The remaining miles of frozen Indiana trails didn't bother him. He welcomed the pain ahead. He wished the race demanded all of his attention. But Talattof couldn't keep the intrusive thoughts from creeping into his head the harrowing memories of his home country of Iran that had haunted him for so long.
For years, desert heat, sandy singletrack, and high altitude had partially distracted Talattof during the grueling ultramarathons he'd grown to love. The conditions helped him temporarily forget about the trauma of his twenties, when he was an aspiring professor who became trapped in Iran. But the flashbacks always returned. They had once again invaded his headspace during the 2013 Indiana Trail 100 Mile Run.
RUNNER'S WORLD+ MEMBER
KAMRAN TALATTOF
AGE 67 FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA
WHY I RUN BECAUSE RUNNING IS MY LIFESTYLE.
In the distance, Talattof spotted three lights in the dark. Suddenly, he was transported back to the streets of Tehran. The lights reminded him of an anti-aircraft mechanism that used to light up the Iranian sky. His heart began to pound as he neared them on the trail. But soon, the three lights turned into one, and the sinister machine transformed into another runner's headlamp. Talattof took a deep breath.
As he traversed the cold Indiana night, running was Talattof's escape. But no matter how fast he moved his feet, it was also his captor.
Keep up the fight / Talattof grew up in Iran but left the Middle Eastern country for the U.S. to attend graduate school in the 1970s. After receiving his master's degree in education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, he returned to his home country to visit family in 1979. But political turmoil was brewing. Iran's pro-Western government-led by its monarch, the Shah-collapsed on February 11, 1979, ushering in a restrictive theocratic regime.
This story is from the Issue 05, 2022 edition of Runner's World US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 05, 2022 edition of Runner's World US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Twenty-One Years Ago, He Incarcerated Was for Life. Last Year, He Ran the NYC Marathon a Radically Changed Man.
Rahsaan Thomas rounded a corner.
100 WOMEN. 100 MILES. ONE HISTORIC RECORD.
On June 3, 2023, a group of 100 women came together to reclaim the 100x1-mile relay world record. | It reminded her of what she loved about running in the first place: a tight-knit community of women.
CAN YOUR GARMIN WATCH REPLACE A COACH?
Artificial Intelligence continues to rapidly creep into seemingly every facet of our daily lives. While no amount of computer learning will ever be able to do the actual running for you, there are aspects, like coaching, where AI could have a meaningful impact. In every debate about Al, the conversation almost always includes this question: Is it better than what humans can accomplish? In the case of running, would Coach AI be better than, say, Ed Eyestone, a two-time Olympian and coach of Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, the top two men at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February?
A SHORTLIVED AFFAIR WITH A WALKING BOOT
“Usually, engage in all kinds of activities when start a relationship. With you, Fiking, dancing, and running are clearly of the table.”
HOW TO (NOT) COMPETE WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Our first race together was a 5K Color Run. I'm not sure why we signed up, because neither of us was a runner, but in May 2016, my boyfriend of three years, Jonathan, and I showed up to run around the parking lot at Citi Field. It was fun, but I didn't think it would amount to anything.
GAMIFY TRAINING TO MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU
Instead of sticking to an iron-clad structure and numbers, I've tailored it to what motivates me, borrowing from the community around me and learning from their training.
THIS KITCHEN GADGET IS AN UNHERALDED TRAINING TOOL
Not only would the rice cooker help me meal-prep and pile on the carbs, but it was a badge of honor, a commitment to serious training.
REASONS TO RACE BEYOND CHASING A TIME GOAL
It's the determination, joy, and pride I see shine on everyone-a unique light that seems to illuminate most when running races-that brings more meaning to the miles.
A LIFETIME JOURNEY OF FUELING MISTAKES
DURING THE 2023 New York City Marathon, Runner's World set up shop in an empty storefront on West 57th Street with Adidas and hosted three days of inspiring talks, shakeout runs, and shoe demos.
THE ACCIDENTAL JOY OF RUNNING WITHOUT HEADPHONES
I'M FUMING. I rummage through my work tote, turn my workout bag inside out, lift every notebook on my desk, go through the pockets of every piece of clothing in my zone of vision, then my tote again... It's 5 p.m. I'm standing in the middle of the office dressed for a run, but my AirPods are nowhere to be found-and I can't possibly leave without them!
