Running free

Q&A | Records and medals couldn’t give legendary miler Jim Ryun happiness, but something else did | Marvin Olasky

Roll Call Pix/Newscom; inset: Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

When you're 19 years old and Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year after setting world records in the mile and half-mile runs, does everything later seem like twilight? Only if you're centered on gold medals rather than God. Former Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kan., voted the best high school athlete ever by ESPN The Magazine readers (Tiger Woods finished second), speaks about running and life.

Q: Why did you start running? I started out just wanting to be part of an athletic team. Somehow as a young boy that became the benchmark. I tried out for the baseball team and my experience was going from the outfield to the infield to the bench and being cut—and it was the church baseball team.

ACCESS THIS ARTICLE IMMEDIATELY AND RECEIVE ONE MONTH OF ONLINE ACCESS AND TWO ISSUES OF WORLD'S PRINT EDITION—ALL FOR JUST $5. SEE THE NEW SUBSCRIBER BOX BELOW.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A PRINT OR ONLINE-ONLY SUBSCRIBER, PLEASE LOG IN BELOW.

The complete article is ~1352 words long

Current Subscriber

Magazine
Subscriber

Online-Only
Subscriber

Click here for other subscription options that also will enable you to access this article.

New Subscriber

Secure form

Receive instant access to this article and one-month access to WORLD's subscriber-only online content — plus, enjoy 2 issues of WORLD's print edition — all for just $5*.

Want a different type of subscription? Click the following links for Online-Only Subscription options or Print Subscription options (which include online subscription access).

Payment Information

Name	State	Card Type

Address	Zip	Card Number

City	Email	Expiration Date
		/
	Phone Number

Offer Terms

Subscribers Advantage Automatic Renewal Program You authorize WORLD Magazine to charge your credit/debit card at the price listed above and in time to renew your subscription to WORLD Magazine, without interruption, before the start of the first 6-month term (for $34.95) and then thereafter at 6-month terms at the regular rate then in effect unless you tell us to stop. You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. If your credit/debit card cannot be charged, we will bill you directly instead.

*Offer good in the U.S. only for new subscribers.
I agree to the terms above

Outside the US, click here.
Renewing subscribers, click here.
Gift subscriptions, click here.

NEED HELP? Call 800-951-6397, Monday-Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, or send email to customerservice@worldmag.com.

Copyright © 2012 God's World Publications
All rights reserved
Articles may not be reproduced without permission
December 19, 2009, Vol. 24, No. 25

Homegrown terror Dec. 5, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	All-American adoption story Nov. 21, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Do the math Nov. 7, 2009 View WORLD E-zine
Save the unions Oct. 24, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Africa, Inc. Oct. 10, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Profiles in effective compassion Sep. 26, 2009 View WORLD E-zine