Category Archives: cross country

Marty Supreme and Me

Watching the movie Marty Supreme hit me hard with similarities in my own life. Continue reading

Posted in 10K, addiction, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, friendship, love, mental health, race pace, racing peak, running, sex | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wear and tear and ‘wouldn’t change a thing’

While attending a Luther College reunion, I was walking next to my cross-country coach Kent Finanger, who was bent over and limping due to back issues likely related to his years of playing football and basketball during his college career. … Continue reading

Posted in aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, alcohol, coaching, college, competition, cross country, death, Depression, foregiveness, friendship, healthy aging, healthy senior, injury, life and death, love, mental health, mental illness, running, training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A November 18 to remember

I make no attempt to hide my age, and it’s with pride that I share today, November 18, an accomplishment 47 years ago. I was a Luther College senior, captain of the cross-country team, and in my 8th season of … Continue reading

Posted in aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, Christopher Cudworth, college, competition, cross country, friendship, injury, running, steeplechase, track and field, training, TRAINING PEAKS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Here’s the 411 on the 911 on 421

We all need a “go-to” route when we want to run without thinking about the course. Continue reading

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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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Erections come with a cost

When my daughter was just into junior high, we sat watching together TV when a Viagra commercial appeared on the air, concluding with a warning that users should “seek help” for an erection lasting longer than four hours.

“Four hours!” she burst out laughing. “Oh my God!” Continue reading

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Why is anyone anywhere?

I took to teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and have taught in more than 800 classrooms with over 20,000 students. Continue reading

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How it all went down

We all make mistakes in life. Sometimes, it’s because we’re not present in the moment. At other times, we make choices that turn out to be wrong. And then, there are those times when we try to do all the … Continue reading

Posted in anxiety, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, mental health, mental illness, nature, running | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A flight toward home

Over fifty-plus years of running and riding, I’ve seen and heard many species of birds along the way. Early in life, it was hawks that captivated me most. I traced their silhouettes in the Peterson’s Field Guide, drew them on … Continue reading

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Lessons learned in how to carry on

Following the passing of my late wife in 2013, I remained the principal caregiver for my father, Stewart Cudworth. My mother died in 2005, and despite my father’s condition as a stroke victim, he remained in their home under the … Continue reading

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