Once a Runner

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Summary: An amazing, motivational novel!
Review: As a former cross country and track runner, I deeply related to and appreciated this book. Quentin Cassidy is the classic runner, torn between his running life and his social life. It is great to read about Cassidy's running successes and failures. For serious and recreational runners alike, this book will offer motivation and inspiration, even after the tenth read! I have passed this book around to most of my running friends,and all of them have enjoyed it as much as I did!

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Summary: A Runner's Required Reading
Review: Once a Runner is the best book about running I have ever read. It has all the elements of an excellent novel-a good plot, well-developed characters, excellent writing-but for runners it will seem much more like a biography of one of their own. Quenton, the hero of the story, and his fellow runners are all intense, focused, quirky, unique people who any runner can easily recognize and relate to from their own lives. These characters struggle to endure the "Trial of Miles" necessary to compete on the top level and throughout the book wonder if and why this sacrifice is worth it. These are questions all athletes ask themselves from time to time, and through Quenton, John L. Parker does an excellent job of explaining the answers he has found. The book draws you in immediately and, just as a good race does, gets more exciting as it moves along so that I never wanted to put it down. This is a very inspirational book, an excellent read, and reminded me why running is such an amazing sport. Once a Runner is a must-read for any serious runner and would be a wonderful story for anyone who either wants to understand why people run or may need a little motivation to start doing so themselves.

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Summary: By Far the Best
Review: This book is by far one of the greatest books I have ever read. I can't stop putting it down. As soon as I finish it I pick it right back up and start reading it again. It was helped me get through some of the tough times running has brought on me and I am sure it will help me get through many more. I recommend this book to runners and non-runners alike. It has a little something for everyone and I am sure it will capture the heart of anyone that picks is up. Kudos to you,John L. Parker Jr.

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Summary: The Greatest Book about Running of All Time
Review: It's a comfort sleeping at night knowing that such a book that describes the beauty and magic of running exits in this world. Few writers can write about running. John L. Parker has mastered it. The story of Quenton Cassidy rings so true, especially for those who raced the mile and dared to reach for the 4 minute mile. However, this book isn't just for the elite - it's for anyone who loves the sport of running. Additionaly, it's a perfect read for someone who just doesn't understand your love of running. I've lent it girlfriends who could never grasp my love of the sport. After reading Once a Runner, they got it.

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Summary: run competitively? read this
Review: I read this book when it was first published and I was in high school. As I recall, when I finished it the first thing I did was read it again because I didn't want the story to end. After I finished it that time, I probably read it again as soon as possible. I also recall telling someone one summer that I had read this book 15 times. I wasn't exaggerating, and since then I may have read it another 15 times. Is it great literature? No, but not many books will affect you as this one does. I see some people criticizing it, and I recall that it got some bad reviews in running magazines when it first came out.... But whether any non-runners will ever enjoy it is entirely beside the point. The point is that it does indeed describe running in all its aspects for those who compete, especially those who compete on a team. In some ways its like a runner's fantasy, but then fantasizing is part of being a runner, fantasizing about being devoted entirely to the sport and competing on the highest levels. I get chills (I'm not kidding) just remembering the descriptions of the book's climactic race, because while it is a fantasy, it's entirely believable; everything in it is possible. Those of you in high school should read this book immediately. My teammates and I drew on this book over and over again for inspiration, and I have no doubt that you will too.

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Summary: Cult classic
Review: This is the best running book I have ever read in my short running career (2 years). I can relate to almost everything this book talks about in the everyday life of a runner, making this truly a CULT classic. Note that I did not say this book is a classic because it is strictly something that serious runners would enjoy, those who are mostly into War and Peace and such other novels would not enjoy this book, however that is just an assumption. If you are the serious running-type like myself, then I suggest you run to your nearest bookstore and buy a copy of "Once a Runner."

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Summary: Once A Runner
Review: I am only a Sophmore in High School, and already I have read the cult running classic Once a Runner 7 times. This book not only tells about the difficult physical training, it also explores more of the mental side of running. When in need of motivation before a run, I will alway pick it up and read just a few pages, and I am out the door in minutes. A definate must read for runners of all abilities.

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Summary: cassidy
Review: This is by far the greatest running book ever written, John L. Parker has hit ever aspect or running right on the head. From the pain of a hard mile to the demons that make us run.

Buy this book

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Summary: tartan dust
Review: this book was extremely profound. i reread it several times, not including the millions of times i reread the last chapter. this book is what every distance runner feels about his or her own accomplishments, told in a very glamorous way. this book rocks!!

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Summary: a book every runner has to read
Review: I stoped running for over a year because of an serious back injury (from track)but then I came to the US as an exchange student and decided to go out for track again. My season didn't went very well, my times were way of the my PRs from home and i struggeled with injuries and asthma. in the middle of the season one guy from my distance team had the book in the bus to a meet and I started reading and took it home to finish....( I'm not a miler but still practiced with the distance team)This day, even I hadn't finished it yet, I ran my PR for this season and never felt better in a race. It didn't matter to me anymore if I would place or what my time would be. I just felt proud to be there and to do what I loved to do for many years but lately I didn't mean anything to me anymore. I ran for myself and not for the people watching.It motivated me so much that I finished the season although I was close to quit a lot of times.I don't know if I can ever run track competitive again but I'll always keep running. Every time I don't want to put on my shoes and go for my daily run I remember Quentin and his intervale workouts and that we have to work hard to get somewhere in life. Why not starting with something easy like actually getting up early and finishing the morning workout?.....for me this book changed my life...