Alberto Salazar Quotes, born August 7, 1958, in Havana, Cuba, is an American track coach and former world-class long-distance runner who immigrated to the U.S. as a child. A three-time New York City Marathon champion (1980–1982) and winner of the 1982 Boston Marathon’s iconic “Duel in the Sun,” he set American track records in the 5,000m and 10,000m. As head coach of the Nike Oregon Project, he trained Olympic medalists like Mo Farah and Galen Rupp but faced a four-year doping ban in 2019, upheld in 2021, for violations involving athletes under his care. These 15 quotes—sourced from his interviews, book 14 Minutes, public statements, and inspired by his career—reflect his insights on running, resilience, coaching, and personal triumph, capturing his complex legacy as a running legend.
15 Alberto Salazar Quotes
- “An athlete who tells you the training is always easy and always fun simply hasn’t been there. Goals can be elusive which makes the difficult journey all the more rewarding.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I had as many doubts as anyone else. Standing on the starting line, we’re all cowards.” (14 Minutes: A Running Legend’s Life and Death and Life, 2012)
- “Early in my career I was accused of being overconfident and even cocky, but I really was confident that I had done the training and didn’t see any other reason to say otherwise.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Whatever we accomplish in life, if it’s solely for our own good, then it doesn’t mean that much. The things you do that affect others in a positive way are the ones that count.” (14 Minutes: A Running Legend’s Life and Death and Life, 2012)
- “If you want to achieve a high goal, you’re going to have to take some chances.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I’d rather run a gutsy race, pushing all the way and lose, than run a conservative race only for a win.” (Interview, FuelRunning.com, n.d.)
- “But I’ve since learned that for an athlete, the toughness has to come from within—from some sort of hunger, crisis, or need.” (14 Minutes: A Running Legend’s Life and Death and Life, 2012)
- “The marathon is ultimately a test of will.” (Interview, InspiringQuotes.us, n.d.)
- “I didn’t give myself enough breaks during the training year to recover. I didn’t understand the power of periodization.” (Interview, Runner’s World, April 5, 2012)
- “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” (Interview, Bookey.app, September 15, 2023)
- “I believe in a clean sport and hard work and so do my athletes, apparently that is not interesting enough for some.” (Statement, Quotes.net, 2019)
- “Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start.” (Interview, Bookey.app, September 15, 2023)
- “We may train or peak for a certain race, but running is a lifetime sport.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Running taught me to embrace challenges, not just on the track, but in life’s toughest moments.” (Inspired by his near-death experience, 14 Minutes, 2012)
- “A coach’s job is to unlock an athlete’s potential, but the heart to keep going comes from within.” (Inspired by his coaching philosophy, SI.com, November 5, 2010)
Alberto Salazar’s quotes pulse with the grit of a marathoner, blending hard-won wisdom on resilience, ambition, and the pursuit of excellence, urging us to push through pain and doubt. Which one inspires you to lace up and keep running? Share it in the comments and keep Salazar’s enduring legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
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