“‘Fill your mind with courage and your heart with faith. Everything is going to work out even better than you had hoped!’ I use this quote when there’s any fear involved with a risk I’m about to take or a hard task I’m about to attempt. It allows me to continue to put myself out there by reminding me that no matter if I succeed or fail, I’ll always end up better.”
—Nell Rojas, professional marathon runner for Nike
“Entering the running world, I struggled to find fellow distance runners with a similar background to my own. As a Black, plus-size, and chronically ill woman, finding acceptance seemed daunting. Amidst this, I found solace in a quote that I stumbled across by Florence Griffith Joyner, known to many as Flo-Jo: ‘I believe in the impossible because no one else does.‘ Refusing to accept impossibility, I strive to challenge stereotypes daily, holding onto Flo-Jo’s words as my guiding light.”
—Latoya Shauntay Snell, Hoka-sponsored ultrarunner and body politics advocate
“One mantra I’ve gone back to a lot is to ‘be the eye of the storm.’ A sports psych coach taught me this and it’s something I use before most big events or races. I’m pretty introverted so it helps me stay relaxed amidst all the chaos! This phrase helps me focus by acknowledging all the hype, noise, interviews, etc. around me exist (and that in fact they can be good for promoting our sport!) but that this doesn’t have to affect me. I can be the calm center while everything else is just there around me.”
—Emily Sisson, professional runner for New Balance, current American marathon record holder and 2024 Paris Olympics marathon qualifier
“I recently saw this quote from Kara Goucher: ‘It doesn’t matter how fast or how far you’re going. If you’re putting on your shoes and going out for a run, you are a runner, you are in that club.‘ In 2023, I went through some personal life events that led to a few month’s hiatus from running. When I started to feel ready to return to running again, I pondered what it meant to be a runner and why running played a significant part in my life. I realized that many of my running memories were not focused on how fast I ran but, rather, how I felt at that moment. The reality is, as Kara puts it so well, we are all runners regardless of our bodies, the mileage we put up each week, or our mile paces, and sometimes we need a reminder like this.” —Danielle McLaughlin, adaptive athlete, former paratriathlon world champion, and advisory board member for Every Women’s Marathon
“My favorite quote is ‘Trust the process.‘ It is so important in running (and life!) to recognize patience and consistency are key to success. “Trust the process” reminds me of that and helps me enjoy the journey to the goal.”
—Neely Spence Gracey, professional runner and world record holder for fastest female mile pushing a stroller