Runner's World April 2014

LOCATION Marin Headlands, California PHOTOGRAPH BY Scott Markewitz RUNNERS Max King, Lydia Blandy, and Amy Sproston THE EXPERIENCE About 20 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Ridgecrest Boulevard’s undulating pavement sits high above the Pacific Ocean alongside Mt. Tamalpais. “In the springtime, this route is peaceful and the colors are spectacular,” Blandy says. “It’s the best escape from the buzz of nearby San Francisco.” FOR DIRECTIONS, RESOURCE INFORMATION, AND DOWNLOADABLE WALLPAPER IMAGES, VISIT RUNNERSWORLD.COM/RAVERUN.…

GIANT IMPACT I was in a four-mile race that amputee athlete Marko Cheseto (“Runner, Interrupted,” February) ran in Anchorage on June 22, 2013. My friend introduced him to me and I asked to take a picture. Instead of just standing side by side, he said, “No, we do it like this,” and had us put our arms around each other’s shoulders. Out of nearly 600 runners, he finished in fifth place. After the top five were given their awards, he went to the other runners who finished ahead of him and congratulated them. He stands 10 feet tall in my eyes. —DAVID PALLUCONI, Fairfield, Ohio UP AND RUNNING I really enjoyed the article “A Second Wind” (Mind+Body, February). I sometimes have a hard time getting motivated for my late-in-the-day run…

CHARLES BUTLER Last year, Butler waited on the photo bridge over Boylston Street for the first little people ever to run the Boston Marathon, a pair he wrote about in “Big” (page 60). “The bombings prevented them from finishing,” he says. “But just by getting to the start, they inspired many little people who had been told not to run”. NATHAN PERKEL Though he prefers cruising around New York City on a skateboard, cover photographer Perkel says he enjoys the solitude found in running, too. “With both I am able to get away from my other thoughts and just focus on that one activity,” he says. “But the real reason I run is to balance my cookie ookie addiction.”…

Woman of the World STAND AMONG the throngs of runners at any race in the United States, and you’ll be surrounded by women. Indeed, according to Running USA’s State of the Sport report, 56 percent of all U.S. race finishers in 2012 were female. Outside of North America, however, the scene changes. While women’s running has made big strides, especially in parts of Europe and South America, racing remains largely a men’s sport globally. Worldwide statistics are hard to come by, but in Spain, for example, in 2013, women made up only 13 to 18 percent of the field in the country’s three largest half-marathons (compared with 60 percent in the same distance in the United States). And female participants made up only eight to nine percent of the field…

DEAR MILES, My husband and I have worked our way up from 5-Ks to ultramarathons. Our friends who don’t run are expressing concern and confusion about our “running addiction”: We’re not home on weekends, we spend so much money, we self-inflict pain. How can we assure them we’re okay? —ISABEL M., San Antonio You don’t need to rattle off a list of running’s benefits—you aren’t trying to “sell” these friends on running, per se. You’re trying to reassure them. So just acknowledge their concern and promise them that you and your husband are healthy and happy. Also, pledge to make time to see your friends more often, if that’s what they’re getting at. If you’re always hitting the sack early and skipping out on social events because you’re resting up…

The Olympic silver medalist (1500 meters) hosts The Manzano Mile, an all-comers track meet in March 1] Mile High It’s an exciting event: We have live bands and races for the entire family. 2] Buy My T-shirt! The flying lion represents me; the yellow symbolizes my yearning for a gold medal (leomanzano.com). 3] Salesman I sold enough shirts to cover a month of altitude training in Mexico. 4] Bilingual I was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S. when I was 4. I value being influenced by two cultures. 5] Fast Fingers Origami has always been relaxing to me. 6] B-fast Special After a race, I love a heavy meal of pancakes, eggs, coffee, and OJ. 7] On My iPod Ghostland Observatory and Vampire Weekend. 8] Safe Keeping I…