Category Archives: Christopher Cudworth

50 Years of Running: JV and The Dedicated Crew

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

Those first few weeks of cross country competition as a freshman in college always features ups and down. At our most important early season meet, the Luther All-American Invite, I ran a credible 21:23 four-mile on the rolling home course. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, running, competition, race pace, racing peak, college, addiction, alcohol, running shoes | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Yin and Yang

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

With several weeks of running in the tank, it was time for the team Intrasquad meet. Everyone knew it was coming because the course was marked out by the loyal campus groundskeeper. There was just one problem. He was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, college, competition, cross country, running | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: The Big Sendoff

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

With the summer job completed, and college bearing down on our collection of friends, there was only one thing left to do before starting the next important stage of our lives. Hold a The Big Sendoff Party. Our clan was … Continue reading →

Posted in alcohol, Christopher Cudworth, college, cross country | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Sweet summer sweat

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

Following high school graduation, the pressure to find a summer job and earn “money for college” entered the picture for the first time. I stumbled around the first few weeks looking for who-knows-what kind of job, then got offered a … Continue reading →

Posted in 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, Christopher Cudworth, college, competition, running, track and field | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

50 Years of Running: Full Circle and Football Fantasies

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

After eighteen meets during the regular season in 1974, it was time to run in Districts, the first toward going downstate. In my case, that race would bring me full circle to the Kaneland High School cross country course at … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Jousting Knights

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

One of the unique aspects of cross country running in the 1970s is that dual meets were held between every team in the league. The Upstate Eight Conference consisted of St. Charles, Elgin, Elgin Larkin, Wheaton Central, East Aurora, West … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, running, running shoes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Picture this

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

Following a couple of early season dual meet wins, I lined up for the start of the Plainfield Invitational. The race was not held on the golf course usually recruited to host the school’s races. Its new course was on … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Don’t be a dick about being a jock.

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

Heading into a senior season in high school cross country, I can’t say that there were a list of concrete goals at work. Knowing that the Sectional Wall awaited me at the end of the season, I had little confidence … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, college, competition, cross country, running, sex | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: The Sectional Wall

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

As the cross country season rolled to a close in November1973, our squad ran in a tough sectional in the Chicago suburbs and didn’t advance downstate. That would have been a stretch for a program that was just beginning to … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, cycling, cycling the midwest, running | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Forgettable and Unforgettable

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

Looking back at a running career is a bit kaleidoscopic. Memories sometimes mix and turn circles in the mind. Others bubble up unintentionally, driven by autumn light or the smell of the air on an October day. While many of … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, running | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment