Low on Running Motivation? Get Your Inspiration Back with Olympian Alexi Pappas!
Get back on track with powerful running motivation from Olympian Alexi Pappas.
Running Is Hard—And That’s Exactly Why You’re Doing It
The runner’s high and finish line thrill are what we live for. But what about the miles that feel impossible? If you’ve hit a plateau, lost your momentum, or need a reset, you’re not alone. Even Olympians like Alexi Pappas have been there.
“Dreams don’t come true because they’re supposed to, they come true because the dreamer takes it upon herself to make them happen.”
In this post, you’ll find inspiring quotes from Bravey. Whether you’re training for your first marathon or just trying to get through a tough week, these quotes will help you face the day with a little more moxie.
Why Motivation Matters for Runners
Every runner knows there are days when the hardest part is just showing up. The soreness, the self-doubt, the voice in your head saying “skip it”—they’re all part of the process. That’s why motivation isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential fuel.
Alexi Pappas doesn’t sugarcoat the journey. She writes about the tedious, unglamorous work behind big dreams—the type of effort most people don’t see.
Her words hits home for runners because marathon training isn’t about perfect conditions or waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s about choosing to keep going when it’s hard. It’s about remembering your why when your legs feel like jelly. Or when your friends invite you out for a night of drinks, when you have an early morning training run planned.
🎥 Watch: Alexi Pappas’ “Rule of Thirds” for Chasing Big Goals
Feeling good all the time isn’t the goal—it’s not even realistic. In this short video, Olympian and Bravey author Alexi Pappas shares the mental framework she uses to navigate training slumps and emotional highs and lows.
Best Motivational Quotes for Runners from Bravey
Commitment Over Comfort
“To be committed is to be dead set on achieving your goal, no matter how much tedious work it takes. If you aren’t committed, then you’re only interested.”
— Bravey, p. 290
Pappas reframes the idea of discipline. It’s not about chasing perfection or always feeling motivated. It’s about showing up, especially when the work is repetitive, lonely, or hard to measure.
Embracing Hard, Unglamorous Work
“Most people innately want to avoid pain and seek out comfort, and chasing a dream means challenging the default… It breaks my heart when I see someone give up on a dream because of hardships that could have been overcome with scrappy, hard, unglamorous work.”
— Bravey, p. 292
This is one of the core truths of running—and life. Comfort is easy. But the work that leads to growth? That’s no picnic. It’s alarms set for “o’dark early,” missing out on plans with friends, forgoing impulse buys, and staying the course no matter what.
Belief in the Impossible
“It can feel safer to think that certain things are impossible than to believe that just about anything is possible if you are scrappy, creative, and bold, and don’t give up—if you see barriers as things to overcome rather than reasons to quit.”
— Bravey, p. 299
This quote is for the runner who has told themselves, “I could never run a marathon” or “I’m not fast enough.” Alexi Pappas gently but firmly challenges that kind of thinking. She reminds us that labeling something as impossible can sometimes be a way to protect ourselves from the fear of failure.
In the running world, breakthroughs often start with mindset shifts. Running a personal best or simply showing up consistently takes belief—and a willingness to fail forward.
As one Amazon reviewer shared:
“Her no-bull honesty is staggeringly refreshing… Her words inspire me to be brave and unapologetically work toward the goals I want to achieve every single day.”
Carving Your Own Path
“For most dreams, there is no beaten path… There is only a thick forest of thorny blackberry bushes ahead, waiting for you to clear a path for yourself. It isn’t easy. There will be blood, but there will also be berries.”
— Bravey, p. 286–287
Every runner’s journey is different. Maybe you’re balancing training with parenting, returning after a long hiatus, or figuring it out as you go. Pappas paints that reality with poetic honesty—and a little humor. The metaphor of the blackberry bushes is striking: the scratches are real, but so are the sweet moments that make it worth it.
Fight or Excuse?
“You can either stop making excuses for yourself or you can lead a life defined by your excuses… I say, if you want something, decisively try to get it. That beats the alternative, which is a slow-simmering regret that often reduces into bitterness. It’s better to be brave than bitter.”
— Bravey, p. 300
This quote cuts right to the core, but Pappas delivers it with the tenderness of a friend who knows what you’re capable of. Pappas calls us out—not to shame us, but to empower us. We always have a choice: stay stuck or dig deep.
When the alarm goes off early, when the run doesn’t go as planned, when doubt creeps in—that’s when excuses love to show up. But excuses won’t get you across the finish line. What will? Decisive, imperfect effort.
How to Use These Quotes in Your Training
Motivational quotes don’t just belong on Pinterest boards—they can be practical tools for your marathon training. Alexi Pappas’ words aren’t fluff. They’re mantras, reminders, and mindset shifts that can ground you when things get tough.
- 🗓 Pair them with your workouts: Add one quote to your training calendar each week. Let it be your focus for the long run or a challenging weight training session.
- 🧠 Turn them into mantras: Shorten a quote into a phrase you can repeat during hard efforts. For example, “better brave than bitter” or “scrappy, bold, tenacious.”
- 🖼 Write them on sticky notes and place them on your mirror or water bottle: Let the words meet you in the small moments—before a run, during a water break, or after a tough day.
- 📱 Make a lock screen or social post: Share the quotes that speak to you. It helps deepen your own connection to the message.
- 💬 Talk about them: Use them as conversation starters in your running group or journal prompts for self-reflection. (See below for more examples.)
Reflection Prompts
You can guide yourself to internalizing the quotes by reflecting on your running journey and answering journal prompts like:
- What does being “committed” look like for me right now?
- What’s a “blackberry bush” I’ve been avoiding in my training?
- When have I replaced “can’t” with “maybe” in the past?
- What goal feels impossible—but matters deeply?
Alexi Pappas Returns to Her Home Race: The SF Alexi Pappas 10K
Alexi Pappas isn’t just an Olympian and author—she’s also a cherished part of the San Francisco Marathon community. Her roots run deep in the Bay Area, and she brings her signature spark, humor, and heart to our race weekend.
She’ll also be appearing at the SFM Race Expo on Saturday, July 26, where fans can meet her in person, talk running and writing, and maybe even get their copy of Bravey signed.
Thinking about running the 10K?
Want More Alexi?
If you’re feeling inspired, you’re not alone. Alexi Pappas has shared her journey with the San Francisco Marathon community in two interviews. From guiding a visually impaired runner to her Boston Qualifier, to redefining what it means to train intuitively—her story continues to move runners of all levels. Read more:
How Alexi Pappas Guided Lisa Thompson to Her Boston Victory →
A live Q&A recap full of heart, grit, and a shared dream come true.
Post-Race Interview: Alexi on Training Intuitively →
An exclusive conversation about listening to your body, your heart, and rewriting the rules of training.