Tag Archives: Luther college cross country

50 Years of Running: National Ambitions

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

The first time our Luther cross country team traveled to the national cross country meet, we flew to Boston, Massachusetts and finished in 20th place with 441 points. North Central College, led by its perennial All-American Bruce Fischer in 4th … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: Freshman Blues

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

On equipment day for the cross country season at Luther College, I was handed my first set of Luther Blues for training. I loved the simple dark blue tee shirt with the big number on the front. We got some … Continue reading →

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Self portrait of a determined young man

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Christopher Cudworth

In November 1978 I was a senior at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Our team had just placed second in the NCAA National Cross Country Championships in Rock Island, Illinois. I was fifth man for the team that day after … Continue reading →

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Reeling in the years

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Christopher Cudworth

“You been tellin’ me you’re a geniusSince you were seventeenIn all the time I’ve known youI still don’t know what you meanThe weekend at the collegeDidn’t turn out like you plannedThe things that pass for knowledgeI can’t understand…” Steely Dan–Reeling … Continue reading →

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We need more liberal arts majors in this country, not less

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Christopher Cudworth

This past weekend was spent at Luther College in the company of more than 100 alumni from a track and field program that won Iowa conference track championship titles 26 out of 30 years. The event was illuminating on many … Continue reading →

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A Reunion of Champions

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Christopher Cudworth

Last evening I received a call from Paul Mullen, a college roommate and teammate from both cross country and track. He works in Development for my alma mater Luther College. He wanted to reach out because he is super excited … Continue reading →

Posted in 400 meter intervals, 400 workouts, 5K, aging, Christopher Cudworth, competition, cross country, track and field | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sweet Season: Bringing it all home

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

Volume one •  Volume two •  Volume three • Volume Four • Volume five  Volume six   Volume seven Going into the last meet of the 1978 season, we felt as if we were still capable of doing big things at nationals. Our highest team … Continue reading →

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Finding unity in a sweet season

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

This is the sixth in a series of articles about the Sweet Season of 1978, my college senior year when our Luther College team placed second in the nation in NCAA Division III cross country. To follow the chronological narrative … Continue reading →

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Youth isn’t always wasted on the young

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Christopher Cudworth

With August nearly over and the sun starting to slide south toward twilight, it is hard not to draw some associations with seasons past. With fall approaching, there is not a runner alive whose senses do not perk up while … Continue reading →

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The legacy of Kent Finanger at Luther College

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Christopher Cudworth

  This week my college cross country coach Kent Finanger celebrated a birthday. Kent always encouraged his runners to appreciate that day in their life. “This is your day!” he’d egg us on! “Wow Fun Wow!”   That was one … Continue reading →

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