Inspirational Marathon Running Quotes!
Everyone needs some motivation at some point in their training. Whether you’re in the thick of marathon training or dealing with a setback, motivational quotes are just the spark that some of us need to, as Desi Linden says, “keep showing up”.
Below, I found some of my favorite quotes from runners who, not only spent a part of their running careers as top-level professionals but also personal motivators to me – either from meeting them in person or from racing against them at some point in my running career.
Meb Keflezighi
“But I also realize that winning doesn’t always mean getting first place; it means getting the best out of yourself.”
Abdi Abdirahman
“I love the marathon … It’s a challenge, and if you don’t like challenges, something is wrong with your life.”
Marcus O’Sullivan
“Running is in my blood—the adrenaline flows before the races, the love/hate of butterflies in your stomach.”
Shalane Flanagan
“If you have the courage to fail, then you have the courage to succeed.”
Eamonn Coghlan
“It’s something in me, deep down, that makes me different in a race.”
Alan Webb
“Good things happen when you go for it!”
Dathan Ritzenhein
“The marathon has so many elements to prepare for. I think that is one reason I always want to come back for more. There is always something to change in your preparation and I am still trying to discover what I am capable of. I guess I just love the challenge.”
Adam Goucher
“I am not somebody who just likes to run. I am a runner. This is the difference between a pastime and a passion. I like to play golf, but I am not a golfer. I like to cook, but I am not a chef. I don’t just like to run. I am a runner. It is a passion. It is part of who I am and is woven into the fabric of my personality, character, and psyche.”
Bob Kennedy
“One thing about racing is that it hurts. You better accept that from the beginning or you’re not going anywhere.”
Frank Shorter
“You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can’t know what’s coming.”
Eliud Kipchoge
“Heart can’t be measured, only witnessed.”
No human is limited pic.twitter.com/atJ2AJ2Y7q
— Eliud Kipchoge (@EliudKipchoge) September 17, 2018
Desi Linden
“Some days it just flows and I feel like I’m born to do this, other days it feels like I’m trudging through hell. Every day I make the choice to show up and see what I’ve got, and to try and be better.
My advice: keep showing up.”
Steve Prefontaine
“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.”
Sir Roger Bannister
“The human spirit is indomitable. No one can ever say you must not run faster than this or jump higher than that. There will never be a time when the human spirit will not be able to better existing records.”
However you find motivation, take some of these quotes to your heart. You’ll find that when you need to draw on some inspiration, you can use some of these former (or current) professional runners for motivation.
Each of them had a unique perspective on running and you can draw on them for what it is you need in your running.
Do you have a quote by a runner that you always come back to? Share it in the comments.
Want my weekly running newsletter?
- Does anyone know what's good for our sport these days?
- What’s your go-to move for better sleep?
- Use recovery days to run slower so you can get faster
Looking for running resources?
Find me on social media!
Searching for a running coach? TrainwithMarc has flexible schedules, dynamic plans, and access to a coach who’s worked with every type of runner.
TrainwithMarc will design a training plan based on your needs, running history, and your goals.
TrainwithMarc’s Social Media links ⬇️
Website: trainwithmarc.com
Instagram: @TrainwithMarc.run
Threads: @TrainwithMarc.run
Facebook: @TrainWithMarc
TikTok: @Run_Coach_Marc
Twitter: @marcpelerin
Discover more from TrainwithMarc
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
TrainwithMarc 
“Keep showing up” has been my motto lately and it gets me through some tough runs. No matter where you are in your running journey, showing up makes a difference.
LikeLike
Gosh, absolutely. Some days are suffer-fests and just showing up gets you tougher!
LikeLike