Runner's World June 2014

LOCATION Glacier National Park, Montana PHOTOGRAPH by Jordan Siemens RUNNER Cari Siemens THE EXPERIENCE This wooden walkway, the start of a six-mile roundtrip route on the multi-surfaced Hidden Lake Trail, leads runners across a field of wildflowers toward the Garden Wall. “From boardwalk and dirt to rockcovered and snow—you cover it all,” Cari says of the path, which is accessible from Going-to-the-Sun Road. FOR DIRECTIONS, RESOURCE INFORMATION, AND DOWNLOADABLE WALLPAPER IMAGES, VISIT RUNNERSWORLD.COM/RAVERUN.…

RUNNING BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. You hear that from time to time, at big races or after six-figure charity fund-raisers. But running can bring people together in small ways, too. It just may take a little more effort. In 1988, George Hirsch was the worldwide publisher of Runner’s World and an Olympic commentator. He had run 15 marathons, including a PR at age 44—a 2:38 in Boston. No one was more knowledgeable, or dogged, about running. To prepare for the Olympic broadcast, he attended the Trials being held at the New Jersey Waterfront Marathon. George was in the Runner’s World expo booth when Shay Scrivner, a pretty first-time marathoner from Boise, Idaho, walked by. They looked at each other and both felt something that Shay later said “was so palpable I…

BIG DEAL I really loved “Big” (April), about runners John Young and Juli Windsor. I live in the town that neighbors Salem, Massachusetts, and I can tell you that John has become somewhat of a local running legend. I first noticed him running a half-marathon years ago, before I imagined I could run such a distance myself. He was—and continues to be—an inspiration to me, and now to countless others. I attended the “Salem Stands with Boston” vigil after the bombings last year, where John gave a moving speech about his experience at the marathon. The entire park was silent, hanging on his every word. I’m thrilled to read that he and Juli are ready to have another go at the Boston Marathon this year. I will be a volunteer…

MIKE BRANNIGAN STARES UP at the ceiling of the Track and Field Center at the Armory in Manhattan as an athletic trainer dresses a bloody six-inch gash in his left calf. It’s February 15, and Brannigan just lost out on his dream to race well in the prestigious Millrose Games. In the second turn of the last lap in the boys’ high school mile, Brannigan—perfectly positioned in third place for a final kick on the Armory’s 200-meter track—got tangled up in a jumble of adolescent legs. He was spiked, and his sliced leg tightened up, slowing his stride to a shuffle. Brannigan could have stepped off the track. Instead, he finished out the race, placing 13th, next to last. “I didn’t want to drop out,” he says in the trainer’s…

DELETE THE COOKIES A South African bakery is criticized for tweeting photos of Oscar Pistorius cookies that made light of the Olympian’s murder trial. ANIMATED HERO Michael Wardian is featured in a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! comic strip for his feat of running two sub-3:00 marathons in a single day. WHO’S GAME? On Late Night with Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen invents an exercise craze, “Chase the Donkey,” where runners, um, chase donkeys. TRACK STAR Ten-year-old actress Quvenzhané Wallis, who will star in Annie, runs in her first track meet, racing the 100 and 200 meters. BOSTON SONG Proceeds from a song called “Run Run Run” are donated to One Fund Boston; its video features marathoners in training.…

He’s been around the block a few times–and he’s got answers DEAR MILES, Some nonrunner colleagues asked me how my marathon went. As I told them, their eyes glazed over. If they’re just asking to be polite, how should I respond? —NATALIE B., Cleveland Succinctly. Yes, they are asking to be polite—which is a nice thing, by the way—so return the favor by keeping your reply brief. From an office-banter point of view, running a marathon is like having open-heart surgery—they’re both daunting, scary events, and no one wants the gory details. What your colleagues are wondering: Are you okay? And: Does it hurt? Let them know, quickly, and then smile and ask how their weekend was. If they really want to hear more, point them to the 5,000-word race…