Comparing The Great Wall Marathon And The Bewing Marathon

were kind, cordial, and quite helpful. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate my bag. The marathon committee had stayed at that hotel. Unfortunately, the committee had already checked out. I went to see a journalist at the China Daily newspaper. The journalist called the marathon committee and got this message: “The marathon committee is on … Read more

Backtothe Basics

Back to the Basics Less was best in 2014. t’s funny how cell phones used to be big and bulky. Through the years, they got smaller, sleeker, and smaller still. The ones that were the coolest were so tiny that we could barely keep track of them. Then, all of a sudden, bigger was better. … Read more

The Death Valley 300

The 1987 United States versus United Kingdom race nudged the course to a new level. Part 2. Chapter 2: The Long & Winding Road “Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” —Oliver Wendell Holmes N JULY 31, 1988, Tom Crawford threw a picnic at his home in the hills … Read more

My Most Unforgettable Ultramarathon (Vol. 19, No. 2)

(And what | learned from it.) my fair share of races, all as part of a New Year’s resolution to start running again. At the start of 2014, it had been five years since my last race, four of which were spent wondering, When will I get back in gear? So as the New Year … Read more

Distance Running—And Racing—In The Ancient World

On that day, the storm shrieked, the west wind whirled, The north wind and the south wind howled at each other, Lightning together with the ‘seven winds’ devoured everything in heaven, The thundering storm made the earth quake, ISkur roared in the broad heavens, The clouds of heaven mingled with the waters of the earth, … Read more

Running Around The Menstrual Cycle

Considerations for female distance runners. he menstrual cycle, which occurs monthly from menarche (age 11-14) until ee (age 45-50), is the defining physiological characteristic of females. The levels of the four hormonal markers of the menstrual cycle—estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone—change continuously throughout the cycle as a complex interaction of positive and negative … Read more

Into the Woods

Into the Woods Among the trees, there is solace. hen I was a child, I walked in the woods with my father. He worked in We city where skyscrapers stood in for trees and then came home to the suburbs where identical houses lined the parallel streets that were once a meadow. On Saturday mornings, … Read more

Letit Snow

Test your mettle Running long distances requires the ability to sustain a level of uncomfortableness. It takes mental strength to leave a warm house for the brittle air of a 10-degree day. Your grit is tested even more when your shoes are soaked from slush, the wind is howling down your neck, and your next … Read more

Whatto Keep Packed

What to Keep Packed For heading off to a marathon at the drop of a hat. raveling to races is fun. Packing for them is not. In fact, packing can be |: chore almost as stressful as running a marathon—without the medal at the finish line. As a veteran traveler who has completed marathons in … Read more

Hats Offto Larry!

[…] and just plain friendly. He runs typically with many, many different people in every race. He has a most excellent sense of humor and you can hear his laugh about three blocks away. Larry is also a very good listener, who talks little about himself or his job (which he loves). But then he … Read more

Wreathed In Glory

A history of the olive wreath as a symbol of victory. he crowning of an olTretia wreath atop the winner’s head at the Boston Marathon is far from a cliché. There is a deep, soulful connection and meaning between the wreath, Boston, and the ancient Olympics. The history of that thread—through Greece, the Olympic Games, … Read more