--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Marathoning is a metaphor for life, so…" description: "\"Marathoning is a metaphor for life, so there are a lot of parallels you can draw. I tell people to follow your dream, follow your heart, follow your pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/joan-benoit-26468_believe_marathoning-is-a-metaphor-for-life-so-th_2557615.jpg" --- # Marathoning is a metaphor for life, so there are a lot of… ![“Marathoning is a metaphor for life, so there are a lot of parallels you can draw. I tell people to follow your dream, follow your heart, follow your passion, run your own race and believe in yourself. I think anybody who wants to succeed has to have passion. My love for this sport, you can't…” quote by Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/joan-benoit-26468_believe_marathoning-is-a-metaphor-for-life-so-th_2557615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/joan-benoit-26468_believe_marathoning-is-a-metaphor-for-life-so-th_2557615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf5/joan-benoit-26468_believe_marathoning-is-a-metaphor-for-life-so-th_2557615.jpg) > “Marathoning is a metaphor for life, so there are a lot of parallels you can draw. I tell people to follow your dream, follow your heart, follow your passion, run your own race and believe in yourself. I think anybody who wants to succeed has to have passion. My love for this sport, you can't instill it in someone else.” [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life mirrors marathon running; persistence, passion, and self‑belief drive success. **In simple terms:** Life is like a marathon; stay passionate and believe in yourself. Key Takeaway Cultivate passion and run your own race. Themes perseverance self‑belief goal‑setting Mood inspirational determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - training - career - relationships - health goals Key Concepts Motivation personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What personal race are you running? - How can you align passion with actionable plans? A Different Perspective Passion alone may not guarantee success without strategy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Follow your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-dreams/) [Follow your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-heart/) [Follow your passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-passion/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Marathon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marathon/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Motivational running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-running/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Run Your Own Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-your-own-race/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-dreams/) ## Related quotes > [“I have found in my dealings with the Negro race — and I believe that the same is true of all races that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-have-found-in-my-dealings-with-the-negro-race-and-i-believe-that/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [You can't depend on other people, you have to run your own race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/you-can-t-depend-on-other-people-you-have-to-run-your-own-race/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [No child wants to fail. Everyone wants to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/no-child-wants-to-fail-everyone-wants-to-succeed/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [Playing for the national team, you are aware that a whole country wants you to succeed, but you mustn't get side-tracked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alaba/playing-for-the-national-team-you-are-aware-that-a-whole-country/) [David Alaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alaba/) > [He who wants to succeed should learn how to fight, to strive and to suffer. You can acquire a lot in life, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/he-who-wants-to-succeed-should-learn-how-to-fight-to-strive-and-to/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Someone who wants to succeed has to overcome his own greed first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-buwei/someone-who-wants-to-succeed-has-to-overcome-his-own-greed-first/) Lu Buwei > [When you have an icon that wants you to succeed, it's awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/when-you-have-an-icon-that-wants-you-to-succeed-it-s-awesome/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [Everyone wants to succeed and do well and win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ollie-watkins/everyone-wants-to-succeed-and-do-well-and-win/) [Ollie Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ollie-watkins/) > [“God wants you to succeed; He created you to live abundantly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/god-wants-you-to-succeed-he-created-you-to-live-abundantly/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [There are some basic human needs that are the same. Everybody wants to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/there-are-some-basic-human-needs-that-are-the-same-everybody-wants-to/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [When I was on 'Idol' and 17, everything was so new. Everyone is so nice and wants to see you succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/when-i-was-on-idol-and-17-everything-was-so-new-everyone-is-so-nice/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [You can choose your family sometimes. You can choose people, it could be a teacher, it could be a professor, it could be someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/you-can-choose-your-family-sometimes-you-can-choose-people-it-could/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [“God wants each and every one of us to succeed, provided that our definition of success is right. God wants us to reach our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newberry-tommy/god-wants-each-and-every-one-of-us-to-succeed-provided-that-our/) [Newberry, Tommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newberry-tommy/) > [“When you’re following your dreams, you quickly learn who wants you to succeed and who desires to see you fail. Pay attention and stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delano-johnson/when-you-re-following-your-dreams-you-quickly-learn-who-wants-you-to/) [Delano Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delano-johnson/) > [One who wants to succeed in life has to make out priorities of endeavour in day to day life keeping eye on the target…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/one-who-wants-to-succeed-in-life-has-to-make-out-priorities-of/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) ## More by Joan Benoit > [The challenge and the energy running requires may be a selfish one, but it actually motivates me to be stronger in my relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/the-challenge-and-the-energy-running-requires-may-be-a-selfish-one/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [I look at victory as milestones on a very long highway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/i-look-at-victory-as-milestones-on-a-very-long-highway/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [Every time I fail, I assume I will be a stronger person for it. I keep on running figuratively and literally, despite a limp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/every-time-i-fail-i-assume-i-will-be-a-stronger-person-for-it-i-keep/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [Recognize your victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/recognize-your-victories/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [Running is 80 percent mental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/running-is-80-percent-mental/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [There’s not a better feeling than when you have found that moment of balance and harmony when both running and life come together. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/there-s-not-a-better-feeling-than-when-you-have-found-that-moment-of/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [One hour with a child is like a ten-mile run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/one-hour-with-a-child-is-like-a-ten-mile-run/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [Love yourself, for who and what you are; protect your dream and develop your talent to the fullest extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/love-yourself-for-who-and-what-you-are-protect-your-dream-and-develop/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [There will always be something to strive for. My hope is for the heart to strive forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/there-will-always-be-something-to-strive-for-my-hope-is-for-the-heart/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [Coffee doesn't do it for me; it's running that gets me going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/coffee-doesn-t-do-it-for-me-it-s-running-that-gets-me-going/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [My philosophy on running is, I don't dwell on it, I do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/my-philosophy-on-running-is-i-don-t-dwell-on-it-i-do-it/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [You can't depend on other people, you have to run your own race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/you-can-t-depend-on-other-people-you-have-to-run-your-own-race/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [Winning is neither everything nor the only thing. It is one of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/winning-is-neither-everything-nor-the-only-thing-it-is-one-of-many/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [If you feel like eating, eat. Let your body tell you what it wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/if-you-feel-like-eating-eat-let-your-body-tell-you-what-it-wants/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) > [Doing something for yourself like running, and using it to test yourself, will only make you feel better about your career or your family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-benoit/doing-something-for-yourself-like-running-and-using-it-to-test/) [Joan Benoit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) [Explore all 21 Joan Benoit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-benoit/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Marathoning is a metaphor for life, so there are a lot of parallels you can draw. I tell people to follow your dream, follow your heart, follow your passion, run your own race and believe in yourself. I think anybody who wants to succeed has to have passion. 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