“Never throw in the towel. Use it to wipe off the sweat. Then keep on going”

“You have a choice. You can throw in the towel or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face (and keep going)” is a motivational exercise saying that has been printed on many images. To “throw in the towel” means to quit. “You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face” has been cited in print since at least 2003, when it was credited to a Gatorade (sports beverage) advertisement.
 
“Never throw in the towel. Use it to wipe off the sweat. Then keep on going” was posted on Twitter by Karen Salmansohn on May 1, 2011. This version has also been printed on several images.
     
 
Brocaw Blazers (April 23, 2003)
Running Sayings
(...)
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.
—Gatorade
 
Google Groups: runnersforlife-bangalore
Favourite motivational quotes
sabsinindia
6/15/07
Hello RFLers,
What are your favourite motivational quotes for runners?
 
I particularly love this one from a Gatorade ad:
 
“You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.”
 
Google Groups: runnersforlife-bangalore
A Collection of Motivational Quotes for Runners
sabsinindia
8/27/07
(...)
“You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.”
Gatorade
       
Twitter
Your Daily Dose
@daily_dose
Your daily dose: you can throw in the towel, or use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.  Being healthy now is hard, but you can do it.
8:18 AM - 24 Dec 2008
 
Google Groups: Aimless Runners
RW Quote of the Day
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
7/22/10
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.
Gatorade ad
   
Twitter
Ashah Smith
@_ashah
LIFE IS SHORT,RUNNING MAKES IT SEEM LONGER, YOU CAN EITHER THROW IN THE TOWEL OR YOU CAN USE IT TO WIPE THE SWEAT OFF YOUR FACE & KEEP GOING
11:33 AM - 30 Aug 2010
   
Twitter
Will Wingfield
@wingfield1
“you can either throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face and keep going.”
12:09 PM - 8 Nov 2010
     
Twitter
Karen Salmansohn
@Notsalmon
Never throw in the towel. Use it to wipe off the sweat. Then keep on going.: If you’re having a difficult time m… http://bit.ly/kVQpwJ
4:58 PM - 1 May 2011

Google Books
One More Step the 638 Best Quotes for the Runner:
Motivation for the Next Step!
By Randy L. Thurman
Bloomington, IN: iUniverse
2012
Pg. 29:
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face. —Gatorade ad
   
Twitter
PilatesfromtheCenter
@PilatesCenterBC
Never throw in the towel.
Use it to wipe off the sweat.
Then keep on going.
(This saying is shown on three differently colored towels.—ed.)
11:03 PM - 26 Feb 2012
 
4 January 2014, The Sun (London, UK), “Let’s lose our horrible flabby bits together” by Chantelle Houghton, pg. 22:
3 You have a choice: you can throw in the towel or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face.
   
Facebook
Running Maniacs Checkpoint
May 21, 2018 ·
“You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.”
— Gatorade ad
#Running #Motivation #Fitness
 
Women.com
31 Running Day Instagram Captions
The best Instagram captions for Running Day!
Kelley O’Brien
Jun 06, 2018
(...)
7.“You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.” -Gatorade