Thursday, October 16, 2008

Quotation Marks.

Running quotes and sayings . . . the theme today for Take it and Run Thursday at Runners' Lounge.

They are looking for our favorites; the ones that inspire us, the ones, I guess, that get us running.

I have two. But before I get to them, let me offer this preface:

I am a terrible quoter. Sayings often morph in my mind and end up a little different than when they started. And I fail at giving credit. I have no idea who the Big, Creative Brains behind my two favorite sayings are. But they rock, I know that.

And, so. On with the post!

"Run your own race."

You've heard it here before, you've seen it in comments I've left on other sites, but it bears repeating: Run your own race. If I had a mantra, that would be it. I repeat it when I am literally running a race and even when I am not. When I am simply -- or maybe not so simply -- trying to push aside those negative thoughts that creep into my mind during a run. Or when I start to compare other things in my life with those of the people around me. Run your own race. Those are the words. They are so right-on.

"I run because I freaking love it."

Or something like that. This is a new one for me. I read it recently in Runner's World but because I borrow the magazine from the library, I can't say for sure whether it was an old issue or a newer one (I've been known to check out old issues and re-read them just for fun!). And, unfortunately, I don't remember who said it -- a young woman, ultra-marathoner. But her name? Escapes me. I loved what she said, though, and when I read it I immediately responded, "Me, too!" I run because I freaking love it. Those words can turn a crappy run into one that makes sense. Those words help me to remember why I'll push hard on a particular run, or why I'll take time off to baby an aching leg. I run because I freaking love it. And I want to continue to do it for years to come. So, I try to do it smartly. And I'm grateful that I can do it at all.

11 comments:

carla said...

you know I love this sentiment:

And I'm grateful that I can do it at all.


Im trying to find my runlove like Ive found my love of iron.

it'll come.

yes?

Marcy said...

I love the first one as well. Someone had stapled that quote on all the fence posts in the early miles of the marathon. Another runner and I had a nice chat about it :-) It's true!

tfh said...

Run your own race is also more challenging than it sounds, because it means being satisfied with who we really are without looking for external affirmation/measurements...I am working on it.

Midwest said...

I freaking love it!

J said...

Great quotes!!

My mom messes up quotes as well. She gets the basics of it usually!

Unknown said...

Great quotes! I always tell myself to own my run/race. It's mine to create and experience. Whether it's good or bad is up to me . . .
That usually plays through my head in the last mile of any hard run, but "Run your own race" is much easier to say between labored breaths.

Aron said...

i am a horrible quoter too :)

LOVE both those quotes!!

Aileen said...

Ha ha! I freaking LOVE this post!

Unknown said...

I agree with the first one although sometimes I don't quite follow it.

Vava said...

I think it's great that you take magazines out at the library! I find magazines to be so wasteful in so many ways that I can never imagine actually buying them, or subscribing to them. The library rocks!

The Laminator said...

That first quote for my marathon mantra for my BQ marathon last November. Funny thing was someone held up a sign saying the exact same thing and I literally went over to give him a hug in the middle of the race. He never saw it coming!

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