“Training was a rite of purification; from it came speed, strength. Racing was a rite of death; from it came knowledge. Such rites demand, if they are to be meaningful at all, a certain amount of time spent precisely on the Red Line, where you can lean over the manicured putting green at the edge of the precipice and see exactly nothing.” IfsCertainLinesAmountDemandTrainingRedGreenEdgesSpeedMeaningfulRacingRiteTime SpentPurificationPrecipiceRed Lines Author:John L. Parker Jr.
“If the furnace is hot enough, anything will burn, even Big Macs.” IfsEnoughBigsHotMacsFurnacesBig Mac Author:John L. Parker Jr.
“He wanted to impart some of the truths Bruce Denton had taught him, that you dont' become a runner by winning a morning workout. The only true way is to marshal the ferocity of your ambition over the course of many days, weeks, months, and (if you could finally come to accept it) years. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials. How could he make them understand?” IfsWayYearsRunningWantedCoursesWinningAcceptingMorningWeekTaughtMonthsAmbitionMilesTrialsRunnersWorkoutImpartFerocity Author:John L. Parker Jr.
“He ran his hand up and down his left achilles tendon. Very tender; better pay attention to it and back off if it gets any worse. Maybe ice it. The old Injury Evasion Fandango. Did it ever end?” IfsEndsHandsRunningLeftPayAttentionIcePay AttentionRanInjuryUp And DownAchillesEvasionHands Up Author:John L. Parker Jr.
“There was no let-up. The tempo was always moderate but steady. If a new guy decided to pick up the pace, that's where it stayed, whether he finished with the group or not. You showed off at your peril.” IfsRunningGuyGroupsPicksDecidedFinishedPaceSteadyModeratesPerilTempo Author:John L. Parker Jr.
