He wanted to impart some of the truths Bruce Denton had taught him, that you don‘t become a runner by winning a morning workout. The only true way is to marshal the ferocity of your ambition over the course of many days, weeks, months, and (if you could finally come to accept it) years. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials. How could he make them understand?

— john l. parker

—

Longtime readers will recall that I have been a loyal disciple of the Fit PA app and its famous Fit PA Fancy Pants Training Plan© since before the internet was invented and the founders had to drive over every Monday to drop off my schedule.

That ceaseless loyalty has finally paid off.

I have been under the able tutelage of Coach Kim Thayil up to this point. Although he is a fine guitarist and a presents a striking figure in a wool cap, he’s maybe not the world’s greatest authority as a running coach, given that he knows nothing about running, and Washington, can be a bit rainy, making him sort of a grouch.

But now because of my Fit PA Platinum Level Executive Deluxe Status, Now With Lanolin, I have been teamed up with perhaps The Greatest Coach in Running History:

Mr. Bruce Denton.

If you don’t know running, this will mean nothing to you. Why the hell are you reading this blog???

If you do know running, you will recognize Bruce Denton as the Olympic gold medalist in the definitive running tale, Once A Runner, who becomes Cassidy’s coach and mentor. He coaches Cassidy to a silver medal in the Olympic mile and later a spot on the Olympic marathon team which is thwarted by Jimmy Carter. Thus answering the question: What Would Jimmy Carter Do?

Or in other words, this is a Serious Coach.

I can’t stress how big of a deal this is. I carry with me at all times three books. One, of course, is Running & Being, because it’s basically the bible for people who are skeptical of how that whole ark thing could have worked and why a religion would say that gays won’t inherit the kingdom of god. That would seem to be a lousy inheritance anyhow.

But the other two are Once a Runner and Again to Carthage, the gospel according to Bruce Denton.

“Denton had never told Cassidy a single important thing that had not sooner or later turned out to be true,” Parker wrote.

And now he will be telling these important things to me as I live in his little virtual A-frame cabin, training in solitude in chase of an unlikely dream.

Many training programs offer bells and whistles. Only one can provide the coach of my dreams.

Thank you, Fit PA, for this opportunity. I solemnly vow that I will screw things up totally, and Bruce and I will not be on speaking terms by October 1.

The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials.

I know The Secret.