. At the Marine Corps Marathon one year, I almost finished in the top 15,000 runners. I would have, but I went out too fast!As I enter my 10th year as a runner, I have to admit that I’m no longer the new kid on the block. I’ve had some wonderful races and some

and would not yield. They persisted in running ahead of me – not just somewhere in the vicinity ahead of me, but, for most of the race, directly in front of me.London 2000 was my 21st marathon. It was remarkable because I’d never intended to run even one

After university I decided to get back in shape – about once every 10 years, that is. In my early 20s I took up tennis. In my early 30s I played squash. And, of course, in my early 40s I discovered running. I got a lot of exercise playing tennis

.But it was this runner’s first encounter with himself. You see, Andrew was only eight years old. And suddenly, two and a half miles into a 3.1-mile race, he had to confront himself. Like so many of the adults around him, Andrew had to decide if he was willing to confront

.But it was this runner’s first encounter with himself. You see, Andrew was only eight years old. And suddenly, two and a half miles into a 3.1-mile race, he had to confront himself. Like so many of the adults around him, Andrew had to decide if he was willing to confront

initially unfolded according to plan. I hit the halfway point at 2:27:32, right on target. At mile 15, I was still there. By mile 17, I was three seconds off the pace, but still hopeful, even though I was beginning to feel the signs of impending disaster

age – solidly middle-aged – are always running in the past tense. The best days are behind them, as are their PBs. Every conversation is a trip down memory lane. They wax nostalgic about 10 or 20 years ago when times were faster, waists thinner

occurred for me in the middle of a marathon relay. My mother, my son and I were a team. Being the ‘real’ runner, I completed the first 13.9-mile leg. My son, blessed with youth and enthusiasm, had the 9.3 miles in the middle, and my mother, claiming

in the shadow of a 10,000-year-old glacier. You’ve just imagined the 2001 Antarctica Marathon, aka ‘the Last Marathon’.To me, it seemed like the perfect idea – the Penguin running with the penguins. But just reaching the Last Marathon was a marathon in itself: a

Recently I received an e-mail from a woman who hoped to become more active. She wanted to start walking and running, maybe even compete in some local 5K or 10Ks. She thought this might be a good way to lose weight and feel better. Not a bad plan