Tag Archives: relationships

50 Years of Running: Performance time

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

As the last two weeks of cross country season wound down, there was little time for looking backward as all our focus came down to one thing: getting through the Regional Championships to make Nationals. That was our whole goal … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: The Achilles Heel

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

On October 2nd of 1978, our cross country team ran a hill workout in Palisades Park, a bluff reserve on the southeast side of downtown Decorah. That weekend, we were scheduled to race at the St. Olaf Invitational. My former … Continue reading →

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50 Years of Running: Rough surfaces and deep dives

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Christopher Cudworth

The winter of 1977 was, like so many winters in the late 1970s and early 80s, as cold as hell and frozen over. We trained through the cold by running on snow-packed roads. We’d often leave in the near-dark and … Continue reading →

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Life is a long letter being written one day at a time

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

The letter was written seven weeks into my senior year in college, the season in which our cross country team would go on to place second in the NCAA Division III championships. Continue reading →

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Commonly known as fun suffering

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

We ran a long way in the wind and rain yesterday. Fortunately, the trail we use sits down in the Fox River Valley, providing shelter from the storm bringing gusts of 20-30 mph. At the start, a spitting mist struck … Continue reading →

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In honor of Keith Ellingson, one of the greatest runners and best guys I know in this world

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

Converging lives My freshman year at Luther College was some years ago. I entered college as a marginal student in high school with a high C average thanks to laziness in subjects that I disdained. But Luther saw potential in … Continue reading →

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When one world runs into another

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Christopher Cudworth

Coming out of college I worked for a year in admissions, then took a job as a graphic artist in marketing with an investment company. That move back to Chicago broke off the relationship with the woman with whom I’d … Continue reading →

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#1 resolution: forgive yourself and grow

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Christopher Cudworth

As a young athlete I was typically motivated by two strong emotions: anger and the need for approval. If those seem contrary, you’re correct about that. I was angry at the world for its injustices and at the same time … Continue reading →

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Sweet season: A simple matter of focus and effort

Posted on November 9, 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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On the prowl, and what do you abide?

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Christopher Cudworth

There have been times in my life when I’ve blamed myself for not taking enough initiative. That was particularly true back when I was dating in my teens and early 20s. My foibles with women were as comic as any … Continue reading →

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