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Hal Higdon (born June 17, 1931) is an American writer and runner known for his training plans. He is the author of 34 books, including the best-selling ''Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide''. He has worked as a
freelance ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...
writer since 1959, and has written a variety of subjects including a children's book that was made into an animated feature. He has contributed to ''
Runner's World ''Runner's World'' is a global magazine and website for runners of all abilities. It has additionally developed experiential formats, including a digital membership program, called Runner's World+. It is published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylva ...
'' magazine longer than any other writer. He ran eight times in the United States Olympic Trials and won four World Masters Championships. He is one of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA).


Life and work

He grew up in Chicago,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
. In 1947, he participated in track at the University of Chicago's Laboratory School, placing fourth as a sophomore with a 5:04.7 mile. Due to switching schools, he did not run in his junior year, but he started again in his senior year and has been running ever since.Hal Higdon biography page
Accessed September 19, 2006
While attending
Carleton College Carleton College ( ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1866, the main campus is between Northfield and the approximately Carleton ...
in
Northfield, Minnesota Northfield is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, Dakota and Rice County, Minnesota, Rice counties in the U.S. state, state of Minnesota. It is mostly in Rice County, with a small portion in Dakota County. The population was 20,790 at the 2020 U ...
, Higdon won the Midwest Conference titles in the mile, half-mile and cross-country. This is also where he began to research training plans. His best mile time (post-college time) was 4:13.6, and he had notable success at running long-distance races. He participated in the US Olympic Trials in 1952, running in the 10,000 meters race. Subsequently, he entered the trials seven times over the years, with his best performance being fifth in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 1960. In 1959, Higdon's first marathon was the
Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by eight cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was ins ...
, where he dropped out at 22 miles. Five years later, he led through 19 miles before being passed by Aurele Vandendriessche, who won the race. Higdon took fifth with a personal best of 2:21:55. As of 2006, he has completed 111 marathons and has won four overall victories and numerous age-group firsts. In his article "Demolition Derby" published in the ''Michigan Runner'', Higdon said, "We take our victories where and when we can get them." Higdon has worked as a freelance writer since 1959, covering various subjects including politics for the
New York Times Magazine ''The New York Times Magazine'' is an American Sunday magazine included with the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times''. It features articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors. The magazin ...
, science for
National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...
, business for
Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...
and aviation for Air & Space Smithsonian. In 1963,
Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellen ...
published his article "On the Run from Dogs and People", which was expanded into a book in 1971.


Runner's World

In 1966, Higdon received a letter from a high school student in
Overland Park Overland Park ( ) is the largest city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and the second-most populous city in the state of Kansas. It is one of four principal cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the pop ...
,
Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
. The student, Bob Anderson, had started a magazine titled ''Distance Running News'' and he was seeking Higdon's help. Higdon offered an article that he had written for ''
Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellen ...
'' to be published as a reprint in the second issue of ''Distance Running News''; the publication that eventually became ''
Runner's World ''Runner's World'' is a global magazine and website for runners of all abilities. It has additionally developed experiential formats, including a digital membership program, called Runner's World+. It is published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylva ...
'' magazine. In 1968, during the Olympics, Higdon introduced George Sheehan to
Joe Henderson Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and very occasional flute player. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day an ...
who later recruited him as medical editor for the magazine. Several articles written by Higdon were included in a 2006 commemorative book which was edited by
Richard Benyo Richard Stephen Benyo (born April 20, 1946) is an American journalist and veteran distance runner. He is the editor of ''Marathon & Beyond Magazine'', a magazine devoted to marathon and ultramarathon running. He is also the former executive edito ...
and was released in honor of the Boston Marathon.


Other accomplishments

Higdon's training plans have been used by a range of runners and adapted for different apps. His novice marathon program is said to have been used by more than one million runners. Higdon's children's book ''The Horse That Played Center Field'' was made into an animated feature by ABC-TV. In 1980, Higdon received a Journalism Award as one of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) and in 1981 was named to the RRCA Hall of Fame. In 1995, Higdon was presented with the Harold Hirsch Award by the North American Ski Journalists Association for his work in the South Bend Tribune, and in 2003 he was awarded a Career Achievement Award by the American Society of Journalist and Authors. In 1975, Higdon's book ''Leopold and Loeb, The Crime of the Century'' was published. The book was reprinted in 1999 on the crime's 75th anniversary. The ''Oakland Tribune'' wrote: "Higdon's book outdoes anything Alfred Hitchcock ever filmed. It is a masterpiece of suspense." Higdon still holds the current M40 American record for the steeplechase, set in 1975. Higdon received the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Higdon currently lives with his wife, Rose, in Long Beach, Indiana. Rose has co-authored a book with him about her Italo-Albanian heritage: "Falconara: A Family Odyssey." They have three children and nine grandchildren.


Books

*''The Union vs Dr. Mudd'' (1964), Follett, ASIN B0006BM038 *''Inside Pro Football'' (1968), Grosset & Dunlap, ASIN B000GQHDL2 *''The Horse that Played Center Field'', Holt Rinehart and Winston; 1st edition (1969), ASIN B000GHTCP6 *''The Business Healers'' (1969), ASIN B0006DEMPA *''Champions of the Tennis Court'' (1971), Prentice-Hall, *''The Electronic Olympics'' (1971), Henry Holt & Company, Inc., *''Finding the Groove'' (1973), Putman, *''The Last Series'' (1974), Dutton, *''The Crime of the Century: The Leopold and Loeb Case'' (1975), Putnam, *''Hitting, Pitching and Fielding (1978) Putnam Pub Group Library, *''The Marathoners'' (1980) G.P. Putnam's Sons, *''Beginners Running Guide'' (1987) Anderson World; Revised edition, *''Run Fast: How to Train for a 5-K or 10-K Race'' (1992), Rodale *''Marathon: The Ultimate Guide'' (1993), Rodale, *''Johnny Rutherford (1994), X-S Books, Inc., *''On the Run from Dogs and People'' (1995), Roadrunner Pr; 3RD edition, *''Hal Higdon's How to Train: The Best Programs, Workouts, And Schedules For Runners Of All Ages '' (1997) Rodale, *''Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide'' (1999), *''Run Fast: How to Beat Your Best Time--- Every Time'' (2000) Rodale Books; Rev Ed edition, *Henderson, Joe, and Hal Higdon, ''Running 101'' (2000), Human Kinetics Publishers; 1 edition (August 2000) *''Marathon A-Z'', (2002), The Lyons Press, *''Masters Running: A Guide To Running And Staying Fit After 40'' (2005) Rodale, *''Marathon'' (2006) Rodale International Ltd, *''Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training'' (2016) Human Kinetics,


References


External links

*
Higdon Papers
at Northwestern University Archives * {{DEFAULTSORT:Higdon, Hal 1931 births Living people American male long-distance runners American male steeplechase runners Writers from Chicago Carleton College alumni American male non-fiction writers Rodale, Inc. American masters athletes Sportswriters from Illinois University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni 20th-century American sportsmen