Life Lessons Learned While Running

Running has certainly changed my life and has helped shape the person I am today. As a runner for more than 30 years, I’ve learned a lot of life lessons out on the roads, track, and trails. Here are some of the most important ones, in no particular order.

1. Look for the path, not the obstacles.
2. The view at the top is worth the climb.
3. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
4. Persistence pays off.
5. Don’t get stuck in a rut – change is good.
6. If you really want something, you’ll find time for it.
7. You may meet your life partner when you least expect it.
8. When things get tough and painful, focus on taking one step at a time.
9. Know where you are and where you’re going.
10. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
11. Go with what the day brings.
12. Listen to your body.
13. There’s always room for improvement.
14. Celebrate milestones, big and small.
15. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.
16. Don’t compare yourself to other people – there will always be someone better than you.
17. Pace yourself properly. If you go out too fast, you’ll have nothing left for the end.
18. There are no shortcuts to success.
19. Enjoy the view.
20. Run your own race.
21. Appearances can be deceiving.
22. Just keep moving.
23. Don’t get too confident – someone is always working harder than you.
24. Appreciate your abilities.
25. Being alone can be good.
26. Get out of your comfort zone.
27. Don’t forget to breathe.
28. You’re stronger than you think.
29. Having proper equipment helps.
30. You’ll get out of it what you put into it.
31. Don’t take your good health for granted.
32. Keep your head up.
33. Seek out friends who have similar interests and goals as you.
34. Don’t try to run on empty.
35. Hydrate properly.
36. Working hard for something is extremely rewarding.
37. Rest days are important.
38. Transform anger and frustration into energy and motivation.
39. You can’t get to the finish line if you don’t make it to the start.
40. What works for one person may not work for someone else.
41. Bad days are often followed by good ones. And bad days help you appreciate the good ones.
42. It’s all mental.
43. Don’t be afraid to dream big.
44. Be prepared for emergency pit stops.
45. Some things, like the weather, are simply out of our control.
46. Believe in yourself.
47. Know the difference between pain and discomfort.
48. Surround yourself with people who support your goals and dreams.
49. Stop and smell the roses.
50. Don’t give up.
51. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
52. Keep your eyes on the prize.
53. Do the best with what you’ve got.
54. Somebody always has it worse than you.
55. Figure out what you like and stick to it.
56. Figure out what you don’t like and do it less.
57. Bad weather is not a good excuse.
58. If it was easy, everyone would do it.
59. Be your own motivation.
60. No one can do the work for you.
61. It’s important to know when to lead and when to follow.
62. Prove the naysayers wrong.
63. You can push through “the wall.”
64. You’re never too old.

Also see:
Running Quotes About Life
Mental Running Quotes

Running coach, marathon runner, and fitness writer Christine Luff is an RRCA-certified running coach and ACE-certified personal trainer. Founder of the website Run for Good and author of the book Run for Good: How to Create a Lifelong Running Habit, she coaches runners, from beginners to advanced, who are training for races, from 5Ks to marathons.