Read an Excerpt

Introduction

Great moments in running happen every day! 

That's our mantra and our deep belief because it has been our actual experience over decades of running. We believe that behind every runner is a story—getting started, a comeback from an injury, a race triumph, or new and rekindled relationships forged through running. Stories about fitness breakthroughs, gritty runs and races, and golden friendships are the fabric of our sport, and we are delighted that so many runners have shared their stories in The Ultimate Runner.

We're not talking just about stories of elite runners, Olympians, or even the talented, local champions who win races in our communities each weekend. We're talking about great moments in running among our favorite people, the worldwide community we affectionately call ordinary runners. We believe that as ordinary runners we experience great runs, have personal triumphs in races, and achieve life-changing outcomes. Over the years, we have met and talked with countless of ordinary runners who have an extraordinary story to tell.

Our favorite stories are more than 'race reports.' We find wonder and awe in stories about beginning runners in ordinary neighborhoods, including why and how runners got started, how they keep motivated, and how running has changed their lives. We also love stories about running successes and accomplishments. The story may be a training run or a momentous race, returning from a setback, making a lifestyle change, or going faster or farther—or both. We smile at stories about what runners achieve, tingle at what drives them to run, and are in awe of what they've overcome to get there.

We are committed to spreading enthusiasm for running with every runner we meet. We joke, 'If you want to lose an hour of your life you'll never get back, just get us talking about running.' It's true. We love to hear about others running, what they've accomplished, and what in running they're focusing on at the moment. We know runners run well when they are supported in mind, spirit, and body, and the best support comes from other runners. The collection of stories in The

Ultimate Runner is our attempt to share some of the best stories and tips as a small way to support runners in our communities.
With the rise of running's popularity, we are also touched to hear stories about charity, community, and support for running and runners. Runners 'get it' and are sharing what others in their community are doing for running and the clubs, events, and lives they are touching. In every community there are runners, coaches, businesses, race directors, club leaders, and volunteers who are working tirelessly in ways that impact all of us. 

The other joy of working on this book was the privilege of connecting with our experts. While the contributing experts are renowned coaches, accomplished athletes, and leaders in their professions, they have been very approachable, helpful, and interested in sharing sound information with other runners. It's a rare opportunity for ordinary runners like us to work closely with Olympians, national champions, and experts whose work guides and transforms ordinary and elite runners. We believe you will benefit from the expertise they share.

Over the last few years, we have been amazed by how many people tell us, 'I'm not really a runner.' Some very steady, earnest runners are reluctant to lay claim to the label because running doesn't come easily to them. If they don't run a certain distance—'I just run for 15 to 20 minutes' or a certain frequency, 'just a couple times a week,' or haven't reached a milestone, 'I've only run a couple 5Ks,'—they don't feel entitled to call themselves runners. Nonsense! 

We are determined to squelch that mind-set and to outlaw the words I'm not a runner. We encourage every runner to see the importance and right to proclaim himself or herself a runner. We believe no matter what the distance, speed, or race acclaim, everyone who gets out there is a runner and a bona fide part of the running community. We believe every runner in some way advances our sport.

Inspiring stories about running deserve a special place where others can enjoy and be uplifted by them. The Ultimate Runner is that place. It is a treasury of stories and photos that expresses what running means and how it transforms lives. It is a collection that we hope will continue to motivate you and will inspire you to press toward your own running goals. Every runner has a story to share, including those stories that are not finished yet.

Running races, breaking records, and earning new PRs advance our sport. But more important, our amazing stories are formed when we take time out of our busy lives, get out the door in our ordinary neighborhoods, and reaffirm that great moments in running happen every day!

©2010. Tom Green, Amy J. Hunold-VanGundy. All rights reserved. Reprinted from The Ultimate Runner . No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442