Salem, Oregon's
Running & Walking Club Site
Home of
Willamette Valley Road Runners (WVRR)
www.WVRoadrunners.org.

TALKING RUNNING
by Joe Henderson

 

Speakers must train, just as runners and writers must. Without regular training in any of these ways, the rust collects quickly.

I write every day and run almost that often. But my speeches now average fewer than one a month.

Winter is always my dry season for speaking. My January talk in Salem was the first in almost three months.

I expected to be rusty and feared falling on my face. But after just two minutes inside the library at Sprague High School, I knew I'd be among friends and they would forgive any lapses of language.

Among the first to greet me were two of my longest-time Salem friends, Susan and John Gallagher. "Sit with us so you can tell us what happened," said John. I knew without him naming it what the subject would be: my leaving Runner's World.

Joining us at the dinner table was Chuck Bowles. Now 81, he'd spent his career as track coach at Willamette University.

I hadn't meant to say much about RW in my talk. But the conversation with the Gallaghers and Chuck warmed me to the topic.

In keeping with the night's theme, I gave prizes that allowed me to speak of heroes and winners. Last of awards was a copy of Runner's World. I ripped out my column, holding it in one hand and the rest of the magazine in the other. "You can choose which one you want, RW or me," I said. "After this month you can't have us together." Then I told how the new editor had killed the column.

I met many good folks that evening. That's really what I want to do with whatever career is left to me: meet good folks face to face. One group was the Jones family. The next day Barry Jones wrote to thank me for coming. He ended with, "I hope that when I reach my 60s that I am able to move around like a 20-year-old as you do." This made me laugh. Walking out on the high school that Sunday night into near-total darkness. John Gallagher warned as we parted, "Be careful." Seconds later I tripped on an invisible concrete car-stopper and slid ingloriously across the asphalt. That's moving like a 20-year-old?

This spill brought me instantly back to earth after the evening on stage. Maybe it was justice served for speaking out too sharply against Runner's World. Somewhere the new editor was laughing, as if his foot had tripped me.

› Joe Henderson

(Joe Henderson lives in Eugene but calls Salem "my second Oregon home." At one time or another, all three of his children have lived in the state capital. All three have run there, as has dad.)

Ed. Note: Joe was a Runner’s World editor since 1970 and a regular columnist for Runner’s World from 1967–March 2004. To read back issues of his column, "Joe’s Journal" and other writings, visit his website, joehenderson.com

 Joe’s journalism will continue in Marathon & Beyond Magazine. "Yes, it's true. The incomparable Joe Henderson has officially joined the M&B staff. He will take over the ‘On the Road’ column starting with our September/October 2004 issue. Joe will also write feature stories for us." marathonandbeyond.com

After Joe spoke at the WVRR Awards Banquet Jan. 18, he graciously agreed to contribute to this newsletter. We look forward to reading his thoughts in future issues!

Thanks, Joe, for being part of our running community!