The Penguin Chronicles · and beyond
The Archives
Every column, preserved in John’s own words - 371 pieces spanning 1997 to 2022.
Search the full collection, or browse by year. Each title opens the complete column on this site.
20221 columns
20207 columns
201911 columns
Part 1: What It Was LikeJanuary 7, 2019Part 2: What HappenedJanuary 14, 2019Part 3: What's It's Like NowJanuary 21, 2019The Art of AgingFebruary 3, 2019Now what?March 18, 2019Opening DayApril 5, 2019My Day in BostonApril 15, 2019The Art of PlayApril 22, 2019Number OneMay 2, 2019Time to Run - May 1996May 6, 2019Make 2020 the YearDecember 20, 2019
20188 columns
20178 columns
Starting Over: The Archives, January 1997January 4, 2017Wiping the Slate Clean - January 2002January 6, 2017Never Say Never, AgainJanuary 9, 2017Up In SmokeJanuary 23, 2017Are We There Yet?January 30, 2017What I know now... that I wished I'd known then...April 20, 2017When one door closes...April 27, 2017Waddle on, friends: The first Penguin ChronicleAugust 30, 2017
201624 columns
Horse with no NameJanuary 3, 2016Survival of the Slowest...January 3, 2016As Simple as Child's PlayJanuary 5, 2016First, do no harmJanuary 6, 2016A Decade of HopeJanuary 12, 2016Attitude Adjustment...January 15, 2016Glory Days...January 15, 2016Philosophically Speaking...January 15, 2016Seven Times Down, Eight Times Up...January 15, 2016Absence of Momentum...January 16, 2016Fat Boy, Soft Tail, and Road KingJanuary 16, 2016Great ExpectationsJanuary 16, 2016Recess Bell: March 1996January 16, 2016Running Home...January 16, 2016Running UglyJanuary 16, 2016The Art of Running...January 16, 2016The Man in the Mirror...January 16, 2016The Ten Percent Solution...January 16, 2016Hearing Voices...January 26, 2016Old dog, Old tricks...February 12, 2016Trophy SniffersFebruary 12, 2016Setting the Sail... a Classic ChronicleFebruary 26, 2016The Penguin Chronicles - Family ValuesFebruary 26, 2016Summer VacationSeptember 9, 2016
201518 columns
Embrace Your Local PenguinMay 30, 2015Goodbye, Farewell, and AmenJune 1, 2015Penguin Chronicles #1June 2, 2015Finding Your Reason to RunJune 8, 2015Keeping Up with the JonesyJune 16, 2015My Way of the HighwayJune 16, 2015Running as Therapy PosterAugust 31, 2015The Half as the WholeSeptember 4, 2015A City of HopeOctober 30, 2015History of the 100 Day ChallengeDecember 6, 2015Make it HappenDecember 6, 2015Failing to FailDecember 22, 2015A Reason to Run...December 26, 2015You MIGHT be a "Penguin" if....December 27, 2015The ORIGINAL Penguin Chronicle: UnpublishedDecember 28, 2015Working the Shovel...December 29, 2015Both Sides Now...December 30, 2015Rules of the RoadDecember 30, 2015
201426 columns
A New Definition For ResolutionsJanuary 6, 2014Planning to FailJanuary 8, 2014Flashback Friday: Reason to RunJanuary 10, 2014It's a Small World After AllJanuary 15, 2014Flashback Friday: Running With FriendsJanuary 17, 2014Finding the StrengthJanuary 22, 2014Flashback Friday: Horse With No NameFebruary 14, 2014Friday Favorite: The Endurance FactorFebruary 21, 2014My Body and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceFebruary 26, 2014Friday Favorite: Stacking the DeckFebruary 28, 2014Flashback Friday: I am not a JoggerMarch 21, 2014The Curse of TalentMarch 26, 2014Season To TasteApril 2, 2014Flashback Friday: Running Off At The MindApril 4, 2014The Perfect RaceApril 30, 2014Running Is Good For The SoulMay 9, 2014The Final CountdownJune 4, 2014The Era of My WaysJune 11, 2014The 60/40 RuleJune 27, 2014What Running Has Taught MeAugust 8, 2014The Penguin Mind: UnpublishedAugust 15, 2014The Road More TraveledSeptember 4, 2014Trick or TreatOctober 7, 2014Monumental RunningOctober 24, 2014Raindrops on RosesNovember 12, 2014The Penguin Waddles OnNovember 10, 2014
201343 columns
Why I Won't Wear a FedoraJanuary 6, 2013When I’m 64January 11, 2013For the Love of RunningJanuary 24, 2013The Well Lubricated RunnerJanuary 31, 2013The Chicken and the PigFebruary 6, 2013UnpluggedFebruary 25, 2013Facebook Friend-seeMarch 10, 2013The Soul of the PlanetApril 11, 2013The Morning AfterApril 16, 2013Sweet CarolineApril 29, 2013Old Dog, New TricksMay 29, 2013A Champion: By DefinitionJune 5, 2013Looking for AdventureJune 12, 2013Come Sail AwayJune 18, 2013Stuck on a Desert IslandJune 24, 2013Unintended ConsequencesJuly 3, 2013Afternoon DelightJuly 26, 2013The Last Great RunAugust 7, 2013The Last Brain to ClarksvilleAugust 14, 2013The Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of SummerAugust 20, 2013A Grandfather's WisdomAugust 21, 2013Flashback Friday: The Original Penguin ChronicleAugust 23, 2013The Longest DaySeptember 4, 2013Flashback Friday: White Line FeverSeptember 6, 2013The Little Book That CouldSeptember 11, 2013Flashback Friday: Running the BasesSeptember 13, 2013Race RelationsSeptember 18, 2013FLashback Friday: My Hero. Bob DolphinSeptember 20, 2013Worst Parade EverSeptember 25, 2013High Five'n the MermaidOctober 2, 2013Junkyard DogsOctober 3, 2013Flashback Friday: Survival of the SlowestOctober 4, 2013Getting Your MoJo BackOctober 9, 2013Flashback Friday: Prized PossessionsOctober 11, 2013Run simply, or simply runOctober 16, 2013Flashback Friday: The MetamorphosisOctober 18, 2013Frost on the PumpkinOctober 24, 2013Flashback Friday: Doing Your BestOctober 25, 2013Flashback Friday: City of HopeNovember 1, 2013The Recess BellNovember 13, 2013Flashback Friday: The Latest ModelNovember 15, 2013Sticks and StonesNovember 20, 2013Flashback Friday: Unfinished BusinessNovember 22, 2013
201214 columns
A Year of Living ActivelyJanuary 2, 2012Year of the DragonJanuary 18, 2012100 Chronicles and moreJanuary 27, 2012Groundhog DayFebruary 2, 2012Paying The Price For FitnessMarch 14, 2012Two For the RoadMarch 25, 2012Running with the Dolphins: The SequelApril 6, 2012Imported from DetroitApril 17, 2012Call Me Gear GeekApril 27, 2012The Oreo ConundrumMay 18, 2012The Art of Rock 'n' RollJune 6, 2012The Trails Less TraveledJuly 24, 2012Back In The Saddle AgainOctober 3, 2012This Time for SureDecember 31, 2012
201135 columns
Make This the Year: Take the ChallengeJanuary 1, 2011The idea that became a movementJanuary 5, 2011Wrong is the new RightJanuary 12, 2011A Time of TransitionJanuary 19, 2011Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow.February 2, 2011Dodging the BulletFebruary 8, 2011The Big Easy; 2.0February 16, 2011Running on Island TimeMarch 1, 2011Fun, Family, FitnessMarch 10, 2011Long Haul RunningMarch 17, 2011Big Man On CampusMarch 23, 2011Learning the Hard WayApril 6, 2011Hooray for Our SideApril 22, 2011A Shot in the DarkMay 5, 2011The Penguin ChroniclesMay 14, 2011The Penguin Chronicle #1, May 1996May 18, 2011The Art of WinningJune 8, 2011Running in the Emerald CityJune 22, 2011A Historic RideJuly 13, 2011Camaraderie in Sport Helps Us Find Our True SelvesJuly 17, 2011Summer in the CityJuly 20, 2011Rediscovering My AmbitionJuly 27, 2011AnzioAugust 17, 2011School DaysSeptember 7, 2011Passing the BatonSeptember 14, 2011Running with friends | The Penguin ChroniclesSeptember 21, 2011The Italian JobOctober 12, 2011A league of their own | The Penguin ChroniclesOctober 14, 2011There is no finish line. Or is there?October 20, 2011Commitment Leads To FulfillmentOctober 21, 2011Woolly WormsOctober 26, 2011The Autumn LeavesNovember 1, 2011Veteran's DayNovember 10, 2011Viva Las VegasNovember 30, 2011Learning From The ChampionsDecember 13, 2011
201071 columns
Ask the Penguin: Taking a BreakJanuary 6, 2010The Resolution SolutionJanuary 7, 2010Ask the Penguin: How long is longJanuary 12, 2010The Heart of Rock ‘n’ RollJanuary 12, 2010Full Report: P.F.Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll ArizonaJanuary 19, 2010Ask the Penguin: Snow RunningJanuary 20, 2010The Squirrel SyndromeJanuary 25, 2010Ask The Penguin: Sweating BucketsJanuary 29, 2010Southernmost RunningFebruary 1, 2010Ask the Penguin: Catching Your BreathFebruary 5, 2010Ask the Penguin: How to TaperFebruary 11, 2010Back TalkFebruary 15, 2010Ask The Penguin: The Mental MarathonFebruary 19, 2010Off to the Big EasyFebruary 22, 2010Ask the Penguin: How to Get StartedFebruary 25, 2010Rockin’ Hard in the Big EasyMarch 2, 2010Ask The Penguin: The Reverse TaperMarch 5, 2010The Long Walk BackMarch 9, 2010Ask The Penguin: Senior MomentsMarch 11, 2010Rockin’ Big D and My Aching BackMarch 15, 2010Ask the Penguin: Going Sub 4 HoursMarch 19, 2010Making MagicMarch 23, 2010Ask the Penguin: Eat, Run, and Be MerryMarch 24, 2010Starting a Half Marathon Training ProgramApril 1, 2010Ask the Penguin: Headache From RunningApril 8, 2010Obsession is Good for the SoleApril 13, 2010Ask the Penguin: How Soon to Race AgainApril 15, 2010Music City MemoriesApril 20, 2010Ask the Penguin: Run/Walk Half MarathonApril 23, 2010Stormy WeatherApril 27, 2010Ask the Penguin: Shifting WorkoutsApril 30, 2010The Truth, by GeorgeMay 4, 2010Ask The Penguin: The 10% RuleMay 6, 2010The Penguin TimesMay 10, 2010Finding the RhythmMay 11, 2010Ask the Penguin: Having it allMay 13, 2010Book ‘em, DannoMay 18, 2010Ask the Penguin: Setting GoalsMay 24, 2010Runnin’ and Gunnin’May 27, 2010Ask the Penguin: Blood Sugar and RunningJune 2, 2010Shoe BluesJune 5, 2010The Times They Are a Changin’June 11, 2010Ask The Penguin: How Soon to Run a MarathonJune 16, 2010Running RewardsJune 24, 2010Rockin’ the Emerald CityJune 29, 2010Why I want cotton race shirts.July 6, 2010Ask the Penguin: Losing the Baby WeightJuly 9, 2010The Last FrontierJuly 14, 2010Family TiesJuly 26, 2010His neck of the woodsAugust 3, 2010Ask The Penguin: Doing less and getting moreAugust 5, 2010Everything New is Old AgainAugust 9, 2010There’s No Cure for StupidAugust 16, 2010Ask the Penguin: Metabolic TrainingAugust 26, 2010September SongAugust 31, 2010Ask the Penguin: Coming Back After InjurySeptember 3, 2010Showdown in Dodge CitySeptember 7, 2010Ask The Penguin: Dead LegsSeptember 10, 2010A Legendary GatheringSeptember 15, 2010On the road again; naturally.September 24, 2010Stepping BackSeptember 29, 2010Stepping lightlyOctober 5, 2010Water, water, everywhereOctober 8, 2010Hometown HeroesOctober 12, 2010Get on the Good FootOctober 21, 2010City of AngelsOctober 26, 2010Precious MedalsNovember 17, 2010A Monumental MonthDecember 1, 2010What I want for Christmas.December 9, 2010A Holiday SaluteDecember 19, 2010The 100 Days ChallengeDecember 30, 2010
200923 columns
Up and OverJanuary 2009In Focus...March 2009Summer VacationsMarch 18, 2009Unleashed emotionsApril 2009Tied in NotsApril 6, 2009Body workMay 2009Let’s Get This Party StartedJune 30, 2009Running blindJuly 2009Weekend at HomeJuly 9, 2009Running with FriendsJuly 21, 2009Treading new groundJuly 31, 2009Your Message HereSeptember 2009Don’t Worry. Be Happy.October 15, 2009Dying to RunOctober 20, 2009The Times are a Changin’October 27, 2009First Treadmill Run of the SeasonNovember 19, 2009Thanks, But I’ve Gotta RunNovember 26, 2009What Happens in VegasDecember 3, 2009Loving Las VegasDecember 6, 2009Victory for AllDecember 17, 2009The Butterfly EffectDecember 21, 2009All I want for ChristmasDecember 23, 2009End of an EraDecember 30, 2009
200812 columns
The Perfect RunJanuary 9, 2008Racing into a new eraFebruary 6, 2008When the whole half is all you needMarch 5, 2008Notes of perfectionMarch 7, 2008Back to BasicsApril 4, 2008My Way or the HighwayMay 8, 2008A Change of CourseJune 10, 2008The latest modelJuly 10, 2008Gold Medal MomentsAugust 19, 2008A Walk in the ParkSeptember 10, 2008Faith Hope and CharitiesNovember 2008Point to PointDecember 2008
200723 columns
Running DialogueJanuary 10, 2007Victory lapsFebruary 7, 2007Ready for takeoffMarch 9, 2007An Afternoon with LarryMarch 15, 2007One very long dayMarch 15, 2007Setting the SailMarch 15, 2007You're in good handsApril 15, 2007Perfect harmonyMay 8, 2007Body LanguageMay 25, 2007Miles to GoJune 19, 2007Unfinished businessJune 19, 2007Rubbed the Wrong WayJuly 2, 2007Running off at the mindAugust 14, 2007Better Late Than NeverAugust 29, 2007Better Than Ever...September 13, 2007I am NOT a JoggerSeptember 19, 2007Aged to perfectionSeptember 24, 2007Running on the Wrong Side of the TracksOctober 25, 2007Prized PossessionsNovember 20, 2007When a Stranger CallsNovember 29, 2007Giving and Getting.December 6, 2007All in the familyDecember 17, 2007Failing to runDecember 17, 2007
20065 columns
200424 columns
The edge of runningJune 200413.1 and DoneAugust 2004A league of Their OwnAugust 2004A perfect tenAugust 2004Back to the Future...August 2004City of HopeAugust 2004Come TogetherAugust 2004Correct and RedirectAugust 2004Crim of the cropAugust 2004Getting your kicksAugust 2004Going With the FlowAugust 2004Keeping up with JonesyAugust 2004Learning to runAugust 2004Racing the GremlinAugust 2004Running foreverAugust 2004Stranger in paradiseAugust 2004Strength in numbersAugust 2004The doorsAugust 2004The Endurance FactorAugust 2004The hard wayAugust 2004The Write StuffAugust 2004Tools and RulesAugust 2004While you were outAugust 2004Who Needs a ReasonAugust 2004
200113 columns
A Year in the LifeOctober 29, 2001Accidental AthletesOctober 29, 2001Happy TrailsOctober 29, 2001Mind gamesOctober 29, 2001Of Penguins and PrefontaineOctober 29, 2001Personal RecordOctober 29, 2001Running in circlesOctober 29, 2001Sex, lies, and videotapeOctober 29, 2001The Competitive EdgeOctober 29, 2001The Inner PenguinOctober 29, 2001The Popeye SyndromeOctober 29, 2001When to Say WhenOctober 29, 2001White Line FeverOctober 29, 2001