Once a Runner is the legendary running novel by John L Parker and a must read for runners. First published in 1978 Parker sold it out of the back of his car at races from which it gained a cult following and critical praise . It was just republished this year so I grabbed a copy and was not disappointed. Once a runner is an enjoyable bit of fiction and a motivating read for anyone interested in running. It was pretty cool to get a glimpse into the psyche of the 70s running scene as Parker himself was an accomplished runner and sprinkles his book with real world characters, especially those from the hardcore the South Florida running community.
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann recounts the tale of Percy Fawcett, the renowned explorer who went missing in 1925 while searching for the mythical city of El Dorado. Percy Fawcett is an interesting character and really the last of a dying bread of old school explorers (Apparently Indiana Jones was inspired by Fawcett so he is Ok in my book). The book describes Fawcett’s legendary ability to survive in the jungle and his dogged determination to explore the Amazon while also recounting the many failed attempts over the last century to discover what actually happened to Fawcett and his two companions. Grann provides a great deal of insight into Fawcett, as he gained access to private family documents, as well as an interesting bit of background into the Amazon. Grann keeps the story moving and you constantly find yourself amazed that Fawcett survived as many expeditions as he did. A great story of exploration and mystery that leaves you thinking that there is still more out there to discover.
Born To Run by Christopher McDougall is one part anthropological study of the Taraumara of Mexico, one part fitness self-help manual, one part human anatomy lesson all tied together by the crazy characters and culture of extreme endurance running. I enjoyed this book much more than I anticipated as McDougall keeps the story moving by focusing on the interesting array of characters he meets while trying to unlock the mystery of pain free running. Yes, I know it sound like an incredibly lame premise for a book but it really becomes quite an interesting story of self-discovery and the limits of human endurance while keeping a sense of humour and never getting bogged down with spiritual, soul searching rhetoric.
I have now switched to some fiction and have started Elephant Song by Wilbur Smith. My wife says it is was one her favourite novels so it seems like a good beach book.
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