--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every marathon starts with that first…" description: "\"Every marathon starts with that first mile. But somewhere around mile 16 or 18 - trust me on this - your feet are killing you, you're not sure you can ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/betsy-hodges-11083_body_every-marathon-starts-with-that-first-mi_732899.jpg" --- # Every marathon starts with that first mile. But somewhere… ![“Every marathon starts with that first mile. But somewhere around mile 16 or 18 - trust me on this - your feet are killing you, you're not sure you can breathe anymore, your mind is frazzled, your body wracked with pain, and all you want to do is stop.” quote by Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/betsy-hodges-11083_body_every-marathon-starts-with-that-first-mi_732899.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/betsy-hodges-11083_body_every-marathon-starts-with-that-first-mi_732899.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/betsy-hodges-11083_body_every-marathon-starts-with-that-first-mi_732899.jpg) > “Every marathon starts with that first mile. But somewhere around mile 16 or 18 - trust me on this - your feet are killing you, you're not sure you can breathe anymore, your mind is frazzled, your body wracked with pain, and all you want to do is stop.” [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Endurance wanes mid‑race; perseverance and mental focus sustain performance. **In simple terms:** Mid‑race fatigue challenges resolve. Key Takeaway Push through discomfort with focus. Themes endurance perseverance mental strength Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - marathons - long‑distance runs - training sessions - project deadlines Key Concepts physiology psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - What strategies keep you moving forward? - How do you reset focus when exhausted? A Different Perspective Ignoring pain can cause injury. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Marathon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marathon/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Where the marathon starts is after 30 kilometers. That's where you feel pain everywhere in your body. The muscles are really aching, and only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliud-kipchoge/where-the-marathon-starts-is-after-30-kilometers-that-s-where-you/) [Eliud Kipchoge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliud-kipchoge/) > [The marathon always starts after 30K. That's where the problems start. You start without any problems, without any pain. All the pain comes after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/the-marathon-always-starts-after-30k-that-s-where-the-problems-start/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [I am a marathon runner. I ran the New York City marathon and almost died. I tried to run, like, a two-minute mile early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-combs/i-am-a-marathon-runner-i-ran-the-new-york-city-marathon-and-almost/) [Sean Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-combs/) > [If an athlete takes a shortcut - literally, for example, by running a street that shortens the marathon route by a quarter mile -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/if-an-athlete-takes-a-shortcut-literally-for-example-by-running-a/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [“Don't get disheartened one mile into a marathon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/don-t-get-disheartened-one-mile-into-a-marathon/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [From my mother I learned just how violent and unquenchable a woman's loneliness can be. She had been sheltered excessively by her husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/from-my-mother-i-learned-just-how-violent-and-unquenchable-a-woman-s/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [What does it mean to have a mayor who has an organizing background? It means I have allies and partners on whom I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/what-does-it-mean-to-have-a-mayor-who-has-an-organizing-background-it/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [My fastest time in high school was a 4:29 mile. I think cross-country has something to do with my longevity in my business. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/my-fastest-time-in-high-school-was-a-4-29-mile-i-think-cross-country/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [We all know the dangers of sequels. Lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place too often, and I think you've got to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/we-all-know-the-dangers-of-sequels-lightning-doesn-t-strike-twice-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [A mile of worries wont take you as far as an inch of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-raphy/a-mile-of-worries-wont-take-you-as-far-as-an-inch-of-action/) King Raphy > [Every mile marker can be met with some measure of trepidation, in a race or in life. Am I on target? Do I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/every-mile-marker-can-be-met-with-some-measure-of-trepidation-in-a/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [Blink and you miss a sprint. The 10,000 meters is lap after lap of waiting. Theatrically, the mile is just the right length: beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/blink-and-you-miss-a-sprint-the-10-000-meters-is-lap-after-lap-of/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [“Go the extra mile, And make somebody smile”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-j-forde-2/go-the-extra-mile-and-make-somebody-smile/) [Charmaine J. Forde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-j-forde-2/) > [Walking a mile in my shoes will make you realize that not everything is as good as it seems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/walking-a-mile-in-my-shoes-will-make-you-realize-that-not-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['8 Mile' is so revered, it's like, everywhere I go, somebody's talking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/8-mile-is-so-revered-it-s-like-everywhere-i-go-somebody-s-talking/) [Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/) ## More by Betsy Hodges > [For me, governing starts with people. It doesn't start with bureaucracy. It doesn't start with policy. It starts with people and what people need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/for-me-governing-starts-with-people-it-doesn-t-start-with-bureaucracy/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [I am very clear with people that I am willing and able to make tough choices, and I will do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/i-am-very-clear-with-people-that-i-am-willing-and-able-to-make-tough/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [What does it mean to have a mayor who has an organizing background? 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I don't have a DVR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/i-don-t-have-cable-i-don-t-have-a-dvr/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [People work hard for their money, and they expect services for the dollars they put into the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/people-work-hard-for-their-money-and-they-expect-services-for-the/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [Philosophically, I don't believe in public funding for private sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/philosophically-i-don-t-believe-in-public-funding-for-private-sports/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [My mother's first career was physical therapy, her second was writer, and her third career was president of an organic fertilizer company. And she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/my-mother-s-first-career-was-physical-therapy-her-second-was-writer/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [When Trump's cronies are the people attacking you, you know you've done something right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/when-trump-s-cronies-are-the-people-attacking-you-you-know-you-ve/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [Since I'm a Minnesotan, that bragging thing is a little hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/since-i-m-a-minnesotan-that-bragging-thing-is-a-little-hard/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [Prince was unapologetically different, and he made it okay for his fans to be different and to celebrate their individuality. 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I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. 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