About me

Who am I and why am I writing about running?

Briefly, my name is Parker Morse. I’ve been running relatively seriously since 1987. From 1996 to 2001, I worked on the website of Runner’s World magazine, with various titles including “Online Editor”. Starting when I left RW in 2001, I’ve freelanced for several outlets, including RW, Running Times, New England Runner, the Running USA Wire, and various IAAF publications. I’ve written for the Boston Marathon program and worked in several capacities at several events for the NYRR. I’ve participated in the television broadcast of the Boston Marathon since 2003, including the women’s Olympic Marathon Trials in 2008. I hold the nominal title of “webmaster” for the Track and Field Writers of America.

Among the major events I’ve covered along this road are:

  • Beijing Olympic Games
  • IAAF World Championships 1999, 2001, 2007
  • IAAF World cross-country championships 2006
  • IAAF World Indoor Championships 2008
  • BAA Boston Marathon 1996-present
  • NYC Marathon 1996-2007
  • Chicago Marathon 1998-2000
  • U.S. Olympic Trials marathons 2000, 2004, 2008
  • NCAA Division I cross-country 2000-present
  • Various NCAA indoor and outdoor championships
  • USATF Outdoor championships 1997, 2000-2003, 2005-present
  • Various USATF cross-country championships
  • Various Foot Locker cross-country championships

Freelance athletics reporting is not a terribly profitable gig, and my “day job” is to be a web developer and consultant. I have some strong opinions about the way the sport is and could be covered online, and while I don’t pretend to know everything, I know what I like when I see it and I’m more than happy to tell you why.

From 2001 to 2005 I was one of a rotating cast of writers contributing columns to a column on the Runner’s World website called “the Bell Lap.” Most of those columns are gone now, vanished when RW changed their site layout or design or something and didn’t bother to save archives, but I’ve found, finally, that I miss having that regular chance to stretch out and be opinionated. Here it is.