Category Archives: nature

50 Years of Running: Religiously (and otherwise) Conflicted

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Christopher Cudworth

Toward the end of my full-time employment with the Kane County Chronicle, the Publisher got frustrated with something within the organization and sent out a company memo that read, “The Truth, The Way, and the Light, The Chronicle Way.” The … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, competition, evangelical Christianity, life and death, mental health, nature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Transfer of Excellence

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

During my early thirties, I came up with a personal motivational concept called “transfer of excellence.” The idea centered around taking the best things you’ve learned from doing one thing and applying it to another. I wanted to carry over … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, Christopher Cudworth, college, competition, cross country, death, healthy aging, healthy senior, life and death, nature, running | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Eighth-grade realities

Posted on August 1, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

Despite my love of laughter and being considered funny if I could make that happen, my anxious nature also meant grappling with a conflicted mind. I loved making friends but worried about what they thought of me. I worked hard … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, anxiety, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, fear, healthy aging, healthy senior, life and death, love, mental health, nature, running, running shoes, trail running | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Becoming a Midwestern boy

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

As our family drove west through Ohio and Indiana toward our new home in Illinois, the land flattened out and the trees disappeared into distant blue clumps dotting the horizon. I’d been to Chicago once as a small child, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, college, cross country, nature, race pace, running, we run and ride | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Noble causes and otherwise

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

We didn’t even spend $500 on our trip out west to Colorado in mid-August 1984. Over the years, I’ve met other people traveling around the country on similarly meager funds. They always seemed happier than people spending tons of money … Continue reading →

Posted in 10K, addiction, Christopher Cudworth, college, cross country, love, mental health, nature, running, sex | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Tears for Fears

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

All around me are familiar facesWorn out places, worn out facesBright and early for the daily racesGoing nowhere, going nowhere Lyrics to Mad World by Tears for Fears, later recorded by Gary Jules As I continued working hopefully for Trent … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, Christopher Cudworth, competition, healthy aging, life and death, mental health, mental illness, nature, race pace, racing peak, running, track and field | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: “Faster than you”

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

On April 15 of 1984, I raced on home turf for the Running Unlimited store in Arlingtonn Heights. Though it had rained overnight, and dawn arrived with 43-degree temps, I was eager as hell to run a five-mile race after … Continue reading →

Posted in 5K, adhd, Christopher Cudworth, competition, healthy aging, mental health, nature, race pace, racing peak | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: The cold heart of a Chicago winter

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

Our landlord was a cheap bastard when it came to heating our building. At times, the inside temps sank to fifty degrees indoors. I’d struggle to keep painting or writing under those conditions. We complained, but it was no use. … Continue reading →

Posted in fear, God, life and death, love, mental health, nature, race pace, running, sex | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: The singular nature of a double life

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

In late October of 1983, with the racing season nearing its end, I was still attending workouts with the Tom Brunick crew at both University of Illinois-Chicago as well as the odd little cinder track at Northwestern in the upper … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, gay marriage, God, love, mental health, mental illness, nature, race pace, running, sex, track and field, training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Running: Closing time

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

All of us who run know the difference between a good race and a bad race. There are empirical factors such as time and place by which we measure our efforts. Yet even these are subjective depending on conditions such … Continue reading →

Posted in alcohol, competition, cycling, duathlon, God, mental health, nature, race pace, racing peak, running, running shoes, sex, triathlon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments