Author: Marty Dugard

Martin Dugard coaches high school cross country in California and is the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Taking Paris and the more recently released Taking Berlin. Martin is co-author of the mega-million selling Killing series: Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, Killing Patton, Killing Reagan, Killing England, Killing the Rising Sun, Killing the SS, Killing Crazy Horse, and Killing the Mob. Martin is also the author of the critically lauded memoir To Be A Runner, a series of essays which takes the reader around the world as he recounts his personal journey through the world of distance running. It is a book about life itself, and how the simple act of stepping outside for a run is a metaphor for our daily desire to be the best possible version of ourselves, step by step.

Coaching Backpack

What’s inside the coach’s magical backpack?

Fast Times

The coaching ends when the gun goes off.

Inspiration

“….But this morning I wanted something new. You know, inspiration….” The universe is speaking. Just had one of those Peloton workouts that wring sweat out of every pore, bringing forth the aromas of everything I’ve put in my body the last forty-eight hours. The kind of sweat that makes you glad you’re alone because the […]

Big Runner

“We all need personal challenges to shake things up.” A journalist recently asked me if I was still a big runner. By this, he meant do I still run fifty miles a week. I do not. But I am still a big runner, in that I am no longer the sleek supple leopard I was […]

Grande Finale

A cross country season is like writing a book, six months of intensity followed by a loss of equilibrium as the process comes to an end.

November

We all need a happy place – an escape, if you will. Mine is coaching cross country.

Coach Caregiver

This morning she even told me to stop talking about not coaching.

The New “C” Word

I once called competition the new “C” word because it scares people so much.

Christmas In Autumn

I like track but I love cross country.

Restless Soul

“I don’t know the concierge. Not his age nor music preference. But I told him he had my complete permission to open the envelope and use the ticket.” The first run is always hardest in Mammoth. I arrived Saturday morning after dropping Calene at the airport. She’s headed east with her sister Cate to see […]