--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I would have been such a…" description: "\"I don't think I would have been such a good runner if I hadn't enjoyed it.\" — Grete Waitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/grete-waitz-17018_enjoyed_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-such-a-g_446848.jpg" --- # I don't think I would have been such a good runner if I… ![“I don't think I would have been such a good runner if I hadn't enjoyed it.” quote by Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/grete-waitz-17018_enjoyed_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-such-a-g_446848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/grete-waitz-17018_enjoyed_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-such-a-g_446848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/grete-waitz-17018_enjoyed_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-such-a-g_446848.jpg) > “I don't think I would have been such a good runner if I hadn't enjoyed it.” [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enjoyment fuels performance; without love for the activity, success is unlikely. **In simple terms:** Love what you do to excel. Key Takeaway Find joy in your practice. Themes motivation joy performance Mood inspired optimistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - running - training - coaching - personal development Key Concepts positive psychology sports science Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your work bring you joy? - How can you increase enjoyment in a necessary task? A Different Perspective If you dislike the activity, skill may still improve but with less satisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed/) [Good Runner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-runner-1216821/) [Hadn Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-enjoyed-3907655/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Runner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runner/) [Runner Hadn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runner-hadn-3907654/) [Runners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runners/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Is it not true that the clever rogue is like the runner who runs well for the first half of the course, but flags…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/is-it-not-true-that-the-clever-rogue-is-like-the-runner-who-runs-well/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [A good runner leaves no footprints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-good-runner-leaves-no-footprints/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is no good runner or bad runner. We are just runners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/there-is-no-good-runner-or-bad-runner-we-are-just-runners/) [Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/) > [Running has taken me in, and continues to comfort, heal and challenge me in all kinds of magical ways. I am not a 'good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/running-has-taken-me-in-and-continues-to-comfort-heal-and-challenge/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [For myself, someone who's quite strong and a good runner, I should be testing teams more than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mctominay/for-myself-someone-who-s-quite-strong-and-a-good-runner-i-should-be/) [Scott McTominay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mctominay/) > [When I was a kid, I was a pretty good runner, and there was nothing like winning a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-a-pretty-good-runner-and-there-was-nothing/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [You must be a good runner because your always on my mind. You must be a good thief because You have stolen my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niaah/you-must-be-a-good-runner-because-your-always-on-my-mind-you-must-be/) [Niaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niaah/) > [I was always a good runner, I dipped into triathlons a bit and stuff like that, but I just remember saying to my mum,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-williamson/i-was-always-a-good-runner-i-dipped-into-triathlons-a-bit-and-stuff/) [Leah Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-williamson/) > [You must be a good runner because you are always running in my mind, You must be a good thief because you have stolen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-be-a-good-runner-because-you-are-always-running-in-my-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mum's a good runner, so is my granddad. We're a big sporting family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-norrie/my-mum-s-a-good-runner-so-is-my-granddad-we-re-a-big-sporting-family/) [Cameron Norrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-norrie/) > [You make it all sound so simple. Run your guts out...collapse at the finish, throw up, that makes a good runner. Sounds like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-brantly/you-make-it-all-sound-so-simple-run-your-guts-out-collapse-at-the/) [Keith Brantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-brantly/) > [In addition to the well-known benefits of health and well-being derived from exercise, there are other unique advantages to being a runner. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/in-addition-to-the-well-known-benefits-of-health-and-well-being/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [When I came to New York in 1978, I was a full-time school teacher and track runner, and determined to retire from competitive running.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/when-i-came-to-new-york-in-1978-i-was-a-full-time-school-teacher-and/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [I am an avid runner, mainly on weekends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-wilson/i-am-an-avid-runner-mainly-on-weekends/) [Patrick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-wilson/) > [To be a champion long-distance runner you have to run on the edge of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toshihiko-seko/to-be-a-champion-long-distance-runner-you-have-to-run-on-the-edge-of/) [Toshihiko Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toshihiko-seko/) ## More by Grete Waitz > [Contrary to a common myth, while there are general guidelines, there is no exact 'right' way to run ... I am amazed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/contrary-to-a-common-myth-while-there-are-general-guidelines-there-is/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [What Fred Lebow went through was an inspiration for me. You have to set goals for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/what-fred-lebow-went-through-was-an-inspiration-for-me-you-have-to/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [If you are training properly, you should progress steadily. This doesn't necessarily mean a personal best every time you race ... Each training session…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/if-you-are-training-properly-you-should-progress-steadily-this-doesn/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [For a couple of days after chemotherapy, food tastes really bland, even the best foods. 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It's as simple as that ... it has given me endless rewards: physical, emotional, and professional. The benefits of running are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/i-love-running-it-s-as-simple-as-that-it-has-given-me-endless-rewards/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [Exercise and sports are greatly affected by what goes into the mind, and the mind is greatly affected by sports and exercise as well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/exercise-and-sports-are-greatly-affected-by-what-goes-into-the-mind/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [I work out for my head as much as I do for my body. I'm a thinker. A lot of my ideas come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/i-work-out-for-my-head-as-much-as-i-do-for-my-body-i-m-a-thinker-a/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [Every day I spend time on the treadmill. I am walking faster, stronger and harder than I was two months ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/every-day-i-spend-time-on-the-treadmill-i-am-walking-faster-stronger/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [In addition to the well-known benefits of health and well-being derived from exercise, there are other unique advantages to being a runner. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/in-addition-to-the-well-known-benefits-of-health-and-well-being/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [Running gives me a clearer perspective on the world ... I've always seen the world by running, and that has allowed me to view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/running-gives-me-a-clearer-perspective-on-the-world-i-ve-always-seen/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [My basic philosophy can be summed up by an expression we use in Norwegian: hurry slowly. Get there, but be patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/my-basic-philosophy-can-be-summed-up-by-an-expression-we-use-in/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [Too many people I meet believe that you can sit in a chair and be given motivation. With exercise and fitness, you get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/too-many-people-i-meet-believe-that-you-can-sit-in-a-chair-and-be/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) [Explore all 38 Grete Waitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) ## More Enjoyed quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Really enjoyed this blog article. 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But it will be in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-have-enjoyed-a-wonderful-run-in-films-so-far-and-i-may-at-some/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [I have enjoyed the happiness of the world; I have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/i-have-enjoyed-the-happiness-of-the-world-i-have-loved/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Yeah, I'm the Brit who isn't Lewis Hamilton that woke up and realised he was good. 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But it's also a wonderful thing to be able to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/i-ve-always-enjoyed-traveling-and-having-experience-with-different/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [I truly enjoyed Greece - Santorini. 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