Mr. Kevin Beck

Kevin Beck has been a runner since 1984 and is currently a senior writer for "Running Times" magazine. He has also written about sports and health-related topics for "Marathon & Beyond, Men's Fitness, The Roanoke Valley Sports Journal, " and numerous other publications. After running cross country for the University of Vermont, Beck ran 2:39:37 in his first marathon in 1994. Since then, the New Hampshire native has steadily carved his personal best down to 2:24:17, placing seventh among...See more

Kevin Beck has been a runner since 1984 and is currently a senior writer for "Running Times" magazine. He has also written about sports and health-related topics for "Marathon & Beyond, Men's Fitness, The Roanoke Valley Sports Journal, " and numerous other publications. After running cross country for the University of Vermont, Beck ran 2:39:37 in his first marathon in 1994. Since then, the New Hampshire native has steadily carved his personal best down to 2:24:17, placing seventh among Americans and 28th overall at the 2001 Boston Marathon. In 2003, Beck placed seventh at the USA Track & Field New England Half-Marathon Championship and ran 1:49 to win the Eastern States' 20-miler. He kicked off 2004 with personal bests in the half-marathon (1:08:22), 10 miles (51:33), and 5,000 meters both on the track (14:58.2) and on the road (15:16). In November 2004, he placed second at the USA Track & Field National 50K Road Championship, running 3:06:22. Beck has served as a distance running coach at various levels and is coached by two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner Pete Pfitzinger. He also helped coordinate a research study on exercise and diabetes at the University of California at San Francisco, where he was a diabetes researcher and exercise technician for the Mount Zion Medical Center. About the Contributors Chris Chorak is the owner and founder of Presidio Sport & Medicine in San Francisco, California. A physical therapist for nearly two decades, Chorak is an Ironman triathlete, endurance coach, and injury consultant for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. He is also a lecturer on various topics including sports medicine, injury prevention, race-day nutrition, and competition psychology. Chorak holds two bachelor's degrees, one in physical therapy from Northwestern University and another in athletic training from Purdue University. Gwyn Coogan was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic 10,000-meter squad. After taking up running upon entering Smith College, the former swimmer, field hockey player, and lacrosse player became an All-American. Her first marathon was a 2:32:58 victory at Twin Cities in 1995. She also competed in the 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1995 World Cross Country Championships and was a member of the 1997 U.S. World Championship 10,000-meter team. Coogan holds a PhD in mathematics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is a teacher and coach at Phillips Exeter High School in New Hampshire. Mark Coogan is a 1996 U.S. Olympian in the marathon who also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in four events: the 1,500 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. A graduate of the University of Maryland, the Massachusetts native debuted in the marathon in Boston with a 2:13:22 and placed second the next year at the Pan American Games marathon. He also ran 13:23 for 5,000 meters, placing second at the 1995 U.S. Championships. Coogan and his wife live in Exeter, New Hampshire, with their three children. Scott Douglas is a former editor of "Running Times" and coauthor of four books on running, including "Advanced Marathoning" and "Road Racing for Serious Runners." He is a regular contributor to "Runner's World," and his articles have been published in outlets as diverse as the "Washington Post," Slate.com, and "Continental," the in-flight magazine for Continental Airlines. Douglas has logged more than 80,000 miles since he started running in 1979. His personal records include 30:48 for 10K and 51:01 for 10 miles. Douglas lives in South Portland, Maine. Mark Elliott is the director of high performance for Triathlon New Zealand's elite triathlon program, where he coordinates and educates... See less