Not Afraid to Sweat: 14 Little Stories of Life on the Run

By Eamonn Coffey

This book recounts real situations and incidents that occurred over a lifetime of dedicated long-distance running. Some are funny, like an attempt to run faster by drinking vast quantities of cola, others bizarre as in a well-intentioned road race that went completely astray. All are unique. These stories provide a window into an ever-growing sport in the USlong-distance running and racing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Aug 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781489718600

Eamonn Coffey

Eamonn (Edward J.) Coffey was raised in Ireland in the 1950s and came to the US in 1970. As the middle child in a family of 5 he grew up in a semi-rural area surrounded by farms, fields and animals including, of course, ducks.

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Copyright © 2018 Eamonn Coffey.

Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Greg Malecki, Ed Cook

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-1859-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-1860-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018908771

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 08/06/2018

CONTENTS

Why do I race?

My right foot

The Athlete Within

Chasing Superman

That Magic Elixir

Our Running Styles

The Right Shoes

To the Border and Beyond

True Lies

The Twilight Running Zone

The Great South of the River Road Race

Me and Frank

Are you guys jogging?

Why Run Boston?

The title of this book comes from a verbal exchange before the Corn Days 4 Mile Run in rural Long Lake, Minnesota in 1983. Standing at the start I wondered aloud how this race might go in the 92° heat. Hearing this comment, a well known local runner turned around, looked me straight in the eye and said it’ll be just fine if you’re not afraid to sweat.

WHY DO I RACE?

I ran for 10 years before I ever even knew that ordinary people raced. I thought that racing was for elite or, at least, very talented runners. The people I saw on TV, I thought they were special people. I thought running, for me, was about physical fitness, about feeling good about myself. Every now and then when I felt great and was in shape I’d do what my old buddy Finbarr used to say about my V8 Mustang, Hey, Eamonn, just let the horses out. When I was fit I’d just go for it. I’d light the biggest flame that I could burn and blow every bad thought I ever had about anyone right to Kingdom Come. To steal a phrase from an old Kenny Chesney song I was strik’n matches just to watch’m burn.

I was in a running clinic taught by Barney Klecker, former World Record Holder at 50 miles (at 4.51.25, it’s still the American Record) when I discovered that maybe racing might be an alternative. He handed me a newsletter. It was called The Minnesota Runner. In three pages I found a New World.

The first race I ever ran was in Burnsville, Minnesota, my hometown at the time. The high school coach organized a 5kM race and it was a small local event. Not knowing any better I just went with the front runners. That lasted for about a mile and I started to fade but not that much. It was flat at first, then a small incline, then a downhill, more flat and then a huge, gargantuan, uphill all the way up the last half mile to the finish right at the top. I came in fifth. They gave medals three deep and three of the four runners ahead of me were in my age group so I watched as the medals went elsewhere. That put a gnawing in my gut that I still have