Frank Shorter Quotes

Powerful Frank Shorter for Daily Growth

About Frank Shorter

Frank Shorter (born December 17, 1947) is an American former long-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist, best known for his achievements in the marathon during the 1970s. Born in San Francisco, California, Shorter was raised in a sports-oriented family, with both parents being college athletes. His early life was marked by a love for athletics, particularly swimming and cross-country running. Shorter's college career began at the University of Michigan, where he competed in cross country and track events, winning several Big Ten championships. In 1970, he transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, joining their renowned track and field program. Under coach Joe Vigil, Shorter developed into a formidable marathon runner. In 1972, Shorter made his Olympic debut at the Munich Games, where he won the gold medal in the marathon. This victory was particularly significant as it marked the first time an American had won the men's Olympic marathon since 1904. In 1976, he successfully defended his title at the Montreal Olympics, making him one of only four people to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the men's marathon (as of 2021). Shorter's influence on long-distance running extended beyond his competitive career. He authored several books, including "Run to Overcome: A Runner's Approach to Life" and "The Olympic Marathoner." In these works, he shared his insights into athletic training, mental preparation, and the pursuit of personal excellence. Post-competitive retirement, Shorter has been involved in various sports administration roles, including serving as the President of USA Track & Field from 1985 to 1990. He remains an active member of the running community, inspiring generations of athletes with his Olympic achievements and enduring spirit.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The important thing is to try, and then when something crops up to meet it with your best."

The quote emphasizes the significance of effort and resilience in overcoming challenges. It encourages individuals to actively participate (try) in pursuing their goals or facing problems, and to confront these issues with determination and perseverance (meet it with your best). Essentially, it suggests that success lies not only in attempting but also in responding effectively to the unforeseen circumstances that may arise along the way.


"Running is about self-discovery. It's about seeing what the body is made of. You push yourself to the limits, and in that sense it's a metaphor for life."

Frank Shorter's quote suggests that running serves as an analogue for navigating through life. In both running and living, one must challenge their own physical and mental boundaries (limits) to understand their true capabilities (self-discovery). The grit and determination demonstrated in a running race mirrors the resilience required in facing real-life challenges. Running thus provides an avenue for individuals to test their inner strength, learn about themselves, and apply these lessons to overcome life's obstacles.


"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."

This quote emphasizes that having a strong desire to succeed (the 'will to win') is essential, but it's equally important to have the 'will to prepare.' In other words, passion and determination are necessary, but they must be backed by hard work, dedication, and proper preparation to achieve success. It suggests that without the latter, even the strongest will to win may not lead to victory.


"I think one of the biggest challenges in any sport or any physical activity, especially at the elite level, is to maintain motivation when you've already achieved your ultimate goal."

This quote highlights the ongoing struggle that many high-achievers face after reaching their ultimate goals – maintaining motivation. The journey towards a goal provides a clear direction and purpose, and once that goal is accomplished, athletes or individuals might find it challenging to discover new objectives or maintain the same level of drive without a tangible end point. This is particularly relevant in sports at an elite level where competitors are used to pushing themselves towards peak performance for specific goals such as winning championships or setting records. Maintaining motivation after achieving their ultimate goal requires finding new challenges, refining personal bests, and continually setting new aspirations to keep the fire of passion burning bright.


"Success in running comes not from physical ability but from mental determination and a positive attitude."

This quote emphasizes that success in running, and by extension, in life, stems less from innate physical abilities and more from mental fortitude and a constructive mindset. It suggests that having the drive, determination, and resilience to push past obstacles, maintain a positive perspective, and keep moving forward are crucial for achieving success in any endeavor. It underscores the importance of embracing a positive attitude as a powerful tool for overcoming challenges and realizing one's potential.


It is just called Continuing Legal Education. You can go to lectures, you can even listen to tapes on airplanes - they want you to stay current. So you do have to stay current to maintain your license even if you are not practicing.

- Frank Shorter

Education, Maintain, Tapes, Airplane

To put it another way, Michael Jordan was a gym rat.

- Frank Shorter

Rat, Michael Jordan, Michael, Another Way

The weather is perfect. The gods are shining on us.

- Frank Shorter

Weather, Perfect, Gods, Shining

Experience has taught me how important it is to just keep going, focusing on running fast and relaxed. Eventually it passes and the flow returns. It's part of racing.

- Frank Shorter

Racing, Going, Part, Relaxed

A good athlete always mentally replays a competition over and over, even in victory, to see what might be done to improve the performance the next time.

- Frank Shorter

Next, Always, Over, Next Time

Intervals and other types of speed work are essential to improve running speed.

- Frank Shorter

Running, Other, Intervals, Essential

The potential elite runner must realize that hard means hard, easy means easy and they must patiently seek out what combinations work for them. They have to learn to be persistent and patient with their training and racing.

- Frank Shorter

Racing, Learn, Means, Patiently

Right now, after having had back surgery, I am finally back to running again.

- Frank Shorter

Finally, Again, Having, Surgery

Hills are speedwork in disguise.

- Frank Shorter

Disguise, Hills

Yes, winning the gold medal was undoubtedly the biggest day of my career - mostly because I won the way I had prepared to run it. It was a totally satisfying experience.

- Frank Shorter

Winning, Career, Mostly, Satisfying

I was actually going to law school in 1972.

- Frank Shorter

Law, Going, Actually, Law School

I started in law school in '71 and graduated in '74. So I was training for the Olympics, running or averaging around 20 miles a day and going to law school full time.

- Frank Shorter

Law, Going, Olympics, Law School

Running with others can help get you out when you might otherwise blow it off.

- Frank Shorter

Help, Running, Otherwise, Blow

The marathon is all about energy management. I had planned to run it like a track race with strategic surges to blow up my competitors by putting them into oxygen debt, so that is the way I prepared.

- Frank Shorter

Prepared, Strategic, Putting, Blow

It is not the time spent with the child at their activity that is going to produce the highest level athlete. It is in supporting the child in an organized activity - and Bill alluded to this - so the child can find what they truly like to do and let them go.

- Frank Shorter

Activity, Highest Level, Supporting

For the novice runner, I'd say to give yourself at least 2 months of consistently running several times a week at a conversational pace before deciding whether you want to stick with it. Consistency is the most important aspect of training at this point.

- Frank Shorter

Week, Before, Least, Conversational

I admire runners older than I - they are now my heroes. I want to be like them as I grow older.

- Frank Shorter

Grow, Want, Like, Runners

Really, I think that going out and playing with your friends is kind of becoming a lost art, with the kids in the neighborhood.

- Frank Shorter

Art, Think, I Think, Neighborhood

I think he had a wake-up call. It's a different kind of race, and I think maybe he didn't take it quite as seriously as he might have, but you can bet he learned a lot of lessons.

- Frank Shorter

Think, Race, I Think, Lessons

So, in a way I was hedging and saying that if the Olympic stuff doesn't work out at least I can be a lawyer.

- Frank Shorter

Work, Olympic, Least, Lawyer

I also held several masters running titles.

- Frank Shorter

Running, Held, Several, Titles

Being in school is the best place to be if you are an athlete because you can structure your own time.

- Frank Shorter

Best, Athlete, Own, Structure

In other words we have marketed our way into this health crisis.

- Frank Shorter

Words, Crisis, Other, In Other Words

You don't run 26 miles at five minutes a mile on good looks and a secret recipe.

- Frank Shorter

Minutes, Recipe, Mile, Five

The irony of that is, what makes it kind of ironic, is when you do become successful as a professional athlete in particular, a lot of the young children who are emulating these stars do have a different perspective.

- Frank Shorter

Athlete, Young, Ironic, Young Children

When I am totally race fit, I don't worry about breathing or technique - they take care of themselves.

- Frank Shorter

Worry, Breathing, Race, Care

When you are caring about your children perhaps you always have to remember at what point you can become over involved because of something you need rather than something the child needs.

- Frank Shorter

Always, Over, Needs, Become

There's obviously some validity to it. But I think it also points out that you obviously can do it on your own because people have been doing it long before they had the stuff.

- Frank Shorter

Think, Some, Been, Points

What you did was live on very little. I think all of us that were competing - Bill is the same way - you don't need much to live.

- Frank Shorter

Think, Competing, Very, Bill

I think it is that parents just don't kick their kids out the door as much as they used to. I think the demise of sandlot sports has had a lot to do with it.

- Frank Shorter

Door, Think, I Think, Kick

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.