I love an inspirational quote as much as the next person. They can get you fired up to train at 5am, keep you going when you are feeling tired and generally remind you that you are awesome when you most need it. But let’s face it, some of them are just perpetrating a bit of a myth aren’t they?
“It’s supposed to be hard. The hard is what makes it great.”
Sometimes, sure. Sometimes that could be right. But also a lot of the time the easy is what makes it great. A really hard run can make you feel like a million bucks, but a really easy one can be transformative.
“It doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger”
Yeah it does get easier and you do get stronger. It’s win/win! It’s part right in that if you are going to be doing a hard session, it’s always going to be hard because the effort level stays the same. But your easy runs get easier, your head gets better at managing the tough stuff and in general you feel a whole lot less like you are dying.
“Nothing tastes as good as fit feels”
Except cake. Churros. Cookies. Ice Cream. Garlic Bread. Pizza. Laksa. Pie. All kinds of pie. Any pie really. Hot chips. Coffee. Coffee definitely tastes as good as fit feels.
“Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit.”
Unless that pain is actually a pretty giant red flag that something is not right and you are on the fast track to injury. I guarantee that quitting feels better than 6 months of injury rehab.
“Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'”
Or you could just go for a run, and ask less questions.
“Any day I am too busy to run is a day I am too busy.”
I don’t even know where to start with this one. Have you met life, lately?
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”
It’s ok to stop sometimes. You could have a rest, have some water. Sometimes it’s more efficient to stop and then have a walk, rather than to keep on running at a snail pace.
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