best motivational speeches for running

• UA Diversity Series
• Runs & Races
• Health & Nutrition
• Your Better Running Self
• Buyer’s Guide
• Run Your Way
• Web Membership
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Email Newsletter
• The Shakeout Podcast

Motivational speeches to kick your training up a notch

If you're in a training lull and lacking motivation, check out these speeches to rediscover your internal drive.

These days, with tracks and gyms closed and group runs cancelled , you might find yourself lacking your usual motivation to train. That’s perfectly understandable, and even in normal, non-pandemic circumstances, runners need a shot of motivation from time to time. Here are a few inspirational speeches that can help get you out of your funk and reignite your desire and drive to train.

Will Smith—Ignore the naysayers

In the movie  The Pursuit of Happyness , Will Smith  gives his son a piece of advice that everyone should hear.

RELATED: Quotes for a motivational boost in training

“Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something,” he says. “You got a dream, you got to protect it.” Non-runners think runners are crazy, and a lot of people will question why you run. If you want to run, that’s all that matters. Don’t pay any attention to those people who might say running is silly. Just go out and do your thing.

Sylvester Stallone—Keep pushing

Sylvester Stallone delivers a speech in Rocky Balboa that is applicable to everyone, no matter what goals they’re chasing. “It ain’t about how hard you hit,” he says. “It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

RELATED: Non-running movies to motivate runners

You’re going to face a lot of obstacles as a runner, both in training and in racing. It’s how you deal with these obstacles that will shape you as a runner. If you let them stop you, you won’t get very far. But if you find a way to overcome these hurdles, you’ll be able to become the best runner you can be.

Matthew McConaughey—Chase yourself

When Matthew McConaughey   won his Oscar in 2014, he gave a great speech with a valuable lesson for runners. He talks about his hero—the person he chases—who turns out to be himself in 10 years.

RELATED: 10 tricks to stay motivated

“Every day, every week, every month and every year of my life, my hero’s always 10 years away.” he says. “That keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing.” It’s great to race other people, but your biggest opponent is yourself. You’re the only person who can beat your PBs, so get out there and try to beat past versions of yourself while chasing future versions at the same time.

JK Rowling—Failure by default

In a speech at Harvard University, JK Rowling talked about a lot of her failures. Failure is an inevitability, no matter what field, sport or endeavours you pursue.

RELATED: Tips on staying motivated beyond the finish line

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all — in which case, you fail by default,” she says. As a runner, you might train for a marathon for months, only to walk the final 10K. But so what? It’s better to have given it a shot and failed rather than to have passed on an opportunity for fear of failing. Besides, the great thing about running is that there’s always another race, meaning a chance to redeem yourself after a bad run.

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The best trainers in Canada under $150

• Email address: *
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Weight Management
• Nutrition Facts
• Nutrition Basics
• Meal Delivery Services
• Fitness Gear
• Apparel & Accessories
• Recipe Nutrition Calculator
• Weight Loss Calorie Goal
• BMI Calculator
• Body Fat Percentage Calculator
• Calories Burned by Activity
• Daily Calories Burned
• Pace Calculator
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board

50 Motivational Quotes About Running and Racing

Find Inspiration from Running Icons and Legends

Shereen Lehman, MS, is a former writer for Verywell Fit and Reuters Health. She's a healthcare journalist who writes about healthy eating and offers evidence-based advice for regular people.

Verywell / Ryan Kelly

Check out these inspiring quotes about running .

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." — John Bingham , running speaker and writer

"Fear is gradually replaced by excitement and a simple desire to see what you can do on the day." — Lauren Fleshman , American distance runner

"It doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." — Fred Lebow , co-founder of the New York City Marathon

"When you put yourself on the line in a race and expose yourself to the unknown, you learn things about yourself that are very exciting." — Doris Brown Heritage , women's distance running pioneer

"Good health, peace of mind, being outdoors, camaraderie: those are all wonderful things that come to you when running. But for me, the real pull of running—the proverbial icing on the cake—has always been racing." — Bill Rodgers , winner of four Boston Marathons

"Big occasions and races which have been eagerly anticipated almost to the point of dread, are where great deeds can be accomplished." — Jack Lovelock , environmentalist and futurist

"I also realize that winning doesn't always mean getting first place; it means getting the best out of yourself." — Meb Keflezighi , 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist

"Why race? The need to be tested, perhaps; the need to take risks; and the chance to be number one." — George Sheehan , running columnist and writer

"Everyone in life is looking for a certain rush. Racing is where I get mine." — John Trautmann , Olympic runner

"I'm always nervous. If I wasn't nervous, it would be weird. I get the same feeling at all the big races. It's part of the routine, and I accept it. It means I'm there and I'm ready." — Allyson Felix , Olympic gold and silver medalist

"My whole feeling in terms of racing is that you have to be very bold. You sometimes have to be aggressive and gamble." — Bill Rodgers

"Racing is the fun part; it's the reward of all the hard work." — Kara Goucher , American long-distance runner

"Once you're beat mentally, you might as well not even go to the starting line." — Todd Williams , American long-distance runner

"My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: 'Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you'll win.'" — Carl Lewis , nine-time Olympic gold champion

"I love controlling a race, chewing up an opponent. Let's get down and dirty. Let's fight it out. It's raw, animalistic, with no one to rely on but yourself. There's no better feeling than that." — Adam Goucher , U.S. Nationals 5K race champion

"I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it." — Steve Prefontaine , legendary American long-distance runner

"Let's just say it and be done with it. Racing hurts. But here's another truth: having put in the effort to prepare for a race and then not giving it your all hurts even more. The first kind of hurt goes away in hours or a day. The second kind of hurt can last a lifetime." — Larry Shapiro , author or Zen and the Art of Running

"Different people have different reasons for racing, but one is simply the incentive to get out and run, increase mileage and feel good." — Hal Higdon , author, and runner

"Be confident in the work you did to prepare for the race. Take a look back at your training logs to remind yourself that you've done everything possible to prepare. The race is the fun part where you get to see the hard work pay off. Enjoy it." — Desiree Linden , U.S. Olympic marathon star

"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort." — Jesse Owens, legendary American track star

"Racing is an escape from society. From symbols of status, and self-perception. A chance to just be. For everyone to just be, with each other." — Erin Beresini , editor of Triathlete magazine

"My times become slower and slower, but the experience of the race is unchanged: each race a drama, each race a challenge, each race stretching me in one way or another, and each race telling me more about myself and others." — George Sheehan

"Running is in my blood—the adrenaline flows before the races, the love/hate of butterflies in your stomach." — Marcus O'Sullivan , Irish middle-distance runner

"It's just as important to remember that each footstrike carries you forward, not backward. And every time you put on your  running shoes you are different in come way than you were the day before. This is all good news." — John Bingham , American marathon runner  

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about." — PattiSue Plumer , U.S. Olympian

"You didn't beat me. You merely finished in front of me." — Hal Higdon , American writer and runner

"Fast running isn't forced. You have to relax and let the run come out of you." — Desiree Linden

"No marathon gets easier later. The halfway point only marks the end of the beginning." — Joe Henderson , famed running coach

"No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences." — George Sheehan

"If you feel bad at 10 miles, you're in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you're normal. If you don't feel bad at 26 miles, you're abnormal." — Rob de Castella , Australian world champion marathon runner

"The beauty of running is its simplicity; the beauty of runners is that we all have a similar drive to improve. We are either trying to run a personal best, or toeing the line for the first time, which will snowball into a future of trying to run personal bests." — Deena Kastor , American Olympics medalist

"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they're capable of understanding." — Steve Prefontaine

"One skill that separates good from almost-good runners is an ability to concentrate for an entire race, whether it is a mile or a marathon." — Kara Gouche r

"What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the days gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate." — John Bingham , running writer and speaker

"For me, races are the celebration of my training." — Dan Browne , National Champion 5K and 20K runner

"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up." — Dean Karnazes , ultramarathon runner

"Every race is a question, and I never know until the last yards what the answer will be. That's the lure of racing." — Joe Henderson

"It's amazing how the same pace in practice can feel so much harder than on race day. Stay confident. Trust the process." — Sara Hall , American long-distance runner

"Winning has nothing to do with racing. Most days don't have races anyway. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up." — Amby Burfoot , American marathon runner

"Your goal is simple: Finish. Experience your first race , don’t race it." — Bob Glover , author of The Runner's Handbook

"Don't dream of winning, train for it!" — Mo Farah , Olympic long-distance runner

"Running is alone time that lets my brain unspool the tangles that build up over days. I run, pound it out on the pavement, channel that energy into my legs, and when I'm done with my run, I'm done with it." — Rob Haneisen , runner and writer

"The nine inches right here; set it straight and you can beat anybody in the world." — Sebastian Coe , English Olympic gold medalist

"You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back." — Steve Prefontaine

"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

"Act like a horse. Be dumb. Just run." — Jumbo Elliot , famed track and field coach

"Nothing, not even pain, lasts forever. If I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other, I will eventually get to the end." — Kim Cowart , runner and journalist

"The real purpose of running isn't to win a race. It's to test the limits of the human heart." — Bill Bowerman , co-founder of Nike

"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 

"There is magic in misery. Just ask any runner." — Dean Karnazes

"Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running." — Julie Isphording , American Olympic runner

By Christine Luff, ACE-CPT Christine Many Luff is a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach.

Motivation Daily by Motiversity

Running motivation - the most powerful motivational videos for success, running & workouts.

The Compilation you've been waiting for ... These are some of the Best Motivational Speeches of all time for Running, the Gym and Working out! The Best Running Motivational Music and Speeches 2023.

Coach Pain: http://bit.ly/2LmRyea

Eric Thomas: http://etinspires.com/

Marcus "Elevation" Taylor: http://bit.ly/38FUFoS

William "King" Hollis: http://bit.ly/WillHollisYouTube

Dr. Jessica Houston: https://bit.ly/2PXZqTV

Walter Bond: https://walterbond.com/

Secession Studios: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwd8uu2mtJUgHYRffUl2yPQ

Really Slow Motion: http://bit.ly/1r3lPvN

Whitesand: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe96JG5gdgSRtmqStx0isXA

▶Subscribe for New Motivational Videos Every Week:

http://bit.ly/MotivationVids

▶DOWNLOAD our Top 100 Quotes of All Time:

https://bit.ly/topquotesfreepdf

▶JOIN our Newsletter for Exclusive Updates, Discounts, and Deals: https://bit.ly/Motiversitynewsletter

▶READ our Weekly Blog -

https://bit.ly/motiversityblog

▶SHOP Official Motivational Canvases and Apparel -

https://bit.ly/motiversityshop

▶BECOME A MEMBER of our loyal community!

https://bit.ly/motiversitymembers

More episodes

View all episodes.

689. ALL I KNOW IS GRIND - Best Motivational Speeches

688. manifest anything you desire (how the law of attraction really works), 687. get up and get sh*t done - best motivational speeches compilation.

686. WINNERS NEVER QUIT - One of the Best Speeches Ever by Tony Robbins

685. SACRIFICE TODAY - Best Motivational Speeches Compilation (Ft Marcus A Taylor)

684. I'VE COME TOO FAR TO QUIT NOW - Powerful Motivational Speech (ft. William Hollis)

683. I WILL RISE - Best Motivational Speech

682. LISTEN EVERY NIGHT! Best "I AM" Affirmations for Abundance, Positivity, Success, & Happiness

681. HUSTLE HARD IN SILENCE - Best Motivational Speech (ft. Marcus A. Taylor)

800.747.4457

Mon-Fri 7am - 5pm CST

Get in touch with our team

Frequently asked questions

• Fitness & Health
• Sport & Exercise Science
• Physical Education
• Strength & Conditioning
• Sports Medicine
• Sport Management

Delivering a Motivating Prerace Speech

This is an excerpt from coaching cross country successfully by pat tyson & doug binder., prerace speeches.

Running while fueled by inspiration is great, but it can also be overdone. I never wanted my guys to get too hyper before a meet because they started to lose the necessary calmness and ability to conserve energy in the hours before a meet. Mostly, I just wanted the guys to feel free and loose, confident, and enthusiastic.

My preference was to have a talk three or four days before a big meet such as the state cross country championships so the team didn't get too worked up. That doesn't mean I didn't pull out a letter from a past champion and read it to the guys. I would ask legends of the past to write letters to the future team so that I could keep our past alive in the program. Hearing from a former teammate who had been where they were and succeeded built a sense of being connected to greatness. When I read the letters to the team, they looked up to and felt connected to these legends, such as Chris Lewis, Matt and Micah Davis, and Evan Garber. But I think it's important to remain loose and relaxed rather than intense and fired up.

Sometimes, I would take the team to the auditorium at the school, turn the lights down, and play "We Are the Champions" by Queen. I'd tell the guys to listen to the lyrics, visualize the warm-up, visualize the race, and feel so excited that there's no doubt about giving their best. I'd tell them, "You're going to give that jersey a ride like it's never had before." Or I might use something from the Prefontaine movie soundtrack or a song by U2. But again, I advise doing this a few days before the big meet and not the night before.

http://www.humankinetics.com/AcuCustom/Sitename/DAM/098/E5804_005_03AAA_ebook_Main.jpg

A prerace cheer is a fun way to let off some bottled-up emotion prior to taking a position on the starting line.

About two minutes before the race started, I typically gathered the team for a huddle near the start line. And the message was always simple.

• Go out. Take charge. Have fun.
• Feed off each other. Have a blast.
• Nobody passes you in the last mile.
• Go fishing! See how many you can reel in.
• Low score wins. Go get 'em!

These are short phrases that the athletes may be able to remember once the starter's gun goes off and the adrenaline kicks in and all of the bodies fly into motion.

The kids got into the habit of doing a cheer by themselves as I moved away to find my spot on the course. It was an old Welsh rugby chant that I learned from a guy I met in the 1970s. I introduced it at Shorecrest before it became a fixture at Mead.

• "Uggy-uggy-uggy!" shouts one part of the group.
• "Ugg! Ugg! Ugg!" responds the other.

It's light-hearted, meaningless, and serves only one purpose: Firing up and getting ready to pounce off the starting line.

Some coaches run from one end of the course to the other, burning off their anxiety and coaching runners at every possible moment. I felt that sort of thing was unnecessary. Sure, I and the assistant coaches - plus teammates and parents - find spots from which to cheer. But I almost didn't care about the split times the kids were running, I didn't feel compelled to watch the start of the race, and I almost never ran or appeared overly excited during a race.

Typically, I had my camera with me and was steady enough to take photos. That distraction might have been a good thing because it gave me something to do. I trusted that my athletes would take care of themselves, and that's the best feeling a coach can have while a race is in progress. If the kids are too dependent on the coach - and a coach can't be in all places at once - it's a sign that they're not prepared to be on their own. You run the risk that the athletes will have stage fright.

After I delivered a few words, I said good-bye and walked away 600 to 700 meters. I sometimes took a peek at the start and then maneuvered to a place where I maybe had a chance to say something to them. I liked to be 300 to 500 meters from the finish line in case a final instruction was necessary, something like, "We need your help! Dig deeper! Get two more; get two more!"

I was never too invested in the score while the race as going on. I maybe said to our guys, "We're behind by two points," even if I had no idea what the score was. Typically, one of the assistants kept tabs on the score so that we had at least some idea how it would turn out at the end. But I didn't mind the wait for the announcement to be official. I liked the anticipation and build-up of the moment right before the winner was announced.

Sometimes I'd take the kids aside and say, "I don't know, guys. It's awful close." It built suspense. More often than not, though, at Mead, there was very little suspense. When the top three are wearing your jersey, or six of the top seven, everyone knows how it turned out.

The prerace talk is little more than a quick chance to offer a final thought and calm nerves. As a coach, you need to emanate confidence in the moments before a race. Your runners should feed off your demeanor - cool, calm, and excited to go.

Latest Posts

• Transcendence as an athlete
• How do you normalize setbacks?
• Take action to identify your gifts
• Medicine ball BLOB throw (between legs, over back)
• What is the strategic sport communication model?
• Betting by NFL players after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act