The bombing of the Boston Marathon cast a shadow over the Fifth Annual Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon. Jeff writes about how the bombings and the community brought people closer together.

The popularity of extreme obstacle racing like the Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash has spawned a new, more dangerous local competition called the Survivor Games 5k. Jeff sits down with the race spokesperson and chats about this Montessori Habitat School fundraiser.

Matt Snyder dropped like a fly at the Champaign County Freedom 5k last year. It was the last race he’d run. Jeff looks at why Matt’s heart, not the heat, forced him to retire from competitive running.

Jeff has qualified for Boston. What else is there for him to do in 2013? He outlines his running goals for the rest of the year.

Jeff’s told us how the race went, but a chance meeting with John “the Penguin” Bingham offers him new hope of running in Boston.

Jeff traveled to Phoenix last weekend for his run at qualifying for Boston. How did he do? We’ve got the scoop.

Jeff is just two days away from running his marathon. What’s on his mind?

Jeff has just finished what his training guide calls a Monster Month of sixty-mile weeks. Now it’s time to taper for his upcoming race.

Jeff gets pointers from three runners who have qualified for Boston.

Armed with PR results in the half marathon, Jeff must make a decision that could make or break his running career.

A race doesn’t happen by itself. There are legions of volunteers needed to make a race great. Jeff has the inside scoop on volunteering at local races.

Race medals show your accomplishment to the world. But what do runners really think about all that bling? Jeff has the scoop.

November is just around the corner, and with it comes National Novel Writing Month. Jeff takes you through ten things to do to become a NaNoWriMo.

After his PR in Chicago two weeks ago, Jeff is asked what’s left to do.

Jeff takes you through his Chicago Half Marathon PR.

The fall running season is fast approaching. With five half marathons on his calendar this fall, Jeff takes you through his plan to PR.

Throw a running shoe in the air, and you’re bound to hit a 5k somewhere. Looking for lots of 10k races? Good luck. The elusive 10k is an endangered species in the local running scene.

When Jeff considered a change to The Fifth Kraut, it got him to thinking about judging a book by its cover.

Jeff takes you for a run in Munich and Northern Italy.

Jeff writes about Bully, a must-see film about the consequences of kid-on-kid abuse.

Jeff runs you through the good, the bad, and the ugly from this year’s Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon.

What do local writers do when they join the “Quality” Writing Group? They learn why “quality” is in quotation marks.

Jeff helps you fill your calendar with upcoming spring races.

Local runner Jeff Riddle “organized” the 13th annual RiddleRun this past Saturday for those who don’t take their running too seriously.

Julie Cross launched her first novel, Tempest, this past week, which got Jeff to thinking about rejection.

Jeff takes you through the benefits of hill training. The problem is finding a hill in C-U.

The running season may have ended for most of us, but for a few hardy runners, the Siberian Express on January 7 will mark the start of 2012 in more ways than one.

Jeff breaks down his year of running, if not his ankle. How did 2011 fare?

One running local strikes fear and awe in her competition. Get to know White Heath's Kristy Powell.

Water bottles aren't just for H2O. Get the scoop on why runners carry bottles and what's in them to quench that race day thirst.

This year's Illinois Marathon may have come and gone, but there are still races to run. Keep running with these May races!

Despite some cranky motorists, Champaign-Urbana shined at last weekend's 3rd Annual Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon.
In a word: Success!

This weekend sees thousands take to the streets of Champaign-Urbana. Jeff runs you through what to expect this year and where to go to cheer on runners.

Jeff finds a new running partner with four legs and takes you through what to consider when you start running with dogs.

Jeff finds a new running partner with four legs and a slower pace.

The local racing season gets underway on March 12th with the Earth, Wind, & Fire 5k. Got what it takes to win a fossil?

The three-plus-year wait has ended for Radiohead fans, yet The King of Limbs begs more questions than it answers. Jeff's got the review.

Run to love, or love to run? Four couples dish about running, relationships, and the stress the two create.

Travel running has its ups (hills) and downs (getting lost). Jeff takes you on the road to Spain.

Guilt is a good motivator to start running in the New Year.