Twice a Runner: A Marathoner’s Journey to a Finish Line of Personal Transformation

Outrun the ordinary to finish well.Twice a Runner is the compelling life story of Fred Torneden, who grew up surrounded by the wide-open spaces of Kansas farmland and rose to become an American record holder and world-class marathoner. But this is more than a story of athletic excellence—it’s an autobiography of personal transformation marked by grit, grace, divine interventions in near-death experiences, and life-changing spiritual encounters.At Fred’s side is his wife, Deb (Pihl) Torneden—widely regarded as the greatest female distance runner to ever come out of Kansas. Together, they have both won individual USATF Masters national championships and competed on world record age-group relays, making them arguably the most accomplished over-sixty husband-and-wife running duo in the world.Twice a Runner is a love letter—not only to the God who radically transformed Fred’s life, but also to Deb, his partner in both faith and competition. Woven throughout is their shared passion for running, their unwavering belief in each other, and their devotion to living a life of fulfilled destiny. Their story is a testimony to how love, hope, and perseverance can turn ordinary lives into extraordinary legacies—on and off the track and roads. Read more