Ultramarathon Man

I liked this kid. To most non-runners, running is at best boring and at worst terribly painful and senseless. But he seemed genuinely intrigued by the venture, and we’d connected on an almost primal level, though I didn’t sense he’d take up the sport anytime soon.

But struggling and suffering, as I now saw it, were the essence of a life worth living. If you’re not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you’re not constantly demanding more from yourself—expanding and learning as you go—you’re choosing a numb existence. You’re denying yourself an extraordinary trip.

The only way I knew to succeed was to try harder than anyone else. Dogged persistence is what got me through life

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.

Being a champion meant not quitting, no matter how tough the situation became, and no matter how badly the odds seemed stacked against you.

the human body has limitations; the human spirit is boundless.

compensated for with a resolve to work harder than anyone else. I was always first to arrive at practice and last to leave, and I frequently didn’t get home until after dark, which was just fine with me