Finding Your Stride - 5 Quotes to Fuel Your Running Journey

Words hold more Power than most things in this world.

They can unite, inspire and motivate - while at the same time possessing the capacity to hurt, divide and deceive.

I have always found a huge amount of value in words across a whole range of different areas of my life - not least within my experience entering the World of 1’s and 2’s.

With that in mind, I thought I would share a few quotes that have helped me along the way - and some that I use on the regular with my Athletes in helping them navigate their running…

#01 - “Finish Lines, not Finish Times”

— Unknown

I saw this on a T-Shirt a couple of years back, and I think it is the perfect mantra for people at the start of the process - those who are new to the scene.

Running is a saturated world nowadays, with every TD&H training for a half marathon paired with a tidal wave of content on social media on the topic.

It is so easy to create narratives in your head that define success in an event by the time in which you finish - when the actual achievement lies in simply getting to the line.

Don’t get me wrong, there will always come a point where you want to have time goals for races you participate in - but don’t let that overshadow the achievement of getting to a finish line, regardless of whether that’s 5k or 26.2. 

And also heavily applicable to those dabbling in the World of Ultra - where the ultimate aim should always be just to get to the end by any means possible!

#02 - “Your Body is the Lock - and your Mind the Key”

— Leon Busty

For starters, this bloke is well worth a follow on social media - quality content that is as informative as it is funny. A rarity!

Anyway, this quote embodies the importance of psychology when it comes to running.

A huge part of my job working with my Athletes is clearing the fog of self-doubt that mars our genuine potential.

‘Unlocking’ conviction in an individual’s ability to complete a distance, lift a certain weight, or sign up for a specific event.

The best example I can think of in my own journey was my first Ultra back in 2023 - a 6 hour lapped event where you run as far as you can in the time limit.

Having injured my foot badly three months prior (falling down the stairs, vintage HG…), I went into the event having run a singular 5k a week before to test the foot.

5 hours later, I had completed 55k and called it a day - relying purely on the mind to keep putting one foot in front of t’other.

That was the day I truly understood just how powerful the mind is when it comes to running, and once you realise this power for yourself, I promise you’ll be amazed at where your Rig can take you!

#03 - “Stay In Your Lane”

— Unknown

A quality idea to keep in mind - that runs parallel with the old adage that “comparison is the thief of joy”.

I always used to get bogged down in comparing my own abilities to those around me - but in the last couple of years, I have found so much value in sacking that off in favour of laser-eye focus on the self.

Running is one of the most personal things going.

We all have our own individual strengths, weaknesses, challenges and pinch points that are definitively unique.

Therefore by definition, comparing ourselves to others becomes null and moot - as no one will face the exact same scenarios that you face along the way.

Of course, there’s a hell of a lot to be said for taking inspiration from others; after all, some of the achievements kicking about the system these days are unreal, and I know I certainly take a lot from others.

Not least my incredible group of Everyday Athletes, who achieve some insane feats of grit and endurance in the face of daily challenges.

But it should always be INSPIRATION - not DEFINITION.

Your journey is yours, and yours only. Remember that…

 #04 - “Never Outrun your Joy of Running”

— Julie Isphording

If I was to summarise my own running routine in a singular quote, it would undoubtedly be this.

My first dabbling into the World of Running in 2018 was one borne out of pure misery - used as a tool to burn as many cals as possible as part of my experience with Anorexia.

Every day I would step on the treadmill with the sole intention of inflicting as much damage as possible on the Rig, and creating a greater energy deficit to lose as much weight as I could.

It was miserable and I hated every second of every run.

On the stark contrary, running became a key part of my recovery once I began to reframe how running can make you feel.

Joy. Relief. Satisfaction. Happiness. Confident.

Since realising this, running has become the most positive influence on my life- providing me with so much value across so many different areas of life.

Nowadays, I have incredibly high training demands due to the mildly psychotic events I decide to sign myself up to - but I ALWAYS ensure that joy remains at the core of how I go about my business week to week.

If I notice that I haven’t enjoyed many of my runs across a period of a week or two, I take a step back and reassess the situation.

That’s when I enforce small breaks in my training - ones that allow me to reset the mind, and ultimately redress the joy at the heart of exactly why I do what I do.

Having been in a place where running has caused so much misery, I implore you to always keep your joy of running at the forefront of your mind.

Don’t get me wrong, no one enjoys each and every session - and some days will feel fucking atrocious. But so long as the general trend is still one of joy, you are heading in the right direction.

And after a period of time, if you don’t begin to enjoy it, I have the answer. Don’t do it. Find something else that does give you joy, and for many people that isn’t running.

That said, give it a chance - or come join the Plod Squad - and I’m sure you’ll be able to find joy in running!

#05 - “Just Keep Swimming”

— Dory the Blue Tang

Not the most sophisticated to end on, but for me at least this is the single most important 3 words when it comes to running.

This is my Ultra Mantra - the words that keep me going when deep in the Cave when shit gets saucy on the Grind.

These words have spurred me out of every dark place that running has taken me - and as silly as it sounds, I have them to thank for getting me over the finish line on more than one occasion.

A simple message. Keep going. Just keep going. 

Left foot, right foot - rinse, repeat.

Eventually, you’ll get there. Every time, thus far, it’s worked. 

I like to think of it as my psychological safety blanket - something that I draw on to pull me out of the hole.

It might not be the one for you, but I highly recommend everyone has a mantra in their head for the same reason as myself.

Think of something personal - Nemo was one of my favourite movies as a kid - and keep it lodged in the back of the brain for when it’s needed.

Your own personal secret weapon to defend against negative thought processes that come with fatigue, exhaustion and out-and-out effort.

The Final Word

I’m a pretty simple human, so I am well aware that words may not have the same effect on everyone as they do on myself.

But nonetheless, I think the 5 sayings above all have a quality message behind them that can have a huge impact on how you go about your business on the 1’s and 2’s.

Save them for a rainy day, and they may come in handy at just the right time…