There is a great advantage in training under unfavorable conditions. It is better to train under bad conditions, for the difference is then a tremendous relief in a race.

An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.

Try for a goal that's reasonable, then gradually raise it.

When I was young, I was too slow. I thought I must learn to run fast by practicing to run fast, so I ran 100 meters fast 20 times. Then I came back, slow,slow,slow. People said, 'Emil, you are crazy. You are training like a sprinter.'

Great is the victory, but the friendship of all is greater.

When a person trains once, nothing happens. When a person forces himself to do a thing a hundred or a thousand times, then he certainly has developed in more ways than physical. Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter either. Then willpower will be no problem.

Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter, either. Then willpower will be no problem.

My running was very simple it was out of myself.

If I can get better, why not?

What has passed is already finished with. What I find more interesting is what is still to come.

You can't climb up to the second floor without a ladder. When you set your aim too high and don't fulfill it, then your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that's reasonable, and then gradually raise it.

If one can stick to the training throughout the many long years, then will power is no longer a problem. It's raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's besides the point. It's simply that I just have to.

It's at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys.