Anyone out there NOT like Once A Runner?

I've never read it.

why bother to comment if you never read the book - this really makes a lot of sense.

To quote many other running readers - the best book (fiction) about running ever - period. any (purported) writer / runner who criticizes OAR must only wish they could ever write such a book - for those of have not read it

I would at least suggest chapter 32 "The interval workout" and chapter 17 "breaking down".

I didn't care for it and a few of my HS seniors read it and didn't like it. Maybe its dated.

I saw a review which compared Once A Runner to a newer book - Juggernauts -The Making of a Runner and a Team in the First American Running Boom. Anybody read that?

I agree PAIN by 28:04 man Dan Middleman, is a very good novel!

imim wrote:

Pain is a much better read.

I didn't like it very much. I got about half way through and just couldn't read anymore. Way too dramatic. The author described Quentin Cassidy as if he were some mythical god. It read like a desperate attempt at shaking the stereotype that distance runners are nerdy and awkward. I would have preferred a book about a runner who was basically a socially retarded nerd that rose above his dorkdom to do something remarkable. At least that book would have been more real and easy to relate to. Runners are arrogant enough as it is. No need to give them this gladiator of a character to further their delusion that they are bad asses because they can run a little faster than other people. There is such a thing as taking yourself too seriously.

I see you are also waiting for "Sub 4: The Eddy Lee story"

i kinda like running wrote:

I didn't like it very much. I got about half way through and just couldn't read anymore. Way too dramatic. The author described Quentin Cassidy as if he were some mythical god. It read like a desperate attempt at shaking the stereotype that distance runners are nerdy and awkward. I would have preferred a book about a runner who was basically a socially retarded nerd that rose above his dorkdom to do something remarkable. At least that book would have been more real and easy to relate to. Runners are arrogant enough as it is. No need to give them this gladiator of a character to further their delusion that they are bad asses because they can run a little faster than other people. There is such a thing as taking yourself too seriously.

the 1970's is considered the "running boom" Mary Decker was a pretty big star back then too. I just feel the novel is sexist, if youre not a women you probably dont understand. I'll agree it is out dated and i'll add that i hated the cheerleader/dependant/woman on the side charactor his gf played.

Actually, yeah. I don't know if Eddy Lee is a "socially retarded nerd", but his story was more enjoyable than Quentin Cassidy's and I would read that book if it was well written.

my guess is that the book will have much different impression if read prior to the internet boom or after, and if growing up in a smaller town or a big city.

having grown up in a smaller town, lived in the 70's, 80's and 90's and been a competitive runner I liked a lot of it. then again I also had a knack for going the extra mile in training and driving to the mountains for runs and even going camping just to get great hard spiritual runs in.

i don't think an 20 Y.O. cityboy in todays era would get as much out of it with all the stories and video content available at any moment online.

If pure human excrement could be turned into a book the result would be Once a Runner.

Man, people love to trash this book on here. I really enjoyed reading it. I thought it was awesome when I read it as a college sophomore. All my teammates that read it really liked it too. I think all college level runners would at least enjoy it. It was motivating to me. Someone criticized the romanticizing of running it does. I enjoyed reading a romanticized running tale. Most writing on running is too dry anyway.

I think if I had read it when I was in HS or even early in college I might have LOVED it.

Instead I was in my 30's.

For some reason when I read it I kept thinking about that old 70's era tv movie "Breaking Away". It's about the Little 500 bike race.

ronner wrote:

Man, people love to trash this book on here. I really enjoyed reading it. I thought it was awesome when I read it as a college sophomore. All my teammates that read it really liked it too. I think all college level runners would at least enjoy it. It was motivating to me. Someone criticized the romanticizing of running it does. I enjoyed reading a romanticized running tale. Most writing on running is too dry anyway.

I don't mind a little romanticism. But the author of OAR takes it to an eye-roll inducing level at almost every turn. It's like the Twilight of running books.

Yeah, the same people who 'hate Pre'. Most are bitter youngsters that are sorry they missed the golden age of distance running in the US and are sick of hearing about it from us old guys.

stanslo wrote:

I hated the book. being female, I hated how Quinton's GF was a big whinny bitch who didnt want him to run- didnt understand running. Total opposite from me so i felt that aspect of the book was sexist.

It wasn't sexist. She tried to understand Quenton, but in the end they had different priorities.

"Twilight of running books"- EXACTLY.

best summary i've seen so far.

Following the Flame. Far superior. Less poetic, better tale.

I liked it. But I like silly happy stories like that. I don't see it as a serious piece of literature, but a fun piece of junk writing that can be pretty inspiring. It's like watching a really crappy silly movie that you can't help but love. Kinda like a chick flick.