Not one to slow down, Wardian is certainly warmed up for Monday

By John Powers

The ankle looks like an overripe plum, black and blue and bruised. Michael Wardian twisted it on a curb during last Sunday's Mad City 100-kilometer race in Madison, Wis., and had to one-leg it for the final 4 miles. "I had to run with it busted up," said Wardian. "I can't believe I tripped."

It was just a bump in the road for the 34-year-old Wardian, who still won by more than 17 minutes, finishing in 6 hours 56 minutes 57 seconds. As long as his foot is connected to his leg, he'll take the line in Hopkinton Monday for the 112th running of the Boston Marathon, which will be his fifth 26-miler in six weeks.

"I feel like I recover pretty quickly," said Wardian. "I'm usually ready to go for the next race. When I toe the line, I'm ready to run to win."

Wardian, who lives in Arlington, Va., and works as an international ship broker, makes Forrest Gump look like a lunchtime jogger. Last year, he ran 13 marathons, including his second Olympic trials. This year, he's already logged a half-dozen, two on consecutive days last month in Washington and Knoxville, Tenn., where he finished first and third.

"I just want to test myself and see if I can do it," said Wardian, who has only been running seriously for a dozen years and has done triathlons. "I like to try things that people say aren't possible. Sometimes they say they aren't smart, either."