at Western States and during the 1980s was one of the stalwarts of this much-respected race. Jim took second place in 1982 (17:22), 1985 (16:48:31), and 1986 (16:48:19); he also took fourth in 1988 and fifth in both 1981 and 1989, and sixth in 1984.

We’d all like to think that our running makes us special, and in a way, it does. But it doesn’t make us invincible. And someone arguing that running doesn’t make us invincible deserves to be heard as much as or perhaps more than the too-oft’ -repeated mantra of immortality.

The debate comes back to discussions that used to get swatted around like tennis balls 20 years ago: If there were no medical benefit, would you still run? Which is more important, quality of life or quantity?

Life is a daily gamble with but one ultimate outcome. Instead of attempting to silence the messenger who bears disturbing news, we’ dbe better served to listen carefully. Ken Cooper doesn’t tell us

M&B at RRCA Convention

M&B will exhibit at the

to stop running but rather to be aware that there are consequences to all acts, both positive and negative. He also offers simple vitamin approaches to controlling the free radicals that excessive exercise produces.

To close our minds to solid scientific information because we don’t want to have our world shaken up is more an unnatural act for naturally curious critters like homo sapiens than is running too long and too often.

—Rich Benyo

1998 RRCA Convention in Peoria, Illinois, June 18 and 19. Come see us!

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