Chris Lear Speaks from an Undisclosed Location

wejo wrote:

http://www.letsrun.com/2012/lear-0202.php

...And they may learn that this melting pot of folks on the team may become like kin should - through shared effort and sacrifice - they commit to chasing some big goals.

Are there some f-bombs along the way? You bet. Try training like those men trained, and you'll find it's not all unicorns, butterflies and cotton candy."

I think he nailed it on the head. I can't elaborate more without making myself look stupid, but you know what? I can dig it

Does Lear still write? It has been years since Sub 4:00 came out but I have not heard of him publishing anything else.

Undisclosed location? Wow! He's another Salman Rushdie with the entire soccer mom world calling for a fatwā and many threatening to mow him down with suicide SUVs! This IS exciting!

I read the book several years ago, and regard it as one of the best running books I've read. I was a bit shocked by the number of expletives in the table of contents. Still, I have to say that the young men in the book were bright, articulate collegians. I strongly disagree with the idea on banning books, but let's look at this realistically.

This book is NOT being banned. The subject at hand is whether it is a book that is appropriate for a middle school library. My instinct is that it is not. There are a number of topics in there that require a level of maturity that many middle school kids do not have. (I am purposely leaving out a detail because I do not want to spoil the read for anyone.) It is a wonderful book and I'd have no issue with my thirteen year-old son reading it.

It is a book that belongs in public libraries and in high school libraries, but I would question if a middle school library is the right venue for it. It is a frank portrayal of what it's like for top-level collegians to train and race. Chris Lear did an excellent job of capturing this. I found Running with the Buffaloes to be very inspiring, and I feel that it is a superb resource for young athletes.

If the woman wants it removed from the middle school library, I can't argue. There is too much stuff that is age-inappropriate that is seen by today's youth. I feel that this is really a non-issue. The book likely violates local standards of propriety for kids that age. (Yes, I'm sure the kids have all heard and likely said every one of those words.) In a nutshell, my thoughts are "remove the book from the middle school library and, if possible give it to the high school or local public library." This is not a case of banning a book, it is a case of deciding if the book is age appropriate, and on that point, I have my doubts.

I agree with this all the way. When i was in middle school, kids would constantly ridicule me and others for running. I had other runners in my family so i knew how sweet running successes could be. Others might give it up because of the teasing.. I say get the book back in that school, so kids can see how rewarding their hard work can be.

Sweet Nell Fenwick wrote:

Undisclosed location? Wow! He's another Salman Rushdie with the entire soccer mom world calling for a fatwā and many threatening to mow him down with suicide SUVs! This IS exciting!

I commend you on your correct spelling of 'fatwā' and the funny parallel to Salman Rushdie, good sir. I myself searched for a possible soccer-mom-ish spelling of jihad and came up short.

I was raised in the "bible belt," and had thoroughly mastered the art of swearing by the fifth or sixth grade. There's not one book on the face of the earth that would have swayed me one way or the other on that subject by middle school because I had already taken my behavioral cues from my friends.

For what it's worth, my daughter is in middle school and I have recommended she read RWTB. It wouldn't be the first profanity she has ever been exposed to... we crossed that threshold long ago while driving. She gets good grades, I have never heard her swear although I can't imagine she doesn't at all, and she is well received by peers and adults. Ironically, I will not let her on letsrun.

orbitboy wrote:

I was raised in the "bible belt," and had thoroughly mastered the art of swearing by the fifth or sixth grade. There's not one book on the face of the earth that would have swayed me one way or the other on that subject by middle school because I had already taken my behavioral cues from my friends.

Go check out the other thread on this subject. There are a couple people who think they can "shelter" their children with their superior parenting skills from the bad influences of which you speak.

Look, I understand the concerns about the language in middle school.

But this book deserves to be read by middle schoolers, especially boys, who are drifting in school and in life in general at an alarming rate (I have two wonderful daughters and embrace the possibilities before them, but that doesn't help our generally floundering boys). The book, just as Lear describes, gives young people a glimpse into what hard work and participating in an endeavor that is a great form of self expression can do for young men. At no point is the book salacious or designed to shock. It tells a real story, complete with tragedy, triumph, and lots of hard work. The last thing you want to do is deny middle school boys this book, especially in 2012.

My comments about boys is not reflective of some made up social crisis. I am alarmed at how many men in their 20's and 30's live with their parents, placing no value on the spiritual benefits of independence. Way too many are stuck in the video game culture. Our high school country coach has had a few state championship teams. He is a great coach. But more importantly, he takes kids, some without fathers in their lives, and gives them focus and makes them be real men - meaning they are mentally tough and disciplined. Look into the eyes of many the mothers on this team at the cross country meets, and you will see a sense of relief like no other. They know the passion in which they pursued cross country and track molded their guys to be independent and tough. Lear's book speaks exactly to this kind of experience. Any principal worth their salt would stand up to complaining mothers (and note here the complainant is a mother, likely with scarce understanding of what boys really need).

I greatly enjoy the book, and if I had middle school aged kids, would probably let them read the book. But it's not appropriate for a middle school library for reasons stated previously.

It could be edited to be made appropriate for middle school, or perhaps a high school team could be profiled and written for the middle school setting. Anyone know of any good running books that are more appropriate for middle school libraries?

I'm imagining the "undisclosed location" as a crude, dirt floor bunker somewhere near Flagstaff. Lear, Ponce and a handful of broken Wall Streeters are hunched around a kerosene lantern playing poker. George is accused of cheating, but throws a chest thrusting fit, so the others back down to keep the game going. Marty is distracted by his wife's constant text messages demanding to know where he is, then insisting that he's lying when he says he's with "the guys". Jimmy is in the corner on the phone...breathing hard.

marathondude wrote:

It could be edited to be made appropriate for middle school,

Sure. Maybe you and your church can volunteer to edit other stuff too?

You guys making a big deal about this are really ridiculous.

Most kids have seen some porn one way or another by middle school, but it wouldn't be ok to put a big nude statue on the playground.

Kids can get the book from the public library or the bookstore if their parents are ok with it. It's not up to a school to decide how much profanity an 11 year old should be exposed to during school hours.

The point is not that swearing is a terrible sin. It's that kids are totally impressionable and need to be taught what is appropriate and when. Telling kids they can't say "f*ck" in the library but then handing them a book that is full of that language is not so easy to comprehend for a very young mind.

1234 wrote:

Most kids have seen some porn one way or another by middle school, but it wouldn't be ok to put a big nude statue on the playground.

Kids can get the book from the public library or the bookstore if their parents are ok with it. It's not up to a school to decide how much profanity an 11 year old should be exposed to during school hours.

The point is not that swearing is a terrible sin. It's that kids are totally impressionable and need to be taught what is appropriate and when. Telling kids they can't say "f*ck" in the library but then handing them a book that is full of that language is not so easy to comprehend for a very young mind.

Exactly...I'm stunned by the number of posters who don't understand this concept.

Parents/guardians are free to expose THEIR OWN children to any content they see as appropriate.

Public schools are charged with providing appropriate literary selections for children who they are not the parents of, but are responsible for for a portion of the day. Schools are catering to a wide range of parent beliefs, and therefore seek a reasonable middle ground in their library content.

Parents who would like to expand their child's literary exposure beyond what the school provides are free to do so.

wow wow wrote:

Our high school country coach has had a few state championship teams. He is a great coach. But more importantly, he takes kids, some without fathers in their lives, and gives them focus and makes them be real men - meaning they are mentally tough and disciplined. Look into the eyes of many the mothers on this team at the cross country meets, and you will see a sense of relief like no other. .

well written and felt - I actually teared up a little. (not sarcastic)

thank you.

I have to say, I bought and own the book but never liked it and put it down after reading 100 pages. I think the amount of profane language takes away from what is a great story. I am sure Lear feels he was trying to show reality. But the profanity to me makes it boring and tedious to read. The point of that season isn't how many F words the Buffaloes used. It was how hard they worked to accomplish a tremendous goal. Everyone knows how College boys speak to each other on teams. Running with the Buffaloes beats you over the head with it. I thought it was a fairly juvenile report of a great season. But does not belong up there with some of Lears other work -- Sub Four was much better -- nor with much of the other inspiring running writing. I guess I just never got it.

That being said. Middle Schoolers can read it. I work at a school. That's how they talk all the time.

Do you really think any principals know or care what the book is about? No, they don't run, and they don't read RWTB. I loved the book, and a middle school budding prodigy might love the book as well, but to insinuate that taking it out of a school library is a sin against humanity is making a mountain out of a molehill. Its not a big deal.

Boring Writing wrote:

That being said. Middle Schoolers can read it. I work at a school. That's how they talk all the time.

once again, colossally missing the point.