Welcome to Marathon Quotes, where we celebrate the enduring spirit, determination, and triumph of those who embrace the challenge of the marathon. Whether you’re a seasoned runner, an aspiring athlete, or simply someone who finds inspiration in the perseverance of others, this page is dedicated to encapsulating the essence of the marathon journey through words that resonate deeply.
The marathon, with its 26.2 miles of grueling terrain, represents more than just a race it embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence, the unwavering commitment to surpassing one’s limits, and the sheer willpower to keep moving forward, step by step, despite the obstacles that may stand in the way. From the legendary marathoners of ancient Greece to the modern-day athletes who push the boundaries of human potential, the marathon has always been a test of both physical endurance and mental fortitude.
Below, you’ll find a collection of powerful quotes that capture the essence of the marathon experience. Whether you seek motivation to lace up your shoes and hit the pavement or simply wish to be inspired by the remarkable feats of those who have dared to chase greatness, these quotes are sure to ignite your passion and fuel your journey. Let their wisdom propel you forward as you embark on your own marathon, whether it be on the track, the road, or the journey of life itself.
The most important thing is to understand that this career is not about speed. It’s about stamina. This is a marathon. It’s not a 50-meter sprint. You have to persevere and understand it takes a lot of time. You have to know you’re going to knock on 100 doors and 99 of them are going to close in your face. Jaime Camil
The book I always say that influenced me, subconsciously, because at the time I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer, was William Goldman’s ‘Marathon Man.’ That was the first adult thriller that I loved. I read it when I was 15 or so, when my father gave it to me. Harlan Coben
While Fidel Castro used to deliver his marathon seven-hour speeches in Havana, Cubans used to joke that if Spanish lacked a future tense, their leader would be speechless. He was only fluent in broken promises, they lamented. Brin-Jonathan Butler
Marathon runner Sophie Raworth is always trying to get me to put my running shoes back on, but I can’t match her for fitness. Susanna Reid
Winning times in the New York City Marathon have not dropped all that much over the years, but rather U.S. runners went backward. In 1983, there were 267 U.S. men who broke 2:20 in a marathon, and by 2000 that number was down to 27. Alberto Salazar
There’s only one thing I love more than race day: the morning after! The morning after the Marathon, New York catches running fever. The Hudson River bike path on Manhattan’s west side was like a traffic jam of joggers on Monday morning. No doubt the great race fires up the endurance athlete in all of us – and it’s beautiful. Stephanie Ruhle
Playing a three-hour Rush show is like running a marathon while solving equations. Neil Peart
I’ve run the Boston Marathon 6 times before. I think the best aspects of the marathon are the beautiful changes of the scenery along the route and the warmth of the people’s support. I feel happier every time I enter this marathon. Haruki Murakami
In some respects, progressing through life is like running a marathon. Joseph B. Wirthlin
It’s kind of like a midlife crisis kind of thing. When you turn 40, you have to run the marathon, while all the parts still work properly. Joe Bastianich
I set myself some specific goals, but the key one is just getting myself into as good a shape as possible for one day this year: the Olympic marathon. Paula Radcliffe
When I make a live-action movie, it’s a very physical process. It’s like running a marathon. Zack Snyder
I used to run a full marathon in three hours and 25 or 26 minutes. Not any more. Haruki Murakami
A half marathon is a good way to have a bit of fun and race against those girls and learn a bit more about them. The world half marathon is a world championship at the end of the day and it’s important. I’ve win it twice and it’s a quality event. Paula Radcliffe
I look for every game in the same way. And I think the league is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. So you don’t have to score or win against the big six – you have to score and win against everyone. Bruno Fernandes
I thought about running a marathon a long time ago, but I’m just not a runner. Shannon Miller
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I actually feel like I come to work stronger when I’ve had a little time on the weekend to step away from it and enjoy my family and other things. I come back energized. If people think they’re going to work 24/7, week in and week out, they’re not bringing their full strength to the table. Mary Barra
We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon. Emil Zatopek
Running a marathon is appealing to runners for many reasons. It’s epic! A real test for your mind and body and a challenge that truly fills you with complete elation when you cross the finish line. But it is in no way a trivial undertaking. A. J. Odudu
I respect the hell out of everyone who does a network show. That is a marathon. It’s so many episodes, and it can be a meat grinder. Anyone making a network show, and on top of that making a very good network show, that’s an insane feat of Herculean endurance and fortitude. Alan Yang
I ran my fastest marathon in the rain. Bill Rodgers
The starting line of the New York Marathon is kind of like a giant time bomb behind you about to go off. It is the most spectacular start in sport. Bill Rodgers
I have to change a lot of things before I become a good marathon runner. Haile Gebrselassie
Two days after the Boston marathon bombings, there was a drone strike in Yemen attacking a peaceful village, which killed a target who could very easily have been apprehended. But, of course, it is just easier to terrorise people. The drones are a terrorist weapon; they not only kill targets but also terrorise other people. Noam Chomsky
I have not had the chance to go out there and do myself justice in an Olympic marathon yet. I have not been able to get to an Olympic marathon injury-free yet. Paula Radcliffe
It’s never going to be a smooth sailing ship, there’s going to be ups and downs and I think one of the most important things to understand is not to ride the highs too high and ride the lows too low – it is a marathon and if you can just try to steady the ship as you go. Patty Mills
I started running outside when I was at ‘Biggest Loser.’ Then I got runner’s knee, and thought I was never going to be able to shake it. When I overcame that and ran the L.A. Marathon, it was such an amazing thing, and now running is such a part of my routine. Alison Sweeney
I do a lot of biking. I need that mileage and the long-distance stuff because tennis demands it. My fitness trainer is always trying to convince me to do an Ironman. I can probably run the marathon, I can make the 112 miles on the bike, but I will never swim for 2.4 miles. I will die after 100 meters. Tomas Berdych
I am a fitness freak, and I do not celebrate any festivity in a grand way during the months of December and January because I am busy preparing for my marathon. Nikita Dutta
Anybody who is running a marathon or doing a walkathon, doing a fundraiser for their school, their company, by far it’s guaranteed the easiest and most fun way to quickly set up a fundraising campaign and send it around to your friends and family. Edward Norton
I love to run. I was challenged to run the New York marathon four months after having my youngest son, and since running isn’t a big part of softball, the thought of a marathon was a stretch for me. Jennie Finch
I don’t have as tight a time limit anymore but I still write in long marathon sessions and then I won’t write for a while, I’m not a write-every-day writer. Erin Morgenstern
Instead of arguing about whether we’re allowed to describe Muslim terrorists as ‘Muslim terrorists,’ why don’t we argue about whether it’s a good idea to be letting in so many immigrants who then blow up the Boston Marathon? Ann Coulter
I find that I get a little depressed if I don’t move my body each day, so sometimes it’s just as simple as walking, and other times it’s training for a marathon or some kind of personal goal that I’m trying to meet. Ryan Reynolds
Pinkathon has carved a niche of being more than a marathon. Pinkathon forever training has created a culture of regular exercise and fitness which is taking root in India. Milind Soman
If I run I lose so much weight, which I need because you’re limited on weight when you are a tall driver. And have you seen marathon runners? They’re quite skinny. Jenson Button
Imagining what a character will do in a given situation – it’s like an equation, and working it out is a marathon rather than a sprint. Callum Turner
Being the lead of the show and working a lot of hours – all good stuff, a tremendous education, incredible opportunity, it changed my life – it was a marathon, and by the end of it I was pretty beat. James Van Der Beek
Fear is a very explosive emotion, but it has a short life span. It’s the sprint. The marathon is hope. Mike Huckabee
The world is full of people who have dreams of playing at Carnegie Hall, of running a marathon, and of owning their own business. The difference between the people who make it across the finish line and everyone else is one simple thing: an action plan. John Tesh
My wife and I work out together almost every day. It’s just a great way to spend time together. We’re going to run a marathon together later this year, and that’s one more goal that we’ll accomplish as husband and wife. Bill Rancic
I happen to be a huge ‘Lord of the Rings’ fan. I do an annual marathon of the extended editions. Anna Kendrick
I’ve said to people before that I’m going to do my very best to make it, and I’m not going to give up. And that’s true. But I might not make it. And if I don’t make it, the Marathon of Hope better continue. Terry Fox
This is a marathon in life. You can’t be sprinting all the time or else you wear yourself out. You have to make sure you’re taking care of yourself, keeping yourself grounded and not letting every little thing get you worked up. Brian Moynihan
A doable goal for me is to finish a marathon under four hours. I’m doing all the training, but the hardest part is eating right. Sean Astin
My goal is to break three hours in a marathon. Frank Shorter
I am the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of Marathon Agency, a new venture with my business partner Steve Carless. It’s a management, branding, marketing, and business strategy. I’m in charge of marketing and branding clients like Nick Cannon, Nicki Minaj, and more. Karen Civil
I know a lot of marathon runners who are at their best when they are close to 40. You say to yourself, ‘It’s 42 kilometres and they are 37 or 38 years old,’ but the body can. What you have to make sure you don’t lose is your head. That is the most important thing. Raul
Marathon running, like golf, is a game for players, not winners. That is why Callaway sells golf clubs and Nike sells running shoes. But running is unique in that the world’s best racers are on the same course, at the same time, as amateurs, who have as much chance of winning as your average weekend warrior would scoring a touchdown in the NFL. Hunter S. Thompson
The Muslim world and its subset the countries of the Middle East have been left behind in the marathon of political, economic and human development. For that, there is a tendency to blame others as the primary cause. Recep Tayyip Erdogan
When I hear people debate the ROI of social media? It makes me remember why so many business fail. Most businesses are not playing the marathon. They’re playing the sprint. They’re not worried about lifetime value and retention. They’re worried about short-term goals. Gary Vaynerchuk
I’ve run a marathon – I think that’s the most surprising thing about me. Richard Herring
If you don’t ever stop singing, your voice stays in shape. It’s like the marathon runner. You’ve got to run, run, run to stay in shape. Sammy Hagar
I look at directing as a sporting event. It’s a race, a marathon. It’s great when it clicks, which is why I push my crews so hard so we can excel. Michael Bay
Whenever I’m being invited to the New York City Marathon like today, I need to think twice because I know it’s a very tough race. Martin Lel
I’m pretty proud of having completed a marathon myself, so I can only imagine the pride that real athletes feel when they are picked for the Olympic or the Paralympic Games. Johann Lamont
Bodybuilding is about building your body. Whether you do it to maintain your fitness levels, climb Everest, run the marathon, or be a competitive bodybuilder is up to you. Ronnie Coleman
A season is like a marathon and there will be plenty of ups and downs. Kolo Toure
I’ve run the marathon several times, so I definitely don’t look like the Great Ancestor! George Takei
Long runs improve your endurance but shorter intervals improve your speed. They are mutually beneficial for a distance runner. If you do 5k runs it will help your marathon. Eliud Kipchoge
The season is a beast within itself. It’s not the quickest race; it’s a marathon. In the playoffs – if you’re fortunate enough to make the playoffs – that’s more like a dash. You have to concentrate on one opponent. When they’re done, you have to concentrate on another one. Jerry West
Nobody loves the Boston Marathon as much as the people who make fun of it year after year. This was the race that previously offered as a prize a not particularly expensive medal, a laurel wreath, and a bowl of beef stew. This was the race that, on one memorable occasion, nobody knew who actually won. Charlie Pierce
It is not easy to participate in the 21 km. marathon. It takes a lot of energy, determination, and will power. It takes months to train to reach that mark with a proper diet chart. Nikita Dutta
I would honestly say I’m in the turtle’s race. My journey is a marathon. Omari Hardwick
But it is nice to know that you have other races lined up, because sometimes you can get so focused on your next marathon that it can become kind of unhealthy in some ways. So it’s nice to have something else to slap you in the face and say, all right, there is life after the Olympics. Ryan Hall
The marathon can humble you. Bill Rodgers
I couldn’t be more excited to return to the ING New York City Marathon. Ryan Hall
I try to avoid the temptation with time as a total indicator for what my possibilities are for the marathon. It’s the not the best indicator, but it’s more how you feel, how you cover the distance and how you are able to do the training afterward. Ryan Hall
I love my lifestyle now, but at the end of nine months, you’re toast. You are toast. It’s like running a marathon. You can’t think while you’re doing it. Especially when different directors come in who are not part of the posse, the circle. Christopher Meloni
When you run the marathon, you run against the distance, not against the other runners and not against the time. Haile Gebrselassie
A couple of years ago I ran in the LA Marathon. Joan Van Ark
I always do an all-night horror marathon on Saturdays where we start at seven and go until five in the morning. Quentin Tarantino
I was really unfit for a while, so once I began running, I developed an obsession with it and started feeling really good. Then I thought I’d run a marathon after watching the London Marathon on TV. So I did it and had a good time. And then I ended up doing a bunch, and I was like, ‘What if I could go further?’ So I found out about Ultra Marathons. Jonny Lee Miller
Toeing the starting line of a marathon, regardless of the language you speak, the God you worship or the color of your skin, we all stand as equal. Perhaps the world would be a better place if more people ran. Dean Karnazes
Humans are built for endurance, not speed. We’re awful sprinters compared to every other animal. We try to run our races as if they were speed races, but they are not. They’re endurance races. Even a marathon, the way it’s run now, it’s not an endurance contest. Christopher McDougall
It’s like running a marathon race. We train all hours of the day. When you are taking a bath, you are thinking of the flight. Kalpana Chawla
I haven’t done a marathon for a long time. So we’ll see. I will need good luck. Haile Gebrselassie
There is nothing in this world that I love more than my family. To be able to share the joy of running with them at the Runner’s World Half Marathon and Running Festival where we can all participate together is as close as you can get to a perfect weekend. Summer Sanders
Running for office is similar to being a trial lawyer in a very long trial. It requires adrenaline and stamina; it requires being in shape mentally and emotionally. It’s a marathon. Kamala Harris
In the marathon anything can happen. Paula Radcliffe
I trained for the marathon. I run along the East River, and I used to run all the way down Manhattan, up the West Side and back home. Amy Carlson
I don’t smoke, don’t drink much, and go to the gym five times a week. I live a healthy lifestyle and feel great. I can run a marathon, you know. Sarah Michelle Gellar
When I’m hard at work, when I’m deep in it, there is no other feeling. For me, my work is at all times building a nation out of thin air. It is manning the troops. It is painting a canvas. It is hitting every high note. It is running a marathon. It is being Beyonce. And it is all of those things at the same time. Shonda Rhimes
To run a big marathon and win takes five months. When I’m on the starting line, my mind starts reviewing what I have been doing the last five months. I believe in my training, and I treat myself as the best one standing on that line. Eliud Kipchoge
Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best. Michael Johnson
It was always a plan that we were going to have a retail side with what were doing musically, like an Apple store or Nike Town. I wanted something where you can come get everything – ‘Marathon’ or ‘All Money’ or ‘Crenshaw’ – and make it like an experience. Especially with what Crenshaw and Slauson meant to my story. Nipsey Hussle
I did a movie called Marathon Man and it was one of my best memories. Dustin Hoffman
If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon. Emil Zatopek
We didn’t crumble after 9/11. We didn’t falter after the Boston Marathon. But we’re America. Americans will never, ever stand down. We endure. We overcome. We own the finish line. Joe Biden
When you get close to race day, there’s that anticipation and excitement – it’s the same whatever level you’re running at because the marathon is like a festival. Paula Radcliffe
Plenty of people who are 38 have run really well in the marathon. Paula Radcliffe
Building a business is a marathon, not a sprint. I don’t believe it when people tell me they’ve been working 80-hour weeks for five years in a row. I just don’t think that’s possible. Taavet Hinrikus
I’ve had a lot of success over the years racing in New York, but the main point is that I feel the marathon is a different event, a lot more my event. Paula Radcliffe
I enjoy the simplistic training and life in marathon. You run, eat, sleep, walk around – that’s how life is. You don’t get complicated. The moment you get complicated it distracts your mind. Eliud Kipchoge
Business is a sprint until you find an opportunity, then it’s the patience of a marathon runner. Robert Herjavec
What makes me happy is just curling up in with my mom in her bed and watching a marathon of ‘CSI’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ episodes with pints of ice cream. Taylor Swift
Where the marathon starts is after 30 kilometers. That’s where you feel pain everywhere in your body. The muscles are really aching, and only the most prepared and well-organized athlete is going to do well after that. Eliud Kipchoge
The marathon always starts after 30K. That’s where the problems start. You start without any problems, without any pain. All the pain comes after 30K. Sometimes, it’s possible to have pain even in the finger. Haile Gebrselassie
I’ve been running a full marathon every year for more than 20 years, and my record is getting worse. Getting older, getting worse. It’s natural. Haruki Murakami
In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor. Julian Castro
