Prior to the 1976 Olympics, I was a 5,000m runner. Don Kardong 000molympicprior Change image and share on social
New nemeses keep racing fresh, but I also find challenge in going longer, with only the distance as foe. I run my first 50-mile race, journey across the Grand Canyon and back, circumnavigate Mount St. Helens. Don Kardong backcanyonchallenge share on social
When I went to the starting line of the 1976 Olympic marathon in Montreal, it was with the unsettling conviction that some of my competitors were cheaters. Don Kardong cheatercompetitorconviction Change image and share on social
Clearly, there are things a runner does, intentionally or not, that disrupt team cohesion. And there are also things a runner doesn't do that can cause problems: not trying, showing up late, skipping team-building activities, and ignoring the coach's instructions. Don Kardong activitybuildcoach share on social
Beginning runners come in all shapes, sizes and pre-existing conditions, so there's no magic formula for determining exactly how much basic running is needed before you start speedwork. Most experts, though, recommend three or four months of preparation. Don Kardong basicbegincondition share on social
Coaches know that a parent publicly scolding his kid after a race will not help the athlete perform better. Don Kardong athletecoachkid Change image and share on social
When I was in middle school, and teachers lectured about World War II, the conflict seemed impossibly distant and irrelevant. And it had only happened 15 years earlier. Don Kardong conflictdistantearly Change image and share on social
The toughest trail I ever ran was the Escarpment in the Catskills of New York State. This was an 18-mile race through Rip Van Winkle country, routed through boulder fields, across angular juttings of granite and along a path with an unrelenting barrage of roots, rocks and mud, all of it hidden under slick leaves and dangling nettles. Don Kardong angularbarrageboulder share on social
Support the athlete, encourage the team, help the coach. That's what good track parents do. Don Kardong athletecoachencourage Change image and share on social
Train at the same pace day after day, week after week, year after year, and that's the kind of running the body adapts to. But break out of that comfort zone with a little speedwork now and then, and the body will learn to deal with the new demands. Don Kardong adaptbodybreak share on social