Kids made fun of me because I was a slow learner, because I was hyperactive, because of a lot of things. Running gave me confidence.

Every once in a while I think, 'What am I doing out here running, busting myself up? Life could be so much easier. The other guys are out having fun, doing other things, why not me?'

Did you ever run behind a slow pack? You get a trailing wind and a lot of body odor.

No one will ever win a 5,000-meter by running an easy two miles. Not against me.

For me, running against the Poles and Czechs would be like running against high school kids. And I hate all this gung-ho, run-for-the-red-white-and-blue attitude that the AAU spouts. If that's important to some people, fine, more power to 'em. But, damn it, I wish they'd leave me alone to do what I want to do - run against the best.

If he's having a good day and running the right race, nobody can beat Frank Shorter at 10,000 meters... nobody except me.