Once a Runner captures the essence of what it means to be a competitive runner; to devote your entire existence to a single-minded pursuit of excellence. It has become one of the most beloved sports novels ever written. Originally self-published in 1978 and sold at road races out of the trunk of the author's car, reading the book became a rite of passage for many runners, and tattered copies were handed down like sacred texts from generation to generation. Once a Runner is the story of Quenton Cassidy, a collegiate ...
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Once a Runner captures the essence of what it means to be a competitive runner; to devote your entire existence to a single-minded pursuit of excellence. It has become one of the most beloved sports novels ever written. Originally self-published in 1978 and sold at road races out of the trunk of the author's car, reading the book became a rite of passage for many runners, and tattered copies were handed down like sacred texts from generation to generation. Once a Runner is the story of Quenton Cassidy, a collegiate runner at fictional Southeastern University whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. He is less than a second away when the political and cultural 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: a head-to-head match with the greatest miler in history. This audiobook is a rare insider's account of the incredibly intense lives of elite distance runners; an inspiring, funny, and spot-on tale of one man's quest to become a champion.
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Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $8.96, good condition, Sold by The Yard Sale Store rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Narrowsburg, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by brilliance Audio.
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Seller's Description:
Good. 7 AUDIO CDs withdrawn from the library collection. We will polish each individual Audio CD for a smooth quality of sound. Some library notation to the set. Enjoy this worthwhile AUDIO CD performance.
Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $9.00, very good condition, Sold by Alibris rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2009 by Brilliance Audio.
Add this copy of Once a Runner to cart. $67.01, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by Brilliance Audio.
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.
