Food for Run and Thought 28

「Play not only keeps us young but also maintains our perspective about the relative seriousness of things. Running is play, for even if we try hard to do well at it, it is a relief from everyday cares.」Jim Fixx, Runner and author of The Complete Book of Running

「Love yourself, for who and what you are; protect your dream and develop your talent to the fullest extent.」Joan Benoit Samuelson

「When you have the enthusiasm and the passion, you end up figuring how to excel.」Deena Kastor, American long-distance runner 

「I love what running does for me. I love the time that I get just to think. I love that I'm pushing myself be it on a treadmill or in the park. I love that time.」Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Cohost, The View

「Running has never failed to give me great end results, and that's why I keep coming back for more!」Sasha Azevedo, American actress, model and runner

Food for Run and Thought 27

「We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.」Jesse Owens, American track and field athlete and Olympic gold medal winner

「Racing is the fun part; it's the reward of all the hard work.」Kara Goucher 

「Remember, the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running.」Sarah Condor

「If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort.」Dave Weinbaum, Businessman, writer and part-time stand-up comic

「This is not about instant gratification. You have to work hard for it, sweat for it, give up sleeping in on Sunday mornings.」Lauren Fessenden, Cross Country Athlete

Food for Run and Thought 26

「I run because it's my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I'm going where I'm going and I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise... it's a consistent reward for victory! 」Sasha Azevedo, Model and runner

「I was pushed by myself because I have my own rule, and that is that every day I run faster, and try harder. 」Wilson Kipketer, Kenyan born Danish former middle distance runner

「Running is real and relatively simple - but it ain't easy. 」Mark Will-Weber, author and running coach

「Good things come slow-especially in distance running. 」Bill Dillinger, Oregon coach

「There is no satisfaction without a struggle first. 」Marty Liquori, American middle distance athlet

Food for Run and Thought 25

「It's very hard to understand in the beginning that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit.」Dr. George Sheehan

「If you train hard, you'll not only be hard, you'll be hard to beat.」Herschel Walker, American football player 

「That is the sort of race which one really enjoys - to feel at one's peak on the day when it is necessary, and to be able to produce the pace at the very finish. It gives a thrill which compensates for months of training and toiling. But it is the sort of race that one wants only about once a season.」Jack Lovelock, a New Zealand athlete

「He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.」Muhammad Ali, former American boxer and three-time World Heavyweight Champion

「Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.」T. Alan Armstrong, author

Food for Run and Thought 24

The beauty of running is its simplicity; the beauty of runners is that we all have a similar drive to improve. We are either trying to run a personal best, or toeing the line for the first time, which will snowball into a future of trying to run personal bests. We road racers are a tight community of mileage-happy, limit-pushing athletes.」Deena Kastor, long-distance runner who holds American records in the marathon, half-marathon, and numerous road distances 

「In a sport that's ruled by the clock, freeing myself from the minutes and seconds that define success was liberating. I was now free to run when I wanted, without the gnawing obligation that comes with a competitive pursuit. I no longer have an interest in running "against" anyone. Rather, I'm often looking for someone to run "with," and it's the camaraderie, rhythm and ritual that continue to hold my interest.」Tom Ratcliffe, "Running Past the Finish Line," Running Times, December 2010

「Running well is a matter of having the patience to persevere when we are tired and not expecting instant results.」Robert de Castella, World champion marathon runner

「Before your next marathon, think about a person who helped make your marathon possible. Then consider showing your appreciation by dedicating the race to that person.」Joe Henderson, American runner, running coach, and writer

「There are no standards and no possible victories except the joy you are living while dancing your run....you are not running for some future reward-the real reward is now!」Fred Rohe, author of The Zen of Running

Food for Run and Thought 23

「I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible.」John Hanc, running writer 

「Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived.」Dean Karnazes, Ultrarunner and best-selling author

「Pain and suffering are often the catalysts for life's most profound lessons.」Dean Karnazes, Ultrarunner and best-selling author

「We may train or peak for a certain race, but running is a lifetime sport.」Alberto Salazar, American marathon runner and coach

「Running long and hard is an ideal antidepressant, since it's hard to run and feel sorry for yourself at the same time. Also, there are those hours of clearheadedness that follow a long run.」Monte Davis, runner

Food for Run and Thought 22

「Mental will is a muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body.」Lynn Jennings, Nine-time champion of the USA Cross Country Championships

「The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.」Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

「I think I get used to, even addicted to, the feelings associated with the end of a long training run. I love feeling empty, clean, worn out, starving, and sweat-purged. I love the good ache of muscles that have done me proud. I love the way a cold beer tastes later that afternoon. I love the way my body feels light and sinewy.」Kristin Armstrong, Author and runner

「Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.」Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc.

「Pacing is a skill. Some people just don't have that internal clock. I've been running for 14 years, and through practice it's second nature to me. You're doing constant repeats. You've just got to feel it.」Adam Perkins, pacer for Bernard Lagat when he set the U.S. indoor 5000-meter record of 13:11:50 in February

Food for Run and Thought 21

「The more I train, the more I realize I have more speed in me.」Leroy Burrell, former American athlete who twice set the world record for the 100 meter sprint

「It's my own space, my own time, when I'm just out there letting my thoughts go. It's part of my day like eating, and it's one of my favorite parts.」Louise Kent

「The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself - the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us - that's where it's at.」Jesse Owens, American track and field athlete and Olympic gold medal winner

「Take care of yourself. Eat well, rest, train hard and smart, make time to think and breathe. Be intentional with your time.」Kristin Armstrong, Author and runner

「There is something beautiful about working so hard that you are reduced to silence next to your friends. Some friendships never get to the level where silence is comfortable, let alone productive or healing. Some friends will never understand the unspoken.」Kristin Armstrong, Author and runner