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John is a Runner’s World+ member. Join him and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
I started running with my late wife a year before she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. I kept running through her six month battle and through my grief after she died. I love the solitude, even in 50,000 participant marathons, and rhythmic pace of running. It gives me a chance to block out the noise of everyday life and feel the presence of the love of my life once more. I use to joke that I’d keep running till either my grief or my hips gave out. Haven’t out run either one yet.
I’m constantly looking for information to improve my running and found myself reading a lot of RW articles on Facebook. At some point I thought it would be good to get the magazine at home as well as having full access to online editions.
I run because it takes me away from distractions and let’s me connect to the universe. That sounds corny, but I approach running as a meditation technique: focus on your breath, steady pace, put down feet as silently as possible. After a few miles I’ve packaged up and let go of worldly distractions and gently ease into my happy place.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to be semi-retired throughout my six year running career which has allowed me to run when conditions are most favorable. I monitor the weather closely and work in a run that fits my schedule and when it isn’t too horrible out. Doesn’t always work out and once in awhile I find myself ankle deep in a flash flooded trail, all ten digits frozen or losing six pounds on a long run from excessive humidity.
Mostly I run on the Chester Valley Trail, Valley Forge or the Schuylkill River Trail, all three of which I can run to from my house.
New Balance Minimus. Been through 15-20 pairs. They were discontinued and later resurrected. Either way I seek them out, pay the asking price and always have a new pair in reserve for my next marathon campaign.
BQ, Complete Abbott Majors (3 down, 3 to go) member of 7 continent club (2 down, 5 to go), keep running till I can’t run no more.
