--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finish: Even if you run a slower than…" description: "\"Finish: Even if you run a slower than expected time, you succeed in any marathon when you finish.\" — Hal Higdon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/hal-higdon-18807_expected_finish-even-if-you-run-a-slower-than-exp_2172849.jpg" --- # Finish: Even if you run a slower than expected time, you… ![“Finish: Even if you run a slower than expected time, you succeed in any marathon when you finish.” quote by Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/hal-higdon-18807_expected_finish-even-if-you-run-a-slower-than-exp_2172849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/hal-higdon-18807_expected_finish-even-if-you-run-a-slower-than-exp_2172849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/hal-higdon-18807_expected_finish-even-if-you-run-a-slower-than-exp_2172849.jpg) > “Finish: Even if you run a slower than expected time, you succeed in any marathon when you finish.” [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finishing a marathon, regardless of speed, signifies success through completion. **In simple terms:** Finishing matters more than speed. Key Takeaway Prioritize completion over pace. Themes perseverance achievement resilience Mood motivational encouraging Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - Running events - project deadlines - learning new skills Key Concepts Goal attainment process over outcome mental stamina Questions to Reflect On - How does finishing shape your sense of achievement? - What strategies keep you moving when slow? A Different Perspective Speed can be essential in competitive contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marathon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marathon/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“As your training integrates Mind, Body and Spirit, enjoy the process. Your journey to the marathon finish will last a few hours. Your journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-greenlee/as-your-training-integrates-mind-body-and-spirit-enjoy-the-process/) [Gina Greenlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-greenlee/) > [When I finish a run, every part of me is smiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-galloway/when-i-finish-a-run-every-part-of-me-is-smiling/) [Jeff Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-galloway/) > [We eat and sleep and shuffle through the fog, walking a marathon with no finish line, no medals, no cheering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/we-eat-and-sleep-and-shuffle-through-the-fog-walking-a-marathon-with/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [“You wouldn’t train for a marathon & then give up a mile before the finish line. Same goes with your life & dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-gluskin/you-wouldn-t-train-for-a-marathon-then-give-up-a-mile-before-the/) [Dawn Gluskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-gluskin/) > [The difference between the mile and the marathon is the difference between burning your fingers with a match and being slowly roasted over hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/the-difference-between-the-mile-and-the-marathon-is-the-difference/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [The marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/the-marathon-never-ceases-to-be-a-race-of-joy-a-race-of-wonder/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [The pride in finishing a marathon is much greater than all the pain endured during the marathon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/the-pride-in-finishing-a-marathon-is-much-greater-than-all-the-pain/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [Motivation remains key to the marathon: the motivation to begin; the motivation to continue; the motivation never to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/motivation-remains-key-to-the-marathon-the-motivation-to-begin-the/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [Age shakes Athena's tower, but spares gray Marathon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/age-shakes-athena-s-tower-but-spares-gray-marathon/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [What could be funnier than a fat person trying to run a marathon?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/what-could-be-funnier-than-a-fat-person-trying-to-run-a-marathon/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [A season is like a marathon and there will be plenty of ups and downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/a-season-is-like-a-marathon-and-there-will-be-plenty-of-ups-and-downs/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [TV is, as I'm discovering now, a marathon. You have to keep going and going and going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/tv-is-as-i-m-discovering-now-a-marathon-you-have-to-keep-going-and/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have Nature, and that is much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juha-vaatainen/stadiums-are-for-spectators-we-runners-have-nature-and-that-is-much/) Juha Vaatainen ## More by Hal Higdon > [Keep your dream in front of you. Never let it go regardless of how farfetched it might seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/keep-your-dream-in-front-of-you-never-let-it-go-regardless-of-how/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [The difference between the mile and the marathon is the difference between burning your fingers with a match and being slowly roasted over hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/the-difference-between-the-mile-and-the-marathon-is-the-difference/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [Even when you have gone as far as you can, and everything hurts, and you are staring at the specter of self-doubt, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/even-when-you-have-gone-as-far-as-you-can-and-everything-hurts-and/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [“It is not how much training you do as much as it is how well you recover from it. Because if you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/it-is-not-how-much-training-you-do-as-much-as-it-is-how-well-you/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [Motivation remains key to the marathon: the motivation to begin; the motivation to continue; the motivation never to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/motivation-remains-key-to-the-marathon-the-motivation-to-begin-the/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [Life is a series of hard and easy runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/life-is-a-series-of-hard-and-easy-runs/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [The pride in finishing a marathon is much greater than all the pain endured during the marathon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/the-pride-in-finishing-a-marathon-is-much-greater-than-all-the-pain/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [I run, therefore I am. And given the years improved fitness adds to our lives, if I did not run, maybe I would no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/i-run-therefore-i-am-and-given-the-years-improved-fitness-adds-to-our/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [“For one thing, more and more women are running, outnumbering men in more and more marathons and half-marathons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/for-one-thing-more-and-more-women-are-running-outnumbering-men-in/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [Each runner's capacity to absorb hard training is different. Find your own unique level of comfort and success will be yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/each-runner-s-capacity-to-absorb-hard-training-is-different-find-your/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [The marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/the-marathon-never-ceases-to-be-a-race-of-joy-a-race-of-wonder/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [What is the purpose of any one workout? Enjoyment? Improvement? Coach said so? Whatever, the hour you run often is the best hour of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/what-is-the-purpose-of-any-one-workout-enjoyment-improvement-coach/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [Putting miles in your training log is like putting money in the bank. You begin to draw interest on it immediately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/putting-miles-in-your-training-log-is-like-putting-money-in-the-bank/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [We all have bad days and bad workouts, when running gets ugly, when split times seem slow, when you wonder why you started. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/we-all-have-bad-days-and-bad-workouts-when-running-gets-ugly-when/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) > [Some runners judge performance by whether they won or lost. Others define success or failure by how fast they ran. Only you can judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-higdon/some-runners-judge-performance-by-whether-they-won-or-lost-others/) [Hal Higdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) [Explore all 34 Hal Higdon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-higdon/) ## More Expected quotes > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. 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I have always expected a great deal of myself, and if I fail, I fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-have-never-judged-myself-by-other-people-s-standards-i-have-always/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy’ll be able to do is send sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-people-only-die-in-proper-duels-you-know-with-real-wizards-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True love does not consist in trying to correct others, but in feeling joy that things are better than we expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/true-love-does-not-consist-in-trying-to-correct-others-but-in-feeling/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Playing in the NFL, you're expected to perform and perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jones/playing-in-the-nfl-you-re-expected-to-perform-and-perform-well/) [Daniel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jones/) > [Fransisco, you're some kind of very high nobility, aren't you?" He answered, "Not yet. The reason my family has lasted for such a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/fransisco-you-re-some-kind-of-very-high-nobility-aren-t-you-he/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We were always expected to see Quebec's side of things, but there was damned little reciprocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-lamarsh/we-were-always-expected-to-see-quebec-s-side-of-things-but-there-was/) [Judy LaMarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-lamarsh/) > [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. 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