Winners never quit, and quitters never win

Joe Henderson's reflection on an old locker-room slogan in "Early Miles", Marathon & Beyond (May/June 2008) magazine:

"The first level of winning is completing what you have set out to do, be it a mile or a marathon. By finishing, you've beaten everyone who started but dropped out early, as well as those who hadn't started and never would. The second level of winning is improving. You're granted about a decade of improvement, and getting faster or going longer doesn't require beating anyone else, only a time or a distance. The third and highest level of winning is continuing after improvement stops, as it surely will if you run through enough years. Slower and shorter running still beats no running at all. Winners never quit; quitters never win. This locker-room slogan means much more to me now."

Joe's observations can be applied to life. Finish what you start. Continue to improve. Make it a habit and be relentless. Joe Henderson's weekly Running Commentary is worth checking out.