Category Archives: 10K

The Rise of Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers in Running

The author reflects on the impressive achievements of female athletes, like Jane Hedengren, and their unique challenges in sports compared to men. They highlight the bodily and societal hurdles women face, including menstruation, body image issues, and motherhood, while emphasizing the resilience and strength women exhibit in overcoming these barriers in their athletic pursuits. Continue reading

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The year I damn near died in a toothy fashion

Somewhere in the middle part of my 60s a tooth went bad in the back of my jaw. I’d gone to some sketchy dentists right after my wife died and the first dentist I visited didn’t explain clearly that my … Continue reading

Posted in 10K, Christopher Cudworth, cycling, death, Depression, half marathon, life and death, love, mental health, race pace, racing peak, running, swimming, Tarsnakes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building our lives together

During the early phases of our relationship, Sue and I focused on enjoying time together. She’d just taken on a new job, and I was in a state of transition working as a freelance writer for companies like Aquent and … Continue reading

Posted in 10K, adhd, bike accidents, bike crash, Christopher Cudworth, coaching, competition, cycling, cycling the midwest, IRONMAN, marathon, marathon training, racing peak, running, triathlete, triathlon, triathlons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond the pain

Following the passage of my late wife in March of 2013, we conducted a Memorial Service. The people in attendance ranged from all walks of our life. Along with my son and daughter there were other family, longtime friends and … Continue reading

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Education. Presentation. Inspiration.

This post is part of a continuing series of chapters to be included in a book titled Competition’s Son. Hunting for a job when you desperately need one is never fun. If you’re old enough to think back to the … Continue reading

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50 Years of Running: Cataclysmic convergence

My competitive instincts had not abated much in my early forties, but one quickly learns as a caregiver that being competitive is not the answer to every problem. In fact, it constitutes an answer to few problems. It doesn’t help … Continue reading

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50 Years of Running: Lessons learned

I can think of several big mistakes that I made during my competitive running career. The biggest blunder of all was running a 20-mile final training run the week before I was scheduled to compete in the Twin Cities Marathon. … Continue reading

Posted in 10K, 13.1, 5K, adhd, anxiety, Christopher Cudworth, competition, half marathon, marathon, marathon training, mental health, race pace, running | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Racing along with ease and joy

Yesterday on October 16, I competed in the Frank Lloyd Wright Races in Oak Park, Illinois. This was a return adventure to an event I won twice back in ’83 and ’84. That was 39 years ago. I ran 32:00 … Continue reading

Posted in 10K, aging, anxiety, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cycling, cycling the midwest, healthy aging, healthy senior, race pace, racing peak, running, running shoes, track and field, training, TRAINING PEAKS, triathlon, we run and ride | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Adventures in Race Direction

Working for the Boy Scouts of America in 1985, I inherited leadership of the annual Friends of Scouting 10K. Like most races in that era, the event drew between 200-300 people who paid an entry fee of $20-$30 for the … Continue reading

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50 Years of Running: The Fuse

And the years that I spent lost in the mysteryFall away leaving only the sound of the drumLike a part of meIt speaks to the heart of meForget what life used to beYou are what you choose to beIt’s whatever … Continue reading

Posted in 10K, aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, anxiety, Christopher Cudworth, college, competition, cross country, mental health, mental illness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment