Climb every mountain; running schools can easily be compared to running marathons: you experience the gamut of emotions, intellectual challenges and physical tests.

Few, if any, of us in high school thought that some day we might be a superintendent of schools. As a senior, I didn't have a clue what a superintendent was or did. But today I can look back to one fateful afternoon in the early spring of 1960 that set me on the path to becoming a superintendent. After a long recovery period from rheumatic fever, I was finally cleared to participate in sports. It was too late to make the varsity basketball or football team. At our high school, that left track. Off I went to the tryouts, where everyone interested in running events was ordered to one end of the football field. The gun went off, and we raced to the other end. The coach took one look at all of us, then assigned the first group of finishers to the sprints. He told the next group that they would be running the 440 and 880. "That leaves you, Brown," he said, "and you're gonna be a distance runner." So it goes. Since then, distance running and my life have been inextricably intertwined.

Nowhere is that better illustrated than in my experiences with the Catalina Marathon. At dawn on the third Saturday of March each year, some 500 runners board the boat in Avalon on Catalina Island and head north to Two Harbors, located at the Isthmus. They disembark, lineup for the restrooms, check sweats at the baggage truck, and wait for the starting gun. Hours later, the runners are back in Avalon, in one sense considerably worse for wear, but in another, content with a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

I have run a lot of marathons over the years, but this is my favorite. Second isn't close. The course is tough -- mostly trails -- and flat stretches are rare. The climbs are daunting, including several that stretch four to five miles. But once you're at the top, the views of the California coastline, the ocean, the buffalo herds and the offshore islands are spectacular.

One year, the course was so muddy I stopped at the only phone booth on the course to call my wife and tell her I was going to be slipping in mud puddles all day. After she responded, "I share your pain. Remember this is a self-inflicted wound," I mumbled, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going," and said goodbye. (Not unlike our conversations after long board meetings.)

There were times along the way when I felt absolutely exhausted. At other times, the water and energy food would kick in and off I'd go. Fortunately, there was someone else to chat with -- or maybe the better word is "commiserate." One year, Chris Gray, our city's fire chief, and I stopped along the way to take some pictures. Trust me, you don't want to see pictures of us after the climb up Pumphouse Hill at mile 17.

So, what does all this have to do with being a superintendent of schools? The short version is "plenty." Running the Catalina Marathon and serving as superintendent for more than 23 years have quite a bit in common. Let's skip the "pain" part and focus instead on six parallels:

1. Staying the course/focused on mission.

2. Experiencing a variety of challenges.

3. Adjusting one's pace/perspectives.

4. Communicating with others about what matters.

5. Taking care of you.

6. Finding and listening to mentors.

Staying the course/focused on mission

An obvious parallel is the fact that success in the superintendency is not achieved by short bursts of speed, but by staying the course over time and remaining focused on the mission. In the Catalina Marathon, that means finishing a tough course. For a superintendent, that means sticking to the critical work of preparing our students to become productive, contributing citizens.

Like running, walking or crawling up and down trails for 26.2 miles, the superintendency requires steadiness, perseverance and focus. It isn't about sprinting; it's about endurance. Not endurance in the sense of survival, but endurance in the sense of a willingness to stay the course through good times and difficult times because achievement of the end goal is what's really important.

So, if you believe short-term, high outbursts of energy are the best ways to solve complex problems, forget the superintendency. It's not going to happen. If you agree with St. Paul that the race goes not to the swiftest, but to those who keep on running, the superintendency may be the job for you.

Experiencing a variety of challenges

There is a second parallel between the Catalina Marathon and the superintendency: the depth and breadth of physical and mental experiences along the way. Like climbing Pumphouse Hill at mile 17 when you're already thrashed, the superintendency will call upon you in the most difficult times to do your best work.

How easy it would be to make excuses about not going on when the hill gets too steep, the board meetings too contentious, the "public gadflies" too obnoxious, and say, "I'm outta here." But the setbacks and challenges will always be there. There will be some real highs and some real lows.

If you're a person who expects everything to go well, then this isn't the job for you. On the other hand, if you believe a variety of experiences help us grow throughout life, then you may have found your calling in the superintendency.

Adjusting one's pace/perspectives

A third parallel is the relationship between the hills of Catalina and the superintendency. Climbing the three- to five-mile high hills at Catalina is an experience in and of itself. To reach the top, I must adjust my pace, occasionally taking shorter steps and even walking during the really steep parts. I also found that enjoying the views of the harbors, blue-green waters and green hills during the climb gave me a renewed sense of energy that enabled me to continue.

These hills have their counterpart in the major challenges that face superintendents every year. The resolution of these will call for an occasional change of pace, a fresh perspective, or maybe even a pause for a deep breath. Going "hell-bent for leather" to resolve a major issue without some adjustments along the way will often make things worse than better.

Communicating with others about what matters

The superintendency is often described as a "lonely job." It can be, but success is unlikely if that's the case. Frankly, as much as I love teaching, I missed the professional contact and interaction with other adults. True, there were some great social experiences, but lacking were the conversations about our work, particularly those tough conversations where the individual parties are willing to offer constructive criticism accompanied by support to their colleagues.

At Catalina, I knew my chances of success were limited along the way unless I talked with my fellow runners about the course, the pace, the time and anything else we needed to do to increase our chances of finishing.

Among the things I have come to value most about the superintendency are the interactions with other superintendents, city managers and other leaders who also are serious about their work and dedicated to improving its quality over time.

So, if you're a person who is more comfortable operating by yourself and not interested in getting better at what you do, the superintendency isn't for you. On the other hand, if you believe that it's important to share the comradery of struggle with others and help each other get better at whatever it is we do, then start preparing for one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs anywhere.

Taking care of you

The fifth parallel involves something I'll call personal care. There is no way that one will complete the Catalina Marathon without advance training and a lot of personal care during the race.

Twenty-three years as a superintendent, including more than 1,000 board meetings, endless rounds of collective bargaining, ups and downs in test scores, at least three major rounds of serious expenditure reductions and more have taught me that if I don't take care of myself, the chances of success may become more limited.

It's similar at Catalina. If you don't stay hydrated, if you don't pace yourself and if you don't consume some energy along the way, get ready for serious pain. Even stopping to take care of blisters before they get out of control is important. And so it is with the superintendency.

One reason I was able to finish Catalina is because I learned over the years as a superintendent to take care of myself along the way. The weekend trail runs with friends and time with my wife, children and family have all helped me better deal with the many difficult challenges that confront superintendents on a regular basis.

Finding and listening to mentors

One final parallel involves people who in athletics are called coaches and in the career path of superintendents, "mentors."

It was Bob Flores, principal at Arlington High School, who impressed upon me the profound impact my own behavior could have on making any situation better or worse.

It was Bob Paisola, principal at Lompoc High, that taught me about inner tubes. "Remember, Jim," he said, "When you step on one part of the inner tube, another part pops up." So, think about the unintended as well as the intended consequences of your actions.

It was Ray Berry, superintendent in Riverside, whose own strength of character and steadfast resolution not just to do things right but to do the right things, who opened a new door for a young principal and encouraged him to become a superintendent.

Just as colleagues, friends and family have given me the support and advice I needed to be a better runner, so have they given me the wisdom and counsel that inspired me to become a better superintendent.

So, if you're a person used to winging it on your own and are totally confident about your knowledge, abilities and skills, then the superintendency may not be the right job for you. On the other hand, if you want a job that will bring you into contact with a wonderful group of people who can change your life, call your local superintendent recruiter.

In a strange sort of symbiotic way, my work in the superintendency and my experiences at the Catalina Marathon are directly linked. I'm not even sure which has had the stronger influence on the other. I do know that in both, I've experienced the gamut of emotions, intellectual challenges and physical tests. I've made wonderful life-long friends and I've met some of the best people I'd ever want to meet. I've worked for a few bad bosses, but mostly really great ones.

Like the Catalina Marathon, the superintendency is clearly the road less traveled by. And, taking both those less traveled roads has for me, as it did for Robert Frost, "made all the difference."

Jim Brown is superintendent of the Glendale Unified School District.