18 Motivational Running Quotes to Keep You Inspired

Written by
Kolby Paxton

Let’s be honest. Some days, we runners just aren’t feelin’ it. Whether we’re coming back from a long run the day before or just a long day at the office, getting out the door and logging some miles isn’t always easy. On days like these, a little motivation goes a long way.

With that in mind, here’s 18 motivational quotes for a little inspiration when it’s needed most.

The Challenge
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"If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you." – Fred DeVito
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race.
Dream Big
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"We all have dreams, in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort." – Jesse Owens, Olympic gold-medalist
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race.
Prepare to Succeed
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"If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail." – Mark Spitz
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race.
Don't Stop
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"Don't stop when you're tired. Stop when you are done." – Unknown
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race.
The Commitment
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"I succeed on my own personal motivation, dedication and commitment. My mindset is: If I'm not out there training, someone else is." – Lynn Jennings, American long-distance runner
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race.
Magic Shoes
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"Our running shoes have magic in them. The power to transform a bad day into a good day; frustration into speed; self-doubt into confidence; chocolate cake into muscle." —Mina Samuels, author of Run Like a Girl 
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race.
Alone Time
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"Running is alone time that lets my brain unspool the tangles that build up over days." – Rob Haneisen
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race.
Go Farther
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"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second." – William James
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race.
The Addiction
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"I think I get addicted to the feelings associated with the end of a long run. I love feeling empty, clean, worn out, and sweat-purged. I love that good ache of the muscles that have done me proud." — Kristin Armstrong, author of Mile Markers
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race.
Your Worst Enemy
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"Make sure your worst enemy doesn't live between your own two ears." – Laird Hamilton
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race.
Free Your Mind
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"Running allows me to set my mind free. Nothing seems impossible. Nothing unattainable." – Kara Goucher
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race.
Your Best Self
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"Be somebody nobody thought you could be." — Unknown
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race.
The Obsession
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"The obsession with running is really an obsession with the potential for more and more life." — George Sheehan, M.D., author of Going the Distance
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race.
Persistence Pays Off
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"Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement." – Matt Biondi
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race.
The Joy
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"Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running." — Julie Isphording, former Olympic runner
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race.
Remember the Feeling
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"I think I get addicted to the feelings associated with the end of a long run. I love feeling empty, clean, worn out, and sweat-purged. I love that good ache of the muscles that have done me proud." — Kristin Armstrong, author of Mile Markers
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race.
Forget Logic
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"Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic." – Tim Noakes
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race.
Nothing is Impossible
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"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." – Doug Larson, English gold medalist
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race.
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race.