--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today was not about times, it was about…" description: "\"Today was not about times, it was about getting in there, enjoying the race, and enjoying the atmosphere\" — Paula Radcliffe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/paula-radcliffe-10337_atmosphere_today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-g_1061253.jpg" --- # Today was not about times, it was about getting in there… ![“Today was not about times, it was about getting in there, enjoying the race, and enjoying the atmosphere” quote by Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/paula-radcliffe-10337_atmosphere_today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-g_1061253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/paula-radcliffe-10337_atmosphere_today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-g_1061253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/paula-radcliffe-10337_atmosphere_today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-g_1061253.jpg) > “Today was not about times, it was about getting in there, enjoying the race, and enjoying the atmosphere” [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The event's value lies in participation and atmosphere, not just timing. **In simple terms:** Enjoy the experience, not just the clock. Key Takeaway Savor the moment. Themes sports mindfulness experience participation Mood joyful reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - Marathons - team sports - festival attendance - personal challenges Key Concepts Flow state intrinsic motivation event culture Questions to Reflect On - What does the atmosphere add to your performance? - How can you stay present under pressure? A Different Perspective Focusing on fun may reduce competitive edge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enjoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoying/) [Enjoying Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoying-atmosphere-1146949/) [Enjoying Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoying-race-1516606/) [Getting Enjoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-enjoying-2592314/) [Motivational running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-running/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race Enjoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-enjoying-2592313/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [The creative aspect is the most rewarding for me. By that, I mean seeing a concept come to life. It's the part where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanan-kattan/the-creative-aspect-is-the-most-rewarding-for-me-by-that-i-mean/) [Hanan Kattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanan-kattan/) > [People want to see the car crash instead of the race. But, when you're the one in the car that's crashing, it's not much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/people-want-to-see-the-car-crash-instead-of-the-race-but-when-you-re/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [Reaching the finish line, never walking, and enjoying the race. These three, in this order, are my goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/reaching-the-finish-line-never-walking-and-enjoying-the-race-these/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Go in any direction..seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/go-in-any-direction-seeking-out-new-sights-just-on-the-strength-of/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I have never been a killer. I'm not an aggressive personality and if I can remember any emotion I felt during a race it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-elliott/i-have-never-been-a-killer-i-m-not-an-aggressive-personality-and-if-i/) [Herb Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-elliott/) > [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 long run is what puts the tiger in the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-squires/the-long-run-is-what-puts-the-tiger-in-the-cat/) [Bill Squires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-squires/) > [A lot of people don't realize that not everybody gets high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/a-lot-of-people-don-t-realize-that-not-everybody-gets-high/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face. Gatorade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juma-ikangaa/you-have-a-choice-you-can-throw-in-the-towel-or-you-can-use-it-to/) [Juma Ikangaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juma-ikangaa/) > [To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-drayton/to-describe-the-agony-of-a-marathon-to-someone-who-s-never-run-it-is/) [Jerome Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-drayton/) > [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/) > [Everyone is an athlete. The only difference is that some of us are in training, and some are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/everyone-is-an-athlete-the-only-difference-is-that-some-of-us-are-in/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later the man who wins is the one who thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-s-battles-don-t-always-go-to-the-stronger-or-faster-man-but/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [When you run in the morning, you gain time. It's like stretching 24 hours into 25. You may need less sleep and get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-lebow/when-you-run-in-the-morning-you-gain-time-it-s-like-stretching-24/) [Fred Lebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-lebow/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juha-vaatainen/) ## More by Paula Radcliffe > [For an athlete, the biggest pressure comes from within. You know what you want to do and what you're capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/for-an-athlete-the-biggest-pressure-comes-from-within-you-know-what/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I've been to three Olympics and I don't feel I've ever quite achieved my best at any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-ve-been-to-three-olympics-and-i-don-t-feel-i-ve-ever-quite-achieved/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I've had a lot of success over the years racing in New York, but the main point is that I feel the marathon is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-success-over-the-years-racing-in-new-york-but-the/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [The biggest danger is trying to put too much pressure on yourself, trying to get in too good shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/the-biggest-danger-is-trying-to-put-too-much-pressure-on-yourself/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [The cheats always have a way of justifying their behaviour - everyone else is getting away with it, so why shouldn't I? But because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/the-cheats-always-have-a-way-of-justifying-their-behaviour-everyone/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I was thinking back to all the time in the gym, working hard, and that spurred me on \[winning New York marathon just ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-was-thinking-back-to-all-the-time-in-the-gym-working-hard-and-that/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [As an athlete, there are advantages being with a team and getting regular physio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/as-an-athlete-there-are-advantages-being-with-a-team-and-getting/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I'm not meek at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-m-not-meek-at-all/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [If you look back at my marathons and ask whether I would swap one of them for my one balls-up, of course I would.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/if-you-look-back-at-my-marathons-and-ask-whether-i-would-swap-one-of/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [You can't magic yourself back 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/you-can-t-magic-yourself-back-10-years/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [An Olympic medal won't define my whole life, although it might look like it to onlookers. When I look back, I should have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/an-olympic-medal-won-t-define-my-whole-life-although-it-might-look/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I have achieved a lot and I'm grateful for that - I'm just a bit greedy because I want to add the Olympics. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-have-achieved-a-lot-and-i-m-grateful-for-that-i-m-just-a-bit-greedy/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I have been doing 120 miles a week, when normally I would do about 140.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-have-been-doing-120-miles-a-week-when-normally-i-would-do-about-140/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I can't imagine living and not running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-can-t-imagine-living-and-not-running/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [Actually I don't choose to expose myself in public. I choose to compete; the other side just comes with the package.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/actually-i-don-t-choose-to-expose-myself-in-public-i-choose-to/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) [Explore all 66 Paula Radcliffe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) ## More Atmosphere quotes > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [Pause before you get home and prepare your heart. A peaceful heart leads to a peaceful atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-burns/pause-before-you-get-home-and-prepare-your-heart-a-peaceful-heart/) [Jim Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-burns/) > [Sometimes a minute is really the difference between success and failure. There are times when you finish with ten seconds left, and one extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-symon/sometimes-a-minute-is-really-the-difference-between-success-and/) [Michael Symon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-symon/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“Atmosphere" is a massive song. A lot of people say it's their favorite Joy Division song, but it's not mine; it reminds me too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hook/atmosphere-is-a-massive-song-a-lot-of-people-say-it-s-their-favorite/) [Peter Hook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hook/) > [Establish an atmosphere that energizes you. Some creative people flourish in confusion; others need to be free from interruption. Many prepare themselves for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/establish-an-atmosphere-that-energizes-you-some-creative-people/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [Each year we pump at least six billion tons of heat-trapping carbon into the innermost layer of our atmosphere, whose outer extent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/each-year-we-pump-at-least-six-billion-tons-of-heat-trapping-carbon/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) > [It was clear to me that the White House's solemn atmosphere would not civilize Trump. But the merciless nepotism with which he conducts politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-was-clear-to-me-that-the-white-house-s-solemn-atmosphere-would-not/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [“Bjerknes had come up with equations capable of describing the behavior of the atmosphere. The state of the atmosphere at any point could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullen/bjerknes-had-come-up-with-equations-capable-of-describing-the/) [Heidi Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullen/) > [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [ Jowett, in his day, did probably more than any other single man to let some fresh air into the exhausted atmosphere of the \[Oxford\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/jowett-in-his-day-did-probably-more-than-any-other-single-man-to-let/) [Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/) [Browse all 1,572 Atmosphere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Today was not about times, it was about getting in there, enjoying the race, and enjoying the atmosphere", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paula Radcliffe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-getting-in-there-enjoying-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atmosphere" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-getting-in-there-enjoying-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/paula-radcliffe-10337_atmosphere_today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-g_1061253.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/paula-radcliffe-10337_atmosphere_today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-g_1061253.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99e/paula-radcliffe-10337_atmosphere_today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-g_1061253.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Today was not about times, it was about getting in there, enjoying the race, and enjoying the atmosphere” — Paula Radcliffe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paula Radcliffe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Today was not about times, it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-getting-in-there-enjoying-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/today-was-not-about-times-it-was-about-getting-in-there-enjoying-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```