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.

Frightened Rabbits – How to Avoid Pacing Disasters

Imagine for a moment that you have been hired as a pace-setter, or rabbit, for a professional track meet. Unless you are one of the very few runners who have made a career of rabbiting (thank you, Matt Scherer), or … Continue reading

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With the World Watching, Scott Jurek Completes the AT

“There’s no trophy at the end… It is an amateur pursuit based on the honor system, and that makes it pure and unique in our culture.” – Jennifer Pharr Davis On Sunday afternoon, July 12th, after forty-six days of running … Continue reading

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Evan Jager AR in the Steeplechase

After a long day celebrating the Fourth of July followed by an excruciatingly slow drive through post-fireworks traffic, we finally got back the motel and prepared to collapse into bed. But then something made me pull out my iPad and … Continue reading

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Race Report: Cazenovia 4th of July 5K

[I always say that every race, no matter how humble, provides an opportunity to learn something. On Saturday, Joni and I ran in a 4th of July race in Cazenovia, New York, a picturesque town 30 minutes Southeast of Syracuse. … Continue reading

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Music in My Head

I’ve always been more puzzled than offended by the sight of runners and joggers equipped with portable music players and headphones or ear buds, bouncing down the street or circling a track while drawing inspiration from a playlist of their … Continue reading

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From the Archives: The Strange Case of Fernando Mamede

[On July 2, 1984, Portugal’s Fernando Mamede ran 27:13 for 10,000m to break his own world record. Many considered Mamede to be more talented than his famous countryman, two-time World XC champion and Olympic marathon champion Carlos Lopes, but Mamede … Continue reading

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For the Love of the Sport

“2014 was kind of a statement win for you. You were unsponsored then, and that was pretty difficult. What has been the big motivational factor out here for you [this year]?” “You know just the love of the sport… The … Continue reading

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Pushing the Limits

“So here is where we are in track and field, back in an old familiar place to which the sport returns with dispiriting regularity, and seemingly evermore. Not just to storied Hayward Field (although there, too), but to a place … Continue reading

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Ordinary Rain

A much-needed rain fell on the Boston area over the weekend, starting Saturday night and continuing well into Sunday, the first day of Summer. According to local papers, rainfall was nearly two inches over a twenty-four hour period, providing a … Continue reading

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Candace Hill Runs 10.98

On Saturday at the Brooks PR (High School) Invitational, Rockdale County H.S. sophomore Candace Hill ran 10.98 for 100m, a National High School Record, an American Junior Record, and the fastest time ever run by a 16-year-old girl. That time … Continue reading

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