Merry X'mas!

Marathon 2008

When the marathon race starts, the long-distance runners, have a lot of time to think about why they run. At some point, you may question the reason for you to run and wonder if you should continue running. When that happens, recall one of these quotes can give you the motivation to keep on running... 

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement." ~ Steve Prefontaine

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." ~ Juma Ikangaa, 1989 NYC Marathon winner

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." ~ Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." ~ Oprah Winfrey

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about." ~ PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable." ~ Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'." ~ Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." ~ John Bingham, running speaker and writer

"What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the days gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate." ~ John Bingham, running writer and speaker

"You also need to look back, not just at the people who are running behind you but especially at those who don't run and never will... those who run but don't race...those who started training for a race but didn't carry through...those who got to the starting line but didn't in the finish line...those who once raced better than you but no longer run at all. You're still here. Take pride in wherever you finish. Look at all the people you've outlasted." ~ Joe Henderson

"Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right." ~ Henry Ford

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." ~ Steve Prefontaine, American running legend

"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." ~ William Faulkner

"I had as many doubts as anyone else. Standing on the starting line, we're all cowards." ~ Alberto Salazar, three-time winner of the NYC marathon

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." ~ Les Brown

"Unite your body, mind and spirit to complete the race!" ~ Monad, completed Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008 (men's 10km)