Category Archives: 400 workouts

Cinders and white lime

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

The weather was chilly this morning while walking the dog. The wind from the west reminded me of all those laps run around the perimeter of the Kaneland High School parking lot before the cinder track dried out in spring. … Continue reading →

Posted in 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, Christopher Cudworth, competition, running, steeplechase | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The fabric of life and a sense of home

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

I’m substitute teaching at the high school a block from our former home in Geneva, Illinois. The streets look the same as they always did. The giant cottonwood tree on the corner of the block was a favorite waiting place … Continue reading →

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We’ve all got our swimming crosses to bear

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

Today in the pool I swam next to two guys doing 100-meter repeats. One was clearly faster than the other, a tall gent who wore fins to keep up with his buddy. The faster swimmer alternated strokes from freestyle to … Continue reading →

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There’s a right way to go bananas in endurance sports

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

Given the fact that the “fruit” we call bananas is so common and inexpensive to buy, it is easy to take for granted that the Cavendish bananas commercially available in stores are a production miracle brought to the United States … Continue reading →

Posted in 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, competition, injury, marathon, marathon training, mental health, PEAK EXPERIENCES, race pace, racing peak, running, swimming, track and field, tri-bikes, triathlete, triathlon, triathlons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just my wife and I and ten four hundreds

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

By the time we arrived at the Geneva Middle School track, the sun was barely a hand’s width above the horizon as I took measure of the light. We’d have forty minutes or so to complete a workout of 10 … Continue reading →

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Why I’m not an RRCA coach…

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

A few years back, I signed up for a Road Runners Club of America coaching clinic over in Michigan. I hosted an art exhibition of my own work the Friday night before leaving for the clinic. Gathering up my stuff … Continue reading →

Posted in 10K, 13.1, 400 workouts, competition, cross country, race pace, running | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

If you want better workouts, warm up like the pros do

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

Over the past few months I’ve conducted an unintentional experiment with which you may be familiar, but don’t always abide. It’s called doing a legitimate warmup. On runs, this means taking the first two miles no faster than your body … Continue reading →

Posted in 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cycling, running | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

When one world runs into another

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

Coming out of college I worked for a year in admissions, then took a job as a graphic artist in marketing with an investment company. That move back to Chicago broke off the relationship with the woman with whom I’d … Continue reading →

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Old School is New School. Never forget it.

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

This morning on the way to drop off our dog at daycare, I drove past the building that was the only high school in town back when I was a student in St. Charles, Illinois. By the time I was … Continue reading →

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What kind of engine do you have?

Posted on January 17, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

My wife’s coach recently made her chuckle while discussing her training. “You’ve got a diesel engine,” he told her. “We want to spread your speed and energy out over the whole race.” That got me thinking about what kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in 10K, 13.1, 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, 5K, aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, marathon, marathon training, running | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment