Make your race a playground, not a proving ground.

Whether a mile or a marathon, you get there the same say. A step at a time. Such is life.

First, do enough training. Then believe in yourself and say, I can do it. Tomorrow is my day. And then say, the person in front of me, he is just a human being as well; he has two legs, I have two legs, that is all. That is mentally how you prepare.

Never give up. Stop staring at your faraway goal. Refocus on the stops in front of you. Every day, take a step closer to your dream. Try to enjoy the adventure of your journey. Soon, what had felt impossible will feel possible. Soon, what had seemed so far will be within reach.

Don't waste a moment staring at obstacles blocking your way, they will not remove themselves. Life is about creating new paths.

Establish a routine and habit will carry you on days you just don't feel like going.

Thoughts are an important part of your inner wisdom, and they are very powerful. A thought held long enough and repeated often enough becomes a belief. A belief then becomes your biology.

Fit on the outside takes fit on the inside.

Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete.

Ask yourself, "Can I give more?" The answer is usually "Yes".

Get comfortable being uncomfortable. That's how you break the plateau and reach that next level.

The best time to work out is when you know you can stick with a schedule.

If you haven't been exercising, your body will undoubtedly protest this change in its comfortable downhill direction. You won't like it at first. You may even hate it. But be proactive. Do it anyway. Even if it's raining on the morning you've scheduled to jog, do it anyway. "Oh good, it's raining." I get to develop my willpower as well as my body.

First we form habits, then they form us.

To begin, begin.

Training to please others means your goals are at the mercy of their opinion. Reach your goals for the opinion that matters yours.

If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.

Everyone sabotages their hard work from time to time. Don't be hard on yourself. Get back on track ASAP.

The best way to become a mentally tough runner is to believe that you're a mentally tough runner.

When a good day comes along, when you feel full of vim and vigor, take advantage of it and run. Don't think twice. Don't look for cosmic explanations. When extra energy surges through you like an electrical current, just go with it. Take advantage of it, and run. And after you run, you'll find you have even more.