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.

In Memoriam: Colin Welland

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Jon Waldron

The working title of the script was originally “Runners” — about as boring as you could imagine. In retrospect, the whole project seems beyond improbable. David Puttnam, who would produce the film, happened to be convalescing from a case of the flu … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Movies, In Memoriam, Olympics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Days of Reckoning

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Jon Waldron

“These are days of reckoning for track and field, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and for fans of athletics everywhere, as details of systematic doping and well-paid cover-ups make their way into the public eye. It’s a familiar … Continue reading →

Posted in PEDs and Drug Cheating | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Youth and Its Discontents

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Jon Waldron

Were we tougher back then? Maybe. It’s the first Tuesday in November and the last workout before the league championships. Today’s workout is a “T” run — team, tempo, and togetherness — and most of the team has, indeed, made … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, cross country, High School Runners, Weather and Seasons | Tagged | 4 Comments

The 1983 Bostonfest Marathon

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Jon Waldron

Last Friday, October 30th, was my son Loren’s 29th birthday. He was born just a few minutes before midnight, which meant that he just missed being born on Halloween. It’s true that by arriving on the 30th, he avoided having … Continue reading →

Posted in Marathon, My Back Pages, Race Reports | Tagged , | 43 Comments

Stress Test

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Jon Waldron

“This is cool,” I keep saying to myself. “This is really cool.” It’s Friday morning, and I’ve skipped work to be here, standing half-naked amidst hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of medical test equipment, with electrodes affixed to my … Continue reading →

Posted in Injuries & Health | Tagged , | 1 Comment

From the Archives: The Gift of Gab

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Jon Waldron

“Magpie, aggressive” by Alexis Hilton Hope – Own work. [At this time of year, fellowship is an important part of a runner’s life. I originally wrote this for David Polgar, a student at Newton North and former MA State mile … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Marking the Course: A Fable

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Jon Waldron

Once upon a time, there was a young and successful cross country coach. She was intelligent and energetic. She devised training plans that challenged and developed her athletes. She was up on the latest trends in using strength workouts to … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, cross country, High School Runners | 2 Comments

Almanac and Race Report: Paddy’s Shillelagh Shuffle

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Jon Waldron

This past weekend marked the decisive and final farewell to summer at our house. Bowing to the inevitable approach of winter, we finally turned on the heat, acknowledging that for the forseeable future our comfort would depend on the hot … Continue reading →

Posted in Race Reports, Weather and Seasons | Tagged | Leave a comment

From the Archives: Those Who Run and Those Who Finish

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Jon Waldron

[Last Sunday was the 30th anniversary of two of the greatest marathons ever run on U.S. soil, both in the same race at Chicago. The first was Steve Jones incredible wire-to-wire victory in 2:07:13. which still stands as the U.K. … Continue reading →

Posted in Marathon, Racing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Race Report: Bernie’s Run 3M

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Jon Waldron

Along with several teammates from CSU, I headed to Dedham last Sunday, Oct. 4th for “Bernie’s Run,” the fifth race of the six-race New England Runner Pub Series. Even with a leisurely 11:30 a.m. start time, the morning felt early. … Continue reading →

Posted in Injuries & Health, Race Reports | Tagged , | 1 Comment