Known by his fans as “the Penguin” for his back-of-the-pack speed, John Bingham is the unlikely hero of the modern running boom. Overweight, uninspired, and saddled with a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoking habit Bingham found himself firmly wedged in a middle-age slump. Then, he discovered running and changed his life forever.

More About John “The Penguin” Bingham:

John’s been called the Pied Piper of the second running boom. Since his column started in Runner’s World magazine he’s become one of the running community’s most popular personalities. The New York Times identified John as the creator of the slow running movement which brought the joy of activity to a new generation of runners and walkers. After 18 years as a columnist and the voice of the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series,  John now spends his time co-hosting running adventures worldwide with his wife Coach Jenny Hadfield. Find out where the next adventure is at: www.therunningcruise.com. You can follow his irregular and irreverent blog by clicking here.
Is it ok to be a slow runner? Listen to the Connect Run Club interview with “The Penguin”.
Read the original, unedited, Penguin Chronicle here.
Read the final, published, Penguin Chronicle here.

Latest Updates

Yogi Berra famously said: “It’s deja vu all over again.”  Well, the same can be said for me. After a year of sabbatical the urge to write returned. The content may not be as specific to running as it used to be, after all, my life has expanded beyond just running, but the voice will be the same: truthful, thoughtful, and silly. Read the latest NEW  “Penguin Chronicle.”

People are Talking:

During the the first wave of the running boom the concern of many runners was to set personal records. But for most of us, running isn’t that way anymore. Today, John “the Penguin” Bingham reminds us that a big part of running – the part where the fun and the personal gratification are kept – is the journey. So, if joy is what you want, you’ve found your teacher.
Frank Shorter, Olympic Gold Medalist, from the forward of “Marathoning for Mortals, by John “the Penguin” Bingham and Coach Jenny Hadfield