LOL
So I'm going to be the first on this forsaken website to do it? Okay. Here it goes.
I can't say I'm Alexi Pappas' biggest fan going into this. I'm not trying to troll here. And I am also not going to go into specifics as to why, but I think it's important to start there.
With that being said I wanted to read this book because there is such scant literature for and about women who run.
So I actually liked this book. She has a story to tell and does a lot of self exploration that is not self aggrandizing. Stories about what it felt like to be raised by a single dad and not having a mother were the pieces that touched me but I also appreciated her honesty about college life and depression.
If you are not a fan of Alexi, this book WILL grate on you at times, just a warning. For example, she tells a story about how the athletics administration at her private high school banned her from participating in two varsity sports at the same time. She noted that if this were to happen today it would be a 'viral moment' of injustice. I found that melodramatic and I also disagreed that she faced any sort of serious discrimination. I went to public high school and no one did two varsity sports at the same time. She noted that kids shouldn't be encouraged to specialize, which I get and it's certainly helpful for elite athletes not to specialize that young, but most kids aren't elite. Sports teach other lessons like commitment and dedication. It wouldn't be fair in my opinion if she was allowed to bounce from one team to another while other kids on both teams with less talent had to dedicate themselves completely to one sport.
So trying really hard to be fair and not troll. I'm glad she wrote the book and it was very insightful overall.
Bravey Review (Alexi Pappas Book)
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Does the book include pics?
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Thanks for the review. I generally read any running book that I come across, but I have to admit that I have been on the fence on this one. I'm not an Alexi hater by any means (unlike so many basement-dwelling misogynists on this site), but even for me Alexi can be a bit cringey at times. Your use of "melodramatic" seems a good fit for her. Maybe I'll pick it up after all.
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Thanks.
Here's an interview with her about the book:
https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/956506222/olympic-runner-alexi-pappas-shares-her-struggle-in-a-new-memoir -
I've always been an AP fan. Might pick up a copy and go full #BraveyNation
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This book is trash. Alexi has always been out of touch. She is the definition of privilege but still whines and complains about everything. For example she switched her citizenship to Greece to compete in the Olympics because she had ZERO chance of making Team USA.
This book is one last attempt at staying relevant because she hasn't run a fast time in 4+ years. Her last race was a 2:34 marathon. -
Hi, Alexi!
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avoid wrote:
For example, she tells a story about how the athletics administration at her private high school banned her from participating in two varsity sports at the same time. She noted that if this were to happen today it would be a 'viral moment' of injustice. .
I thought that was just normal at all schools -
avoid wrote:
LOL
So I'm going to be the first on this forsaken website to do it? Okay. Here it goes.
I can't say I'm Alexi Pappas' biggest fan going into this. I'm not trying to troll here. And I am also not going to go into specifics as to why, but I think it's important to start there.
With that being said I wanted to read this book because there is such scant literature for and about women who run.
So I actually liked this book. She has a story to tell and does a lot of self exploration that is not self aggrandizing. Stories about what it felt like to be raised by a single dad and not having a mother were the pieces that touched me but I also appreciated her honesty about college life and depression.
If you are not a fan of Alexi, this book WILL grate on you at times, just a warning. For example, she tells a story about how the athletics administration at her private high school banned her from participating in two varsity sports at the same time. She noted that if this were to happen today it would be a 'viral moment' of injustice. I found that melodramatic and I also disagreed that she faced any sort of serious discrimination. I went to public high school and no one did two varsity sports at the same time. She noted that kids shouldn't be encouraged to specialize, which I get and it's certainly helpful for elite athletes not to specialize that young, but most kids aren't elite. Sports teach other lessons like commitment and dedication. It wouldn't be fair in my opinion if she was allowed to bounce from one team to another while other kids on both teams with less talent had to dedicate themselves completely to one sport.
So trying really hard to be fair and not troll. I'm glad she wrote the book and it was very insightful overall.
Seems weird to me that she would make a big deal about not being allowed to participate in 2 varsity sports at the same time. Seems like nothing more than to do the currently popular virtue signaling and trying to claim she was discriminated against. That was never allowed when I was in HS. It generally not possible to be at all practices and events for 2 teams. The only time I've seen this allowed is in sports like swimming, where kids are allowed to compete for a club team and varsity team at the same time. However, I don't know how common this is either. -
Never support traitorous overly pretentious and narcissistic Greek bravey goddesses.
TMADDDHASFNE You have been banned (Ban expires: Jan 15, 2021 08:38pm UTC -
The high school 2 sports story reminded me of the Lance Autobiography where he recounts his school not letting him graduate because he missed six weeks to go on a cycling trip in Russia. Like Alexi, Lance bemoaned this and claimed he might have received special treatment if he were a 'football player' instead. But come on. He missed six weeks! Rules are rules.
Alexi ultimately wanted a bit of special treatment in high school. But if everyone was afforded the same treatment she wanted for herself, things would fall apart. If everyone running XC did two sports, or skipped practice three days a week to partake in other activities, then there wouldn't be a cohesive team. In her senior year, she wanted to skip practice to help put up decorations for spirit week. But what if everyone helping her to put up decorations, skipped that activity for other clubs?
