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.

Unbelievable Runners (in Film)

Anyone who has ever been inspired by watching well-trained runners practicing their craft has probably also been frustrated at the crude way those runners are portrayed on-screen in  movies and made-for-TV specials. Now, Alison Wad, Writing in Runners World, has … Continue reading

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Tapering One’s Expectations

I’ve often said that the practice of “tapering” — reducing training in the days and weeks leading up to a big race — is much harder to get right than most people think.

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From the Archives: Should H.S. XC Runners Race 5K?

[Originally published 9/5/2007] After four days of practice with my cross-country team, we are making plans for our first “practice” race. I have already had several discussions about how far it should be, how fast, and even what to call … Continue reading

Posted in High School Runners | Leave a comment

In the Money

Medals and trophies are nice, championships are special, and acclaim is welcome — but there’s nothing like that first cash prize for placing “in the money” at a road race. My sister Robin, a faithful reader of the blog, reminded … Continue reading

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And So it Begins…

On Sunday, while my CSU teammates were slogging away at the Labor Day 15K in Burlington, I was in Concord. Mass., presiding over the first day of cross country practice at Concord Academy. In the morning, I felt guilty knowing … Continue reading

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Jenny Simpson Leans In

  Five days after celebrating her 28th birthday, Jenny Simpson celebrated two victories at the Zürich Diamond League finale. The first was her dramatic win in the 1500, where she first outlasted Sifan Hassan and then hung on against what … Continue reading

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Red, White, and Black

Back in 2002 the City of Newton, where I live, hired a new police chief named Jose Cordero. He had served for over twenty years as a police inspector in Queens, and had established a reputation for reducing robberies, burglaries, … Continue reading

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Race Report: Northeast Harbor 5M

It’s been a long time between races, that’s for sure. The last time I stood with a tribe of runners, numbered bib pinned clumsily to my shirt, was way back in March of this year. That’s 145 days — more … Continue reading

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From the Archives: I am my own Walkman

[First published August 26th, 2010] Self-appointed guardians of the purity of running (like me) might cringe at the thought, but for a large number of recreational joggers, iPods and MP3 players constitute essential running equipment, as important, if not more … Continue reading

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Untrendy Training Advice

It’s important to be reminded from time to time that we have a responsibility to our fellow human beings to teach them the true meaning of aerobic training. Remember that a few words at the right moment could be the … Continue reading

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