I just got 14 minutes and the first couple pages are kinda slow. keeps talking about some 14 minute world record for death. does it get better or not?
I just got 14 minutes and the first couple pages are kinda slow. keeps talking about some 14 minute world record for death. does it get better or not?
I'm not done, but it gets better. He explains his family, his running, depression, coaching, etc. But it keeps going back to that heart attack episode throughout, kinda to tie everything together and how a lot of things in his life led up to that point. If you've read Duel in the Sun, it has a lot of the same stuff from the "meat" of his career, but it gives a lot more family background and current stuff.
I really enjoyed the book, especially since I was in college at the same time as Pre and closely followed the Oregon program. I remembered much of what Salazar talkes about in the book so it was very interesting to me. Maybe a younger person wouldn't get as much out of it.
imim wrote:
I really enjoyed the book, especially since I was in college at the same time as Pre and closely followed the Oregon program. I remembered much of what Salazar talkes about in the book so it was very interesting to me. Maybe a younger person wouldn't get as much out of it.
Likewise as an age group peer of AlSal and runners of that era it was fun to read and remember, plus there were a lot of background things that explained who he is. Toward the end he gets a little out there at times, and I haven't finished the last two chapters in two months even though I read everything else within a few days.
I found it pretty heavy. The book is really centered around Salazar's two near death experiences (his heart attack, and his heat stroke at Falmouth), because of this it talks a lot about death, depression, and hardship. While I didn't hate it, I just didn't expect it to be quite so dark.
Stick with eharmony.com wrote:
It was a stupid book by an obvious drug cheater.
This troll couldn't read a whole book if he tried, it was pretty solid actually.
The book does have a lot about AS's personal trials and tribulations, helps me understand him more.
But the best thing about this book are the race descriptions from back in the day, neat to hear about a race that I saw from the stands or on tv from the front runner. B+
..... a C.
I agree there was a little personal insight but I didn’t find the book all that interesting. I know John Brant is a respected writer but I didn’t enjoy this or Duel in the Sun all that much. Duel was a better read but neither book was worth the money I spent on them
It's excellent.
I said it's a good airplane or beach book. For me, someone that grew up watching him run, it provided great insight to his training, his back ground and his drive.
Did I really care about his religious stuff? No. BUT if you saw this guy's career take the sudden plunge that it did, you see why he had to turn to something- anything, just glad it was religion instead of something more destructive like alcohol or drugs.
I'd give it a solid B. (other running books that are better IMHO: RWTB-A, Men of Oregon- A)
Great book! Read it cover to cover the same day it came in the afternoon mail!
throwback wrote:
I just got 14 minutes and the first couple pages are kinda slow. keeps talking about some 14 minute world record for death. does it get better or not?
About the title...
14:xx = fastest 5000 Salazar has coached a non-Rupp athlete to?
(Runs by his recruits with already-faster sub-14s (e.g. Webb) don't count.)