Good running reads (Read 1149 times)

 

AKTrail:

 

This is VERY interesting...  Where can I get more story about this marathon?  Like the first winner, time, where she is now, etc.  I'm sure Kathrine Switzer would be very interested and I'll let her know.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen. May I introduce... the shortest Nobby post in history.

 Don't encourage him!  Nobby could you please elabortate?  I'm not sure I completely understand you comment.  

I also would like to add that regardless when the first marathon was ever run by a woman, Kathrine Switzer and Lorraine Moller are women's marathoning legends.  Lorraine's book is definitely a great read!  Wouldn't you agree, Nobby?

If you are looking for running books, Once a Runner by Parker is a good compelling exciting story, although its horribly written. Parker can't write dialogue, so he just doesn't. There are countless scenes that play out like this:

Quentin: "Bruce, there's something important I need to tell you. I . . . I . . ."
Bruce: "Its okay Quentin. Don't say it. I know."

If you can get past those types of exchanges, the book is good. The last few chapters are great, especially when Quentin walks around the track the night before the big race. It gives great insight into the mind of an elite runner.

Other good books -- The Inner Game of Tennis. Although its about tennis, there is a lot of good stuff there about the mental side of any endeavor. Skip chapter five, since it is specific to the backhand. 

Anyway, I see in your original post you were looking for websites, but I hope these books are helpful too.  

 

 

Thanks for the shout out! 

 

Just updated it, and RA guru Nobby-san figures in the most recent post.

Jeff - just want to say that I really enjoy reading your thought provoking blog. For some reason though, I can't post a comment because the "word verfication" block doesn't work. I've tried it many times. This will sound silly, but I sometimes see myself in what you write.  Since I'm not as articulate as you, it's great to see it expanded on like you do.  I often share the link with others. Thanks for posting it.

Here's a list of the oldest marathons in US:

http://www.joehenderson.com/email/389.html

Some didn't have much history that I could follow. Others have a bunch. Pike's Peak and Equinox are two of the better documented races.

Pike's Peak started in 1956, but I didn't see any women finishers until 1980 in their results.

Western Hemisphere was established in 1948. "It welcomed women in the early 1960s."

http://www.joehenderson.com/archive/407.html

which is supported by results from 1963, although no other women until 1970.

http://www.arrs.net/HP_WHmMa.htm l

Although this active.com article

http://tinyurl.com/25wbsdj

provides a little more history, but seems off in some details (or used lots of qualifiers to make it true).

Here's some history of the Olympic Marathon, referencing some of Purdey's comments:

http://www.marathonguide.com/history/olympicmarathons/chapter25.cfm

JFK50 started in 1963, but I didn't see any women in their results until 1968. The initial races might have been military oriented in response to JFK's 50-mile challenge. But it's not clear whether women just didn't compete yet or whether they were not allowed.

.

 

Pike's Peak started in 1956, but I didn't see any women finishers until 1980 in their results.

 

 

Arlene Pieper finished the marathon in 1959, but a woman didn't do the race again until 1971. 

Google Dr. George Sheehan. There is a website devoted to him. He wrote for Runners World for many years and many consider him one of the best running writer / philosopher ever.

+1 

I think I have all his books on my shelf - discovered him when I started running and loved reading his stuff.

Check him out.