One of my favorite running books was the one by Kim Jones “Dandelions Growing Wild”. She was a great American runner and her life story was beyond interesting. Frank Shorter’s more recent autobiography about growing up with his dad was interesting, too.
Kara Goucher has a book coming out. I have met Kara a couple of times. Seems nice enough. Her accomplishments are certainly impressive.
At the same time, nothing of what I know about her (or almost any other elite runner) would compel me to buy a biography on any of them. Aside from her medals she is mostly known for being part of the Salazar scandal. A scandal that is pretty well documented already.
In thinking on this, I was trying to think of the runners whose lives I think are interesting enough to warrant a book. I came up with Roger Bannister, Billy Mills, and Louie Zamperini. I have had the great luck to have met all three although I cannot say I spent a ton of time with any. Bannister is interesting in part because he was the first to do something, but to me it was what he did after and even the idea of being in medical school (and doing some research that interests me while there) is part of the appeal. I will say Perfect Mile to me is a great read but I also did not see enough about Santee or Landy to warrant a book just about as individuals.)
Mills gets in for his being a Native American. I almost added Jim Thorpe, but I do not think of his as a "runner". Track athlete yes (and the greatest American athlete of the 20th century in my book).
Zamperini---my fondness for him cannot be measured. But my interest in him is more because of his experience in WW2 and also the life he led after more than his track accomplishments. If WW2 never happens and Zamperini goes on to win a lot of medals and maybe set some WRs, I don't think I would be interested in an entire book on him.
Again, I enjoy reading about runners. A chapter in a book or a long form article about an individual runner, but a book? Not many are going to reach that threshold for me.
As soon as I hit "Create thread" I will probably think of another runner or two who might fit the bill for me.
Anyone come to mind for you? And this needs to be someone well known and regarded as a runner, not a well known person who runs.
Runner's World (when it was a real running magazine) used to have Biographies come out every once in a while in their Booklet of the Month Series. I remember reading one about Jack Foster and I Ernst Van Auken. Maybe Percy Cerruty?
You'd have to be pretty old to remember these. I'm 64 and I was in middle school at the time.
They were short and inexpensive. Excellent reads. I lost them and every RW magazine from when it first started as Distance Running News in a basement flood.
Kara Goucher has a book coming out. I have met Kara a couple of times. Seems nice enough. Her accomplishments are certainly impressive.
At the same time, nothing of what I know about her (or almost any other elite runner) would compel me to buy a biography on any of them. Aside from her medals she is mostly known for being part of the Salazar scandal. A scandal that is pretty well documented already.
In thinking on this, I was trying to think of the runners whose lives I think are interesting enough to warrant a book. I came up with Roger Bannister, Billy Mills, and Louie Zamperini. I have had the great luck to have met all three although I cannot say I spent a ton of time with any. Bannister is interesting in part because he was the first to do something, but to me it was what he did after and even the idea of being in medical school (and doing some research that interests me while there) is part of the appeal. I will say Perfect Mile to me is a great read but I also did not see enough about Santee or Landy to warrant a book just about as individuals.)
Mills gets in for his being a Native American. I almost added Jim Thorpe, but I do not think of his as a "runner". Track athlete yes (and the greatest American athlete of the 20th century in my book).
Zamperini---my fondness for him cannot be measured. But my interest in him is more because of his experience in WW2 and also the life he led after more than his track accomplishments. If WW2 never happens and Zamperini goes on to win a lot of medals and maybe set some WRs, I don't think I would be interested in an entire book on him.
Again, I enjoy reading about runners. A chapter in a book or a long form article about an individual runner, but a book? Not many are going to reach that threshold for me.
As soon as I hit "Create thread" I will probably think of another runner or two who might fit the bill for me.
Anyone come to mind for you? And this needs to be someone well known and regarded as a runner, not a well known person who runs.
Runner's World (when it was a real running magazine) used to have Biographies come out every once in a while in their Booklet of the Month Series. I remember reading one about Jack Foster and I Ernst Van Auken. Maybe Percy Cerruty?
You'd have to be pretty old to remember these. I'm 64 and I was in middle school at the time.
They were short and inexpensive. Excellent reads. I lost them and every RW magazine from when it first started as Distance Running News in a basement flood.
Still have some of these, including the Frank Shorter one. 64 here, too.
I posted that way to get a response like yours…and you came through.
I had the pleasuring of meeting Bill a jillion times (see the movie “Used Cars”) and he was always as humble and kind as they come. Zero arrogance, unlike some of the runners today—-both male and female.
Goucher is an opportunist through and through. It’s all about $$$ and being heard. Give credit to those who clearly beat you without talking about yourself and making excuses over and over. Bill didn’t do that.
Edwards, Harry The Struggle That Must Be: An Autobiography Read this book in conjunction with Track in the Forest (previously mentioned) and The Last Protest: Lee Evans in Mexico City by Frank Murphy for a better understanding of the 1968 turbulence.
Johnson, Rafer The Best that I Can Be The man is a legend, but I finished his autobiography thinking he could have been a superhero.
Kastor, Denna Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory Read this alongside Coach Vigil’s biography mentioned above as they have interlocking episodes.
Lomong, Lopez Running for My Life Incredibly sad story of the plight of refugees. Read it together with John Brant’s similar biography of Julius Achon, The Boy Who Runs.
Snell, Peter No Bugles No Drums Lydiard fans appreciate this work.
Switzer, Kathrine Marathon Woman Avoid this work of self-promotion.
I completely disagree. Kara Goucher is actually someone who's biography would be interesting.
Her life has been compelling since early childhood when she lost her father and her mom had to move back to MN. She was a prodigy who hit a plateau in high school, she ran for some of the most high level and controversial coaches (Wetmore, Schumacher, and Salazar), she was American's running sweetheart who then was a part of a huge scandal in American distance running. I'm actually really excited to read this.
Aside from Kara, who actually IS at the top of my list for runners I'd want to hear from:
If Galen Rupp ever wants to come up for air and tell his side of things I'd be interested in that too. But it would have to be the truth. Same with Sh*lby
I'll save you the trouble - she does not address any controversy in any meaningful way and the book is filled with platitudes.
I haven't read it actually, but I'd be surprised to find anything else. I've read enough crappy ghostwritten white-bread athlete memoirs to know not to read any more unless I hear glowing recommendations.
Agree about Bannister. The Perfect Mile is a great read. Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter are pretty interesting. Their books "Marathon Marathon" and "My Marathon", respectively, are superb.
I'd also enjoy books by Haile Gebrselasie (spelling?), Galen Rupp, Bernard Lagat, David Rudisha, Tirunesh Dibaba, and many others. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll write something someday.
Agree about Bannister. The Perfect Mile is a great read. Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter are pretty interesting. Their books "Marathon Marathon" and "My Marathon", respectively, are superb.
I'd also enjoy books by Haile Gebrselasie (spelling?), Galen Rupp, Bernard Lagat, David Rudisha, Tirunesh Dibaba, and many others. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll write something someday.
There is already a biography about Haile G., called 'The Greatest' (pretty sure that is the title). There is one on Paul Tergat too, 'Running to the Limit'. I think 'Dual in the Sun' is better than '14 Minutes', as with the latter, I hear he talks alot about religion, which personally doesn't interest me in a running book.
I'm happy someone mentioned 'My Race Be Won', although I read it like 30(?) years ago, I recall really enjoying it. Vince's co-author on it, Neil Amdur, used to write about T&F for the NYTimes and was great.
Other mentions of Edelen and Dickie's book are great reads too.
I have known about 'Virgin Territory', but haven't read it, but don't recall knowing about 'From First to Last' - another book to add. The brit 400m man, Roger Black also has a book, but it is down on my list.
Other than Goucher's book, and the NAU story, what others are going to be published in 2023?
One of my favorite running books was the one by Kim Jones “Dandelions Growing Wild”. She was a great American runner and her life story was beyond interesting. Frank Shorter’s more recent autobiography about growing up with his dad was interesting, too.
+1
I read Frank Shorter's book, "My Marathon: Reflections on a Gold Medal Life" and it was very good. Honestly, I was surprised how good it was. He's the last American to win the Olympic marathon gold and I wanted to learn more about what got him there. His road to the gold was not what I expected.