Originally self-published in 1978, Once a Runner captures the essence of competitive running-and of athletic competition in general-and has become one of the most beloved sports novels ever published. Inspired by the author's experience as a collegiate champion, the story focuses on Quenton Cassidy, a competitive runner at fictional Southeastern University whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. He is less than a second away when the turmoil of the Vietnam War era intrudes into the staid recesses of his school's ...
Read More
Originally self-published in 1978, Once a Runner captures the essence of competitive running-and of athletic competition in general-and has become one of the most beloved sports novels ever published. Inspired by the author's experience as a collegiate champion, the story focuses on Quenton Cassidy, a competitive runner at fictional Southeastern University whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. He is less than a second away when the turmoil of the Vietnam War era intrudes into the staid recesses of his school's athletic department. After he becomes involved in an athletes' protest, Cassidy is suspended from his track team. Under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, Bruce Denton, a graduate student and former Olympic gold medalist, Cassidy gives up his scholarship, his girlfriend, and possibly his future to withdraw to a monastic retreat in the countryside and begin training for the race of his life against the greatest miler in history. A rare insider's account of the incredibly intense lives of elite distance runners, Once a Runneris an inspiring, funny, and spot-on tale of one man's quest to become a champion..
Read Less
Add this copy of Once a Runner: a Novel to cart. $0.99, fair condition, Sold by Dream Books Co. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Denver, CO, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. This copy has clearly been enjoyed-expect noticeable shelf wear and some minor creases to the cover. Binding is strong and all pages are legible. May contain previous library markings or stamps.
Add this copy of Once a Runner: a Novel to cart. $1.22, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books Company rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lynden, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book is in good condition and may include underlining highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include From the library of labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service.
Add this copy of Once a Runner: a Novel to cart. $1.22, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books East rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Glendale Heights, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book is in very good condition and may include minimal underlining highlighting. The book can also include From the library of labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service.
Add this copy of Once a Runner: a Novel to cart. $1.78, fair condition, Sold by Seattle Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner Book Company.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. May have some shelf-wear due to normal use. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
Add this copy of Once a Runner: a Novel to cart. $1.81, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books Company rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lynden, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book is in very good condition and may include minimal underlining highlighting. The book can also include From the library of labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service.
Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $2.19, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner Book Company.
Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $2.19, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner Book Company.
Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $2.19, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner Book Company.
Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $2.19, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner Book Company.
Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $2.19, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2010 by Scribner Book Company.
The book was in great condition and it arrived in a timely manner. I was happy to find the original cover of the book.
JTKrun48
Dec 25, 2008
the book is back
John Parker's classic book is now finally back in print one option is getting it from Australia - easier option is the US edition now out published by Scribner's - a must read (and re-read) for any serious runner.
Runlisbon
Nov 18, 2007
Well Observed
Even though this is a book that I discovered through a reccomendation in "Runner's World," there are plenty of amusingly disparaging remarks about that publication within its pages. That's typical, though, of the main character's process of whittling (or hacking) away at any connection between himself and his reasons for running and anyone else or else's. Ultramarathoners are a "sub-species" to this miler whose skills, abilties, sacrifices, and accomplishments make up the skin and bones of this deceptively simple tale. It's about the personal journey that we all undertake (albeit, at varying velocities).
Surprisingly fresh, irrverent, and funny, here's a book about running that starts out all elbows and awkward and finishes as fine literature. If you're a runner on any level, you'll identify and be in awe of Quenton both on the track and inside his thought process as he motivates himself to push physically far beyond where 99,9% of us will ever go.
There are great characters throughout and you won't want the experience to end, making this an investment you'll return to again and again and want to share as the treasure this book is.
I'm not sure why a book of this caliber is not more widely available, but there's no doubt that it is a classic that crosses many boundaries.
jeffrylunch
May 24, 2007
classic tale of dedication
the great thing about this book, other than the juicy details of characters and the joys of running enumerated, is the powerful mix of dedication and subversive, side-with-the-underdog, raise-a-little-hell-in-the-name-of-joy found in the main characer.
Parker offers insight into the mythos of the athlete/warrior who focuses so intently on one task, one effort, that all else almost completely disappears. what i like about the story is that Parker reminds us that it never all disappears, that one athletic endevour is connected not only to the history of other such events, but to a greater community, and that such events have effects well-beyond one man's glory or failure.
