Category Archives: books

Book Review: Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush

Posted on July 26, 2012 by admin

Why is the marathon distance 26 miles, 385 yards? If you have more than a passing knowledge of the history of long distance running, you know it’s because the start and finish of the 1908 Olympics were in front of … Continue reading →

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>Paav Nurmi Biography in English

Posted on November 8, 2009 by admin

>You’d think that the guy who was possibly the single greatest pre-WWII track & field athlete would have a biography in English. But according to Cam Bowie at the T&FN message board, there’s only one and it’s relatively new. Paavo … Continue reading →

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>New Book on the Market

Posted on May 23, 2009 by admin

>One-time Track & Field News managing editor Jeff Hollobaugh has just come out with a running novel. Blurb: A victim of the barbarous social scene at Shiawassee High School, Riley Matthews dreams only of a normal home life, a decent … Continue reading →

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>A Gem From Sports Illustrated

Posted on April 21, 2009 by admin

>I’m fairly disappointed at the lack of any coverage of Boston at SportsIllustrated.com. While looking through the front page I found a link to the SI Vault about Patriot’s Day sports, and came across a 1963 article by Hal Higdon … Continue reading →

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>New Track Biography

Posted on April 14, 2009 by admin

>Abel Kiviat, National Champion: Twentieth-Century Track & Field and the Melting PotAlan S. Katchen$34.95, available through Syracuse University Press I haven’t read it yet, but it purports to not only tell Kiviat’s life story but the history of the Irish-American … Continue reading →

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>Amazon Backhands Track Book

Posted on April 13, 2009 by admin

>Amazon.com has quietly made a significant change in how it lists books. One of these books has been removed from Amazon’s sales rankings because of “adult” content; the other has not. “American Psycho” is Bret Easton Ellis’ story of a … Continue reading →

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>Reading List

Posted on April 10, 2009 by admin

>Once a month or so I’ll post some books you may find interesting. This month has a theme.NonfictionBoston Marathon: The First Century of the World’s Premier Running EventTom Derderian, 1998Derderian, a 14-time Boston runner and a coach with the Greater … Continue reading →

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>Once A Runner Prequel?

Posted on April 5, 2009 by admin

>Entertainment Weekly’s website ran a short interview with John L. Parker to plug the upcoming rerelease of Once A Runner, probably the best track fiction ever written. He hints at an upcoming prequel to match the sequel out a little … Continue reading →

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>Once A Runner Available Again

Posted on December 31, 2008 by admin

>Scott Bush at US Distance Runner reports that the John L. Parker classic will be reprinted and available in April. I never read it until about three years ago when I got it for Christmas (a few new copies were … Continue reading →

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