Nonrunners don't care that much about your running. It's fine to chat about running with nonrunners. If they ask you about it, of course, it'd be rude not to. But for everyone's sake, know your limits. 

Having a million things to do is an excuse FOR running, not an argument against it. There are a hundred excuses not to run. Being busy just isn't one of them. Why? Because taking even 20 to 30 minutes for a run will help you organise your thoughts, clear you head, wake up, and return to your tasks with a clarity and energy you can't get from coffee or even a nap. So if you're feeling overwhelmed or overbooked, put the to-do list down and lace up your running shoes. You'll be glad you did.

Races are all about energy management. I don't know who was the first to say this, but truer words were never spoken. The only thing worse than running out of energy a mile from the finish line is finishing the race with energy left over.

Run the mile that you're in. Especially for longer races (but even for short ones, like 5-Ks), it can be tempting to dwell on the total distance or on how far you are from the finish line. Try not to. Instead, focus on the mile you're running at that particular moment. Be mindful of the full distance, of course; mentally and physically, you should be aware of how far you've got to go. Primarily, though, keep your head in the here and now. That's a nice metaphor for life, too, by the way. In case you were looking for one.

If you never have a 'bad' day, you're probably doing something wrong; if you never have a 'good' day, you're definitely doing something wrong.

On days you don't feel like running at all, tell yourself you are just going to jog around the block. Then go do it. Nine times out of 10, those few minutes of movement will be enough to kick you into gear, and you will want to keep going. And that one time out of 10? Hey, at least you've run one block. Which is one block more than most folks will run that day.

In Tennessee, a 17-year-old named Seth Goldstein is in the middle of a cross-country race when he sees a fellow runner collapse. Goldstein, a lifeguard, stops and takes control of the situation, ultimately saving the runner's life. Then he finishes his own race.

I've trained myself to 'just say yes' to co-workers who cajole me into ducking out for a lunchtime run. I know from experience that I almost never regret the runs that I do, but I almost always regret the ones that I skip. And when my co-workers are weak or overwhelmed, I do the same for them. Its an informal deal we've worked out. Sort of a get-off-your-butt support group. Go find enablers. It's harder to skip a run if you know others are heading out and expecting you to join them.