Two More Steps: 638 More Quotations for Runners to Make You Laugh and Lace Up Your Shoes

by Randy L. Thurman

It’s often said that running is like life, and it’s true. With many things, finding the motivation makes all the difference between starting and not. This book is packed with motivational quotes and humorous quips to help you get moving with a smile. Here’s a sample....

To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.
—Steve Prefontaine

It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit.
—George Sheehan

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 now, and we don’t know where the heck she is.
—Ellen DeGeneres

There are many challenges to long distance running, but one of the greatest is the question of where to put the car keys.
—Gabrielle Zevin

Belief creates the actual fact…. The greatest revolution of my generation is the discovery that individuals, by changing their inner attitudes of mind, can change the outer aspects of their lives.
—William James

198 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

I started out in banking in the mid 80s in Oklahoma City. I had saved up $6500 from college and had a stock broker call me up. He had a stock that was "poised to move." Silly me, I thought he meant up. I told him to send me the financials to analyze, which he did. It looked pretty good. I invested half my life savings ($3000) in a stock called Kelly-Johnsons. In 6 months, I lost it all. He called and apologized and said he "wanted to make it up to me." What a guy. He said he had an oil stock, they just hit a well, and we got to move fast. I invested the other half of my life savings in Plano petroleum. In 2 weeks it went from 40 to 6.

It was then, I became obsessed with financial planning and investing. Reading everything I could, taking classes, etc. I acquired a passion for financial planning and became and advisor, in 1987.

I have 4 degrees, two from Oklahoma State. A BS in Electrical Engineering, and an MBA. I have two associates degrees from Oklahoma City Community College, in Accounting and Real Estate Investing. Since the start of my sophomore year I paid my way through college.

I'm a CPA and CFP and run a fee-only investment advisory firm for conservative investors.

Pati, Levi and I live in South Oklahoma City and have a place in Stillwater. We enjoy Oklahoma State University sports and spending time in Stillwater.

Reviews

[Paige Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two More Steps understands something every runner eventually learns: sometimes getting out the door is half the battle. What makes this collection especially enjoyable is the balance between genuine motivation and humor. The quotations range from serious reminders about discipline and perseverance to wonderfully relatable observations about the strange realities of running, making the book feel encouraging without becoming overly serious.

What I liked most is how easily the quotes can meet you wherever you are in your running journey. Some speak directly to competition, belief, and pushing through the voice that tells you to stop, while others simply make you laugh at the everyday challenges runners understand. That variety gives the collection a nice rhythm and makes it something you can dip into whenever you need a little extra motivation.

What stayed with me is the simple idea behind the title. Sometimes progress really does come down to taking two more steps when stopping feels easier. The combination of motivational wisdom and humor makes this a light, accessible companion for runners, whether they're preparing for a long run, struggling to get started, or simply looking for a reason to lace up their shoes and keep moving.