p. 24 Every single achievement is, in some small way, accomplished in the face of adversity.
p. 39 Youthfulness does not dissolve completely but instead breaks up, piece by piece, like chunks of ice on the edge of the Arctic ice shelf. Although some parts drift away and melt, others remain. I think that it is a blessing to retain shards of your youth, in some form or other. And having a little bit of recklessness is no exception to that rule. It means that a part of you truly believes that anything is possible.
p. 56 Running might be hard work physically but, mentally, it is the ultimate escape from pressure.
p. 67 So you could say that we want to run faster not just to impress other people but also because other people impress us and we want to show that we respect them for their achievements. All our efforts feed into a mutual appreciation of each other's successes - a virtuous circle wherein, by doing well, we inspire others to do just as well, who in turn encourage us to do even better.
p. 86 Actually, I suspect that satisfaction only comes from a performance that takes you out of your comfort zone. You can have satisfaction or enjoyment but not both at the same time.
p. 96 The idea of running a marathon is a challenge but to run one against people's expectations is an opportunity to surprise them - and everything becomes easier when you see it as an opportunity.
p. 112 Right now, [running] is the reason why every step I take is painful. But when I am deprived of its company, if only for a week, I miss it. It comes around regularly and checks on how I am. It looks after me, gives me pride and makes me leaner, stronger, fitter, healthier, and - according to some recently published research that was reported in The Times last week - keeps my brain more active. It is a companion when lonely and a joy when I'm low in spirits.
p. 139 On top of that, I suspect that running does make us more optimistic. It sets us achievable challenges that we would not otherwise face, and thereby creates more opportunities for us to spend time in pursuit of modest successes rather than simply watching television or doing nothing. In that way it gives us what I previously have referred to as 'emotional income'.
p. 167 In my children, I can impart values that will resonate amongst my descendants and their friends long after my name is forgotten. Perhaps I am not so different from the men who built Albi Cathedral. I too can dream of creating something that lasts forever.
p. 173 The unselfconscious glow that follows a race is not unlike that which you feel after making love.
p. 181 Indeed, one of the greatest joys of fatherhood is being able to compete with your children as hard as you can and then take pride in their victories.
p. 205 Fifty is a significant landmark which should make any intelligent person think deeply about what it means to grow old. It raises questions about your achievements to date and what the future holds. It is the point at which you stop counting up your age in how many birthdays you have passed and start counting down - speculating how long you might have left to live - with a view to leaving a legacy of some sort. But despite my shock at stepping over this border, two things are clear. The first is simply that you'd rather turn fifty than not. We've all lost friends at tragically young ages, who've died knowing they will never fulfil their ambitions or see their children grow up. And second, even if your running is just a reaction to your midlife worries, it is a better strategy than rushing off with the young blonde from the bus stop or splashing out on a new sports car.
p. 213 I was repeatedly told that, historically, individuals don't matter. They are the mere crests of waves that briefly touch the sunlight and then disappear into the unfathomable depths. Only the deeper tides of history are important. As the years go by, however, I find myself disagreeing with that judgement more and more. Often a single person can make a decision that affects millions of people.
