26.2-31.3 for the first quarter mile in 57.5. Then 1:57, 2:55, 3:52.5. Seems okay except nobody jogs the second 220 of a mile that easily then finds it in them to get back on sub-4 pace. And Parker is writing about surges throughout the race but the pace barely varies after the first lap.
sometimes tactics or wind slows down the second 220 of a race
If Cassidy’s main antagonist at the “Southeastern Relays”, that day, John Walton, was truly based on John Walker, what else was he going to do? Walton didn’t care how many sub 60 440’s Cassidy could run. He was the first human to run sub 3:50. He would have been happy to run 4:03, pick up his $150 check, and move on. Going out under :27 set the plot immediately. Got Johnny’s attention and the rest is history.
I have said it 1000 times the book is total crap and overhyped.
You gotta remember John Walton is the best miler in the world and Cassidy we see later ends up with Olympic silver. These guys were perfectly capable of jumping back on sub-4 pace after a 31.
Best part of that book is when they're in the locker room and they find out Walton's coming to the race. Rough exchange is:
Random teammate: "aw, he puts his shorts on one leg at a time same as everyone"
Denton: "right, except he pulls his shorts on over legs that can run 3:49"
cottontail wrote:
Best part of that book is when they're in the locker room and they find out Walton's coming to the race. Rough exchange is:
Random teammate: "aw, he puts his shorts on one leg at a time same as everyone"
Denton: "right, except he pulls his shorts on over legs that can run 3:49"
I wish I could put shorts over the 26:17 and 12:37 legs
Banana Bread wrote:
cottontail wrote:
Best part of that book is when they're in the locker room and they find out Walton's coming to the race. Rough exchange is:
Random teammate: "aw, he puts his shorts on one leg at a time same as everyone"
Denton: "right, except he pulls his shorts on over legs that can run 3:49"
I wish I could put shorts over the 26:17 and 12:37 legs
Don't you mean pull shorts off the 26:17 and 12:37 legs.
obsessed wrote:
Banana Bread wrote:
I wish I could put shorts over the 26:17 and 12:37 legs
Don't you mean pull shorts off the 26:17 and 12:37 legs.
Lol +1
Breaking news: the fictional book is fictional. 0/10
I hate when fictional doesn't meet my narrow idea of reality.
The whole book doesn't make sense. It's poorly written and has a hackneyed plot.
Seppo Kaitenen wrote:
26.2-31.3 for the first quarter mile in 57.5. Then 1:57, 2:55, 3:52.5. Seems okay except nobody jogs the second 220 of a mile that easily then finds it in them to get back on sub-4 pace. And Parker is writing about surges throughout the race but the pace barely varies after the first lap.
If you're trying to break 4 and you hit the 200 in 26.2, you better slow down. It would be suicidal not to.
57.5> 54.5 in this situation.
Yes, the plot about a troubled college long distance runner beating the current world record holder in a mile footrace has been done to death. I wish there weren't so many books with that plot.
texasux wrote:
The whole book doesn't make sense. It's poorly written and has a hackneyed plot.
Blasphemy!!!!
Jenapharm wrote:
I have said it 1000 times the book is total crap and overhyped.
The book is awful. Why it is revered as some sort of young runner's bible is beyond me.
Hey now, I critique the splits and some of the plot and wasted time on Dick Doobey, but I still consider it The Bible. No other book has ever moved me to tears.
Well actually - the race was more of an homage to Jim Ryun taking down kiwi Peter Snell ... the splits are almost exact to their times. By the way Ryun and Snell were at 3 events together (not just 1)... Also, about the splits look at Marty Liquori (friend of parker) vs. Jim Ryun 2:03 and 1:51 splits...
Also as for the book - while it won't set the literary world on fire... It was mostly a true account of JP Jr.'s college experience including the being banned and the whole episode with the haircut rules and protests...
https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1445733/parker-v-graves/
*while of course the character of John Walton is clearly meant to be a reflection of John Walker... And, the idea of Cassidy is parker's mirror of his college life...
The outcome of the race is played out like the Jim Ryun meets olympic great Peter Snell which happened in the mid 1960s. Parker was at Florida in the late 60's and graduated in 1970. John Walton aka John Walker hadn't won an olympic medal until 1976 and actually ran 3:49.4 in 1975.
So, I meant the idea of a race where a great champion from New Zealand is taken down by a young upstart American - that's the homage to Ryun beating the great Snell at smaller college invite as part of his tour... The Novel's climactic race is a fictional composite of ideas meant to inspire runners...
SpeedQuest wrote:
Well actually - the race was more of an homage to Jim Ryun taking down kiwi Peter Snell ... the splits are almost exact to their times. By the way Ryun and Snell were at 3 events together (not just 1)... Also, about the splits look at Marty Liquori (friend of parker) vs. Jim Ryun 2:03 and 1:51 splits...
Also as for the book - while it won't set the literary world on fire... It was mostly a true account of JP Jr.'s college experience including the being banned and the whole episode with the haircut rules and protests...
https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1445733/parker-v-graves/
Woah, that actually happened