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.

Slowing down faster

  A couple of days ago, I observed a milestone that I had been dreading for a while: I turned 59 ½.

Posted in Records & Statistics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

IAAF’s misguided idea for sanitizing the record book

“…We want to change the concept of a record and raise the standards for recognition to a point where everyone can be confident that everything is fair and above board.” — European athletics president Svein Arne Hansen “It is a … Continue reading

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An Unremarkable Summer Evening

The Harvard outdoor track at twilight Is it a trick of memory, or was there a time when I wasn’t so dull and listless in the afternoons? I feel sure that when I was younger I had the vigor to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized, Weather and Seasons | 1 Comment

Field Guide to North American Tracks: MDI High School

Summer Schedule: Who knew retirement would be so busy? I’m going to try a new schedule of posting every Monday, perhaps more often for special occasions like the World Championships or for multi-part stories like the most recent one. Feel … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide to Tracks | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Old Man and the Hills – Part 3 of 3

“[I felt]…glad as anyone can who feels afraid, and as afraid as anyone can who feels glad.” – C.S. Lewis

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The Old Man and the Hills – Part 2 of 3

  “Ragnar was a king and hero of early 9th century Scandinavia. He was a conqueror, a wild man, a leader, fearless and free-spirited. *   * Actual history may vary from our romanticized version.” – Excerpt from the Ragnar … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Old Man and the Hills – Part 1 of 3

About six weeks ago, when the track season was still in full swing and summer still seemed far off, I agreed to fill one of the spots on a team planning to compete at the Ragnar Trail Relay at Northfield … Continue reading

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Early Morning Run

Today I woke up early, and – before my waking brain had the chance to weigh in – had pulled on shorts and a t-shirt, had found socks and a battered pair of Mizunos, and had eased downstairs and out … Continue reading

Posted in Weather and Seasons | Tagged , | 5 Comments

You CAN get there from here

Photo: Jimmy Chin for National Geographic “On Saturday morning, 31-year-old Alex Honnold stunned the climbing world when he became the first person to free solo Yosemite’s mighty El Capitan, climbing the 3,000-foot granite monolith using only a pair of climbing … Continue reading

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Global Introverts Day!

  It’s Global Introverts Day — Let the parties begin! I didn’t realize it until seeing an item in the NY Times this morning while eating my bowl of cold cereal that today, June 7, is Global Running Day. I’m … Continue reading

Posted in Attempts at Humor | 2 Comments