Category Archives: riding

The five craziest endurance feats of my life

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Christopher Cudworth

As I wrap up this serialized autobiography titled Competition’s Son, I began thinking about the craziest experiences I’ve had in running, cycling, and swimming. I’ve been a runner more than fifty years, a serious cyclist just under twenty years, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, climbing, cycling, cycling the midwest, cycling threats, IRONMAN, it never gets easier you just go faster, marathon, marathon training, PEAK EXPERIENCES, race pace, racing peak, riding, running | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Sprint to Respectability

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Christopher Cudworth

The Naperville Sprint Triathlon is the first real triathlon I participated in ten years ago with my wife Sue. We’d met in July of 2013, gone riding and running together right away, but then she had a bike accident (her … Continue reading →

Posted in 13.1, 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, 5K, aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, anxiety, bike accidents, bike crash, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cycling, friendship, IRONMAN, love, PEAK EXPERIENCES, race pace, racing peak, riding, running, swimming, Tarsnakes, triathlons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An unpleasant start to an ultimately pleasant triathlon

Posted on June 26, 2023 by Christopher Cudworth

Open-water swimming is one of life’s acquired joys. Unless one grows up swimming in ponds, lakes, or oceans it takes a bit of practice to get used to the idea of climbing into the water and swimming over whatever depths … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, Christopher Cudworth, cycling, Depression, fear, mental health, PEAK EXPERIENCES, race pace, racing peak, riding, running, swimming | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A new way of racing through life

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Christopher Cudworth

As the cancer treatments from 2006 did their work on my wife, she eventually moved into a period of remission. But it wasn’t an easy path. After eight rounds of harsh chemo, they told her that she’d done the ‘Gold … Continue reading →

Posted in cycling, cycling the midwest, riding | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

50 Year of Running: What drives a young man?

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Christopher Cudworth

Starting up my new running journal was a strange feeling, but the timing was interesting. New apartment in a new city. All-new running routes. On August 12, 1982 I wrote: “Two nights ago the run went marvelous, physiologically. After having … Continue reading →

Posted in 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, addiction, Christopher Cudworth, college, competition, cycling, healthy aging, mental health, mental illness, nature, race pace, racing peak, riding, running, running shoes, sex | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Going fast and built to last

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

The cycling season has ramped up kind of slow for me this year. For the last few seasons, we’ve gone to a triathlon camp that kicks fitness into gear. Like most athletes, I need that sustained period of training to … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, Christopher Cudworth, climbing, college, competition, cross country, cycling, cycling the midwest, healthy aging, healthy senior, it never gets easier you just go faster, riding, running, triathlete, triathlon, triathlons | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The difference between Cycling and Riding

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

Today I rode just over forty miles in a rectangular route straight north to the western reaches of South Elgin, cut over to the east side of the Fox River to catch the bike trail, and headed all the way … Continue reading →

Posted in cycling, riding, tour de france | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meet Mike Savage, one of my favorite Tri-Guys

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

The first time I got to know Mike Savage we were together riding on a long climb near Phoenix, Arizona during a weeklong Experience Triathlon spring training camp. We’d already done a couple rides that week along with a run … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, aging is not for the weak of heart, climbing, college, competition, cycling, cycling the midwest, doing pulls in cycling, healthy aging, healthy senior, marathon, riding, running, swimming, tri-bikes, triathlete, triathlon, triathlons, we run and ride | Leave a comment

The mixture of joy and relief after a hard race

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

The desire to compete in races comes from many different places within us. For some, it is a test of resolve. For others, a raw test of fitness. But it’s always about proving oneself in the face of difficulty. You’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, cycling, PEAK EXPERIENCES, race pace, racing peak, riding, running, track and field, training, TRAINING PEAKS, triathlete, triathlon, triathlons, we run and ride | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Summer’s almost over. Do you love autumn?

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

The cool rains driven by early September storms have come to the Midwest. The dry grasses of August don’t know what to do with all this sudden moisture. Our drought is perhaps broken, but the browns will perhaps persist all … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, anxiety, competition, cross country, cycling the midwest, riding, running, swimming, trail running, training, triathlete, triathlon, triathlons, we run and ride | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment