me, challenging myself with this type of endeavor [ultramarathons] brings the best out in me because even at the darkest, deepest moments when I feel like I can't go on, when I feel like there's no chance I could break the record or much less finish the trail, somehow I find that strength inside of me.

We move forward, but we must stay in the present.

We can live as we were meant to live - simply, joyously, of and on the earth. We can live with all our effort and with pure happiness.

Most of all, the ultra distance leaves you alone with your thoughts to an excruciating extent. Whatever song you have in your head had better be a good one. Whatever story you are telling yourself had better be a story about going on. There is no room for negativity. The reason most people quit has nothing to do with their body.

As powerful as our legs are, as magnificent as our lungs and arms and muscles are, nothing matters more than the mind.

Only the most saintly and delusional among us welcomes all pain as challenge, perceives all loss as harsh blessing.