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Runners: on your mark, get set, write!

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Runners, do you long to tell the world the pearls of wisdom you’ve gleaned after logging so many miles? Now you have your chance.

A website called Runners’ Lounge is soliciting essays from any and all runners to be included in a book to be published by Lulu, an online self-publishing company. Yes, even if you’ve just completed your first 10k, you may have enough insight and sage advice to share with the world.

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Runners’ Lounge co-founder Tom Green says the book is an outgrowth of the site, an online community where runners can find out about events, running groups, running-related health information, and trade tips and information. ‘We’re inviting runners to share their lessons learned,’ Green says. ‘If you had the chance to tell someone your best pieces of advice, what would they be? We hope that the advice that comes together will be useful not just to beginning runners, but to any runners.’

Those stymied by writer’s block may be helped by a prompt that’s on the site: ‘You’re in a conversation and you just caught someone’s attention by mentioning you’re a runner. They’re interested in running but you only have a few minutes to tell them what you know. What would you advise them about what consistently (and) predictably works for your running? Or, if you could tell them what you know now that you wished you’d known then about running, what would it be?’ (Other particulars about submissions can be found on the site, and entries should be kept to 600 words.).

Green, who is based in Des Moines and has been running for 35 years, adds that the virtual running community will also have input on the book’s title, themes and sections. Proceeds will go to charity.

Though plenty of books have been written by major players with their own coaching businesses and several marathon wins under their belt, Green is looking for experiences of non-famous types and encourages regular people with something to say to participate. ‘It would be great to tap into the expertise of an accountant who goes running at lunch, or a stay-at-home mom,’ he says. ‘Or the person out there experimenting, and trying to enhance their experience. There’s a lot more we can learn from each other.’

The deadline is Feb. 28, so do it now. OK, right after you come back from your run.

-- Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

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