Author Archives: Jon Waldron

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About Jon Waldron

Running and Racing have been important parts of my life for as long as I can remember. I ran Track and Cross Country at Amherst HS, back in the day, and am proud to have been training and competing with the Cambridge Sports Union (CSU) for more than thirty years. If my bones hold out, I hope to continue for another thirty. Sixteen years ago, I began coaching, first as an Asst. Coach at Newton North HS in Newton, MA, and for the past ten years, as Head Track and Cross Country Coach at Concord Academy in Concord, Massachusetts. I've been writing about running for almost as long as I've been running, dating back to high school, when I would write meet summaries for the Amherst Record for about $0.33 per column inch. I've been blogging about running since 2005, and began blogging at "the runner eclectic" in 2014. Until recently I also had a day job, working full-time as a Technical Product Manager for Nuance Communications, based in Burlington, MA. But I am now on what might turn out to be a permanent sabbatical. Thank you for reading my blog, and please consider leaving a comment.

Team U.S.A. Dominates Indoor Worlds

Whether you think “Team USA” is shorthand for overbearing and jingoistic national pride, or find yourself cheering on every American athlete with unquestioning patriotic fervor, the news from Oregon has likely intensified your feeling. That’s because no country has ever … Continue reading

Posted in Indoor Track, Pro Runners, World Championships | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Running Fast / Thinking Slow

Many years ago, on a clear and brisk Saturday in October, I was scampering through a forest not far from Boston, alertly watching for roots, rocks, and downed branches. On that glorious morning long ago, I was confident in my … Continue reading

Posted in Running Research | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Fog of War

“War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty. A sensitive and discriminating judgment is called for; a skilled intelligence to … Continue reading

Posted in PEDs and Drug Cheating, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Human and Super-Human

It was an extraordinary last few days for Indoor Track and Field in the United States. In New York City from Friday to Sunday the Armory hosted the New Balance National Indoors, a national championship meet for high schoolers that … Continue reading

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Race Report: 2016 An Ras Mor 5K

The USATF New England Grand Prix Series got underway Sunday, as a thousand runners descended on the neighborhood between Central Square and MIT in Cambridge for the 9:30 a.m. start of the An Ras Mor 5k. In 2015, An Ras … Continue reading

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From the Archives: The Bunion Derby

Illustration:  http://archive.itvs.org/footrace [This is an updated version of a post originally published March 4, 2008] On March 4th, 1928, 88 years ago today, 199 men — including some of the most accomplished runners and walkers of the era — set … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Movies, Marathon | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Slave to Pace

No doubt you’ve known people who are slaves to their running logs. You can always tell who they are, because they’re the ones who finish a run and then make two more trips up and down the street, or another … Continue reading

Posted in Training | 4 Comments

Almanac: What Happened to February?

Chart: Boston Globe 2/29/16 Every weekday before I head off to work, I go through the ritual of checking the weather forecast and then stuffing my backpack with running clothes that I’ll need (or think I’ll need) for my afternoon … Continue reading

Posted in Weather and Seasons | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Drew Hunter and the next era of H.S. middle distance running?

Photo credit: LetsRun.com Did Drew Hunter just blow up high school middle distance running in the U.S.?

Posted in High School Runners, Training | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

I Thought I was a Serious Runner…

I guess most dads try to pass on life lessons to their kids. In the case of my dad, I don’t remember him lecturing us much, but I do remember many stories, jokes, and off-hand observations that contained a wealth … Continue reading

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