Category Archives: competition

50 Years of Running, Competition’s Son, Part 1

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

Over many years of running with hundreds of teammates, I’ve learned many ‘origin tales’ about how people (both men and women) got into running. When I began this blog series on 50 Years of Running, the origin tale began with … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: Newlyweds and beyond

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

In the summer of 1985, my wife and I drove to Glacier National Park in Montana for our honeymoon. The drive across Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana took a few days. We stopped at the Badlands to stay … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: Transition time

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

Forty years after my 1984 engagement as an essentially ‘full-time runner,’ I got interested in triathlon and started competing in Sprint and Olympic distance events. I quickly learned that the most awkward part of triathlons are the transitions, those moments … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: The Fuse

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

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 →

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50 Years of Running: An end to the city experiment

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

For almost two years my roommate and I made the best of our city life together. But both our lives were starting to change. His graduate work in exercise physiology at the University of Illinois-Chicago was winding down, and my … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: Hanging out with Bill Rodgers

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

My former coach and business associate Trent Richards ran a side hustle as a race director for road running events. He recruited his former athletes to work logistics, run timekeeping equipment and help with setup. It was always a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in 10K, 13.1, aging, Christopher Cudworth, competition, healthy aging, marathon, running, running shoes | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

50 Years of Running: The Curse of Marathon Santa

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

In late September ’84, I was picking races closer to the suburbs as my time living in the city was coming to a close. Spotting an event listed in the Warrenville area, I signed up on race morning and lined … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: Go West Young Man

Posted on March 12, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

In August of 1984, I polished off the last summer racing commitment and packed up to drive west with Linda to visit her sister Diane during a music residency in Aspen, Colorado. Diane had not yet earned a spot playing … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: Getting past the crap and the flies

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

The year was half over, and running races in March, April, May, and June was fun, but the brain and body needed a rest. By late July of 1984, I was ready for a break from racing, but there were … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: You had me in stitches

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

You’ve heard the phrase “Curiosity kills the cat?” Well, here’s a new one. “Overeagerness flattens the frog.” Heading into the Prairie State Games in July of 1984, I was way overeager to hop to it. The week prior to the … Continue reading →

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