Run Fast: How to Beat Your Best Time Every Time About the Author Hal Higdon has contributed to Runner's World for longer than any other writer: an article by him appeared in the second issue in 1966. Author of 36 books, Higdon has written books on many subjects and for different age groups. He has run 111 different marathons and holds a personal best of 2:21:55. He ran in the Olympic Trials eight times and won four world masters championships. He has served as training consultant for the Chicago Marathon and Chicago Area Runners Association and also answers questions on his Virtual Training Bulletin Board, offering interactive training programs through TrainingPeaks. Higdon lives in Long Beach, Indiana.