Book Review – 26 Marathons

Book Review – 26 Marathons

by | Feb 9, 2021 | Book Review, Opinion

By Meb Keflezighi (With Scott Douglas)
Reviewed by Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

 When we talk about the top US marathoners in the United States during the first fifth of the 20th Century, the name of Meb Keflezighi automatically jumps to the forefront. If you don’t consider him at the top of the list, which you are entitled to, it seems difficult he won’t be on your Top-3 or Top-5. He is the only runner to ever win Boston, New York and earn an Olympic medal. And even though he only won 3 of his 26 career marathons (hence the name of the book), his personality, constant top-level performances and contagious smile, made him an icon on the world stage between 2002-2017.

26 Marathons


A good book, well written and worth the time and the money

In his latest book, Keflezighi goes into detail about each one his 26 marathons. How he trained, what were his life challenges at the time, how he performed and the sports and life lessons he took from each one of them. He enjoys and doesn’t shy away from the glory of his successes, yet at the same time makes himself vulnerable by taking us through his failures and how to deal with them when you are expected to perform at a certain level and you just can’t.

This is a short book, about 250 pages, and a very pleasant read. Succinct chapters allow you to soak in a marathon or two in each sitting, without being overwhelmed by excessive details.

At times it becomes difficult to relate to Meb’s running experiences because 99.9% of runners will never need to ponder if we are ready to respond to Eliud Kipchoge’s surge in the Olympics or how to prepare for what may come to us in the last 10K of the New York City Marathon when you enter First Avenue as part of the leading pack. But that doesn’t matter. We read books about great baseball or football players though we will never be on the field with them at the next World Series or Super Bowl. Meb’s tales from the front are well told and through his words, he does bring us with him to that place we will only see when we are watching a race on TV.

The book is geared towards life lessons on planning, patience, adjustment to goals, change of expectations made on the fly and many other subjects that mean something to us when they come from first-hand experiences from a world-class athlete who has been there not one, but many times.

A leitmotif for Meb’s career was his spouse’s support. He doesn’t hide that his wife, Yordanos, was the family’s backbone that permitted him to achieve his goals. As runners, we all need the support of our wives, husbands or significant-others to achieve what we are looking for, and the Keflezighis show us how.

26 Marathons

Only athlete ever to win Boston, New York and an Olympic medal

I loved Meb’s conclusion about his career as a marathoner. We may not be able to relate to some of his tales from the leading pack, but everyone who has completed multiple marathons, somehow will see himself/herself in this:

“I did twenty-six marathons over fifteen years, one for each mile of the race. I learned that the marathon can hate you or love you. It can make you go though misery or experience great joy. I learned that no matter what it happens, eventually you’ll look back and think, ‘That was a beautiful thing. I’m glad I did it.”

If you want to know more about Meb’s personal life, his childhood in Eritrea, move to the United States, life and career, “Run to Win” is your book. “26 marathons” is a good book, well written and worth the time and the money you will spend on it. But I do think it is important to understand what the book is and what it is not, before you tackle it, so you can be in the right frame of mind when you read it and thus, get the most out of it.

If anyone knows or has access to Meb, please thank him on my behalf for both books and for being an inspiration to the running community throughout his long career. His name is up there with Alberto Salazar, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, Ryan Hall, Clarence De Mar, etc. in the pantheon of great US runners of all time.

 

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20 Book Recommendations for Runners (Part 2)

20 Book Recommendations for Runners (Part 2)

by | Dec 8, 2020 | Book Review, Coaching, Personal

By Adolfo Salgueiro

As a compliment of last week’s post, today I conclude my list of 20 book recommendations for runners. If you haven’t read Part 1 of this blogpost, please click here to do so. This way you won’t miss half of this list.

 

Book recommendationsIt is important to note that this is a very person list and at no time I am claiming it to be a comprehensive. I  have not read everything there is to read about running and I am aware there are very important books, such as Kathrine Switzer’s Marathon Woman, or The Lore of Running, by Tim Noakes, which is still on my “to read” list.

But if you are looking to learn more about our sport, its history, how to get better, and its most relevant figures and events, this list could be a good tool to get you started.

My 11 through 20 recommendations are as follows:

11 – Ultramarathon Man, by Dean Karnazes – The classic book that launched Karnazes celebrity runner career. You will finish the book inspired to lace up and run 100 miles into the horizon.

12 – Duel in the Sun, by John Brant: A detailed recap of the phenomenal 1982 Boston Marathon, where Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley fought step-by-step until the final yard.

13 – My Marathon, by Frank Shorter: The inspirational autobiography of a running icon, how he became an Olympic champion and the inspiration for the first running boom.

14 – A Race Like No Other, by Liz Robins: A must read for anyone about to run the New York City Marathon or even if you already ran it. The best book on the subject.

15 – Marathon Man, by Bill Rodgers: An autobiography of one of the most influential runners in history. His triumphs, defeats, personal struggles and legacy, told in a first-person detailed account.

16 – 4:09:23, by Hal Higdon: a blow-by-blow account of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the perpetrators, the runners, the heroes, the scarring and redemption from a tragedy.

17 – What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami: A successful and world-renowned writer tells us about his relationship with running and how it has influenced his life.

18 – First Marathons, by Gail Waesche Kislevitz: A collection of accounts of runners facing the 26.2 monster for the very first time. Inspiring reading even if you are a veteran of the distance.

19 – The Maffetone Method, by Phil Maffetone: The quintessential book to understand the concept of running slow so you can run fast.

20 – Yoga for Runners, by Christine Felstead: I firmly believe in the benefits of yoga for all runners, thus, the title states everything else you need to know.

 
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20 Book Recommendations for Runners (Part 1)

20 Book Recommendations for Runners (Part 1)

by | Dec 1, 2020 | Book Review, Coaching

By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

We all run because we love it. If not, we would be doing something else. But there is always a secondary reason why we do so, which is usually as powerful as the aforementioned “because we love it”. It could be health, weight control, self-improvement, social interaction, test against yourself, getting away from a chaotic life, not murdering your boss, etc.

Book RecommendationsRunning is as simple as it gets: one foot in front of the other… Go! But in order to realize that secondary reason, an inquisitive and relentless mind should be always on the lookout for additional knowledge. Information that will allow for understanding of what is happening within the body, the story of those who came before us, the newest training techniques, the latest gear improvements, etc. Even if you have a coach to guide you through the process, it is always good to be prepared, to be inquisitive and ask the right questions. Problem solved: grab a book.

Through my years as an avid reader I have consumed scores of running books. I am aware I haven’t read everything and still have important books that are still in my “to read” pile.

I compiled a list of 20 running books that I have read, and, in no particular order, I recommend to my readers. Here are the first ten. The remaining 10 will be published next week. Click here to check them out.

1 – Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall: An indispensable read for anyone interested in understanding how the human body was built to run, told through superb storytelling.

2 – Kings of the Road, By Cameron Stracher: How the first running boom came to be after Frank Shorter’s Olympic gold medal in 1972 and the birth of the New York City Marathon as we know it.

3 – The Pedestriennes, by Harry Hall: Before the Boston Marathon and ultrarunning, long distance walking was the craze. This book captures the uniqueness of this story.

4 – Pre, by Tom Jordan: A basic biography of the amazing Steve Prefontaine and his short, yet intense life. Not the definitive biography but a good one for getting to know the man behind the legend.

5 – Run to Overcome, by Meb Keflezighi: Meb’s first autobiography guides you from his early life in Eritrea though his Olympic medal and other triumphs. It doesn’t include the latter portion of his career.

6 – My Life on the Run, Bart Yasso: An autobiography of one of the most influential runners of the last 50 years. Lots of cool and weird stories from a running icon.

7 – 26.2, by John Bryant: The story of the London 1908 Olympic Games, its protagonist and how the marathon distance was finally established.

8 – Rebound, by Carrie Jackson Cheadle & Cindy Kuzma: Eventually, most runners get injured. This book is an important read both before or during and injury.

9 – 14 Minutes, By Alberto Salazar: Regardless of what you may think of him after his suspension, his place in running history is undeniable and his story of life, death and life again is amazing.

10: The Science of Running, by Steve Magness: If you want to geek out and dig deep into the science of what happens inside your body when you train, this is the book for you.

 

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Book Review – Running in Literature

Book Review – Running in Literature

by | Oct 20, 2020 | Book Review, Opinion

Written by Roger Robinson
Reviewed by Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

As explained in detail in Born to Run, the 2011 masterpiece by Christopher McDougall, the human body was designed to run. Not for sport, not for pleasure but for survival of the species. So it can’t be a surprise when we find out that the concept of running has been a leitmotif of the written word since human beings started recording themselves for posterity.

Running in Literature

Roger Robinson

From the eldest classics in Greek literature through the publishing of Born to Run and beyond, we can taste the influence of our favorite sport in the daily life of all civilizations, all races, all social strata, in all continents and through every delimited period of humanity.

The sub-title of this book is “A Guide for Scholars, Readers, Joggers, and Dreamers”. It was published in 2003. The author is Roger Robinson, a former world-class runner for over 30 years. An essayist, critic, editor and academic who has held teaching positions at Victoria University in New Zealand. His writing as a literary critic has appeared in significant journals and anthologies and he is an avid sportswriter for magazines and book. He is also married to Kathrine Switzer.

In the early chapters, Robinson goes through Greek and Roman literature and how running was an important part of classics such as The Odyssey and The Iliad as well as how philosophers and writers like Plato and Pindar boarded the subject. And who can forget the classic Aesop fable of The Tortoise and the Hare? The author also spends an entire chapter on the running references in The Bible. Christian runners may be familiar with Paul’s references in 1 Corinthians 9, but there are many more, such as in 2 Samuel, Jeremiah, and Psalms.

I was amazed to learn that until Henry VI, by William Shakespeare, there was a 1500-year gap on mentions of running as a competitive sport in Literature. The last one was the Paul in 1 Corinthians reference.  But the developments in technology, such as the printing press and the streamlining of the processes to manufacture paper, made the written word affordable and widespread, so literature, including running literature, started its grown spurt towards what it is today.

Running in Literature

This is a jewel that any book-loving and/or history-loving runner should read

As the sport of pedestrianism developed during the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, we see the publishing of the first running book, in 1813. The author was Walter Thom. As titles of old books usually go, this one, with 32 words on it, is very comprehensive: “Pedestrianism, or an Account of the Performance of Celebrated Pedestrians During the Last and Present Century; With a Full Narrative of Captain Barclay’s Public and Private Matches and an Essay on Training”. Quite a mouthful.

As we approach our times, and especially the Post WWII years when the access to literature and affordability of books became common, and as the first and second running booms arrived, a wide array of novels, poems, magazines and books came to market, some with much success, enough to become cult classics. Later, as the running scene exploded, more and more runners wanted to delve into de minutiae of the sport, its history, its science and the insight only the highest performers could offer through their memoires, so non-fiction and history books started showing up on the shelves.

The author dedicates chapters to the best fiction and non-fiction running books, and offers a short, personal review on each one of his selections. These are good recommendations for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the history and/or literature of our sport.

This is a very comprehensive book that covers over 3000 years of literature, so it is full of references and a collection of rotating protagonists that makes it very dense. This is not a pejorative reference on the book, just a warning so you will take your time to read it and digest it properly. This way you can get the most enjoyment and benefit from your time with this jewel that any book-loving and/or history-loving runner should read.

 

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Book Review: Marathon Man

Book Review: Marathon Man

by | Aug 12, 2020 | Book Review

Book Authors: Bill Rodgers & Matthew Shepatin

Reviewed by: Coach Adolfo Salgueiro
 

Marathon ManIn the few years after Frank Shorter won the Olympic gold medal in the 1972 Olympic marathon, officially starting the running boom in the United States, there was no marathoner more famous or more accomplished than Bill Rodgers. A small town, easy going, aloof, simple man, who decided to quit the party, smoking and drinking scene to discover his gift for running and embraced it to the fullest. He won the Boston Marathon four times and is the only man with four victories in the New York City Marathon. He also was an Olympian in 1976.

 Rodgers was an above average runner during his high school years. Faster than whatever you or I can run a mile to 5K, but not enough to be a legend or anything close. But in college he happened to room with Amby Burfoot, whose dream was to one day win the Boston Marathon, which he did in 1968. Burfoot was tutored by Young Johnny Kelley, the 1957 Boston champion, who in turn had been tutored by Johnny “The Elder” Kelley, winner of two Bostons plus a record seven second places.

 Rodgers trained with Burfoot in 1968 and even kept pace with him in long 20+ milers after a night of drinking and partying. Yet, he never thought of running long distances competitively.

 In Marathon Man, Rodgers treats us with a first person account of his journey from an ordinary citizen, a teacher and an ok runner to the most decorated long distance US runner in history. This is not your typical “look-how-great-I-am” biography, it is a journey with many ups and downs; with struggles, both physical and financial; it is a story of both DNFs and breaking finish line tapes.

 Most of the book is centered on Rodgers’ win of the Boston Marathon on April 21st, 1975. Fifteen of the 21 chapters start with an exquisitely detailed account of the race, enriched throughout with the lore of this, the most famous footrace in the history of footraces. From there one, the second part each one of those chapters are flashbacks to his life starting eight years before that day and finishing at the start of that particular race. Two chronicles of the same story are happening simultaneously, which provides incredible dynamism to the narrative. Once he wins, he focuses on his Olympic experience and his first New York City win. The latter one was the one that happen to put that marathon in the map.

 Bill was not just an airheaded runner. He stood for and by certain political beliefs, becoming a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War and paying consequences. He had clashes with the AAU and voiced his displeasure at them taking away the monies athletes won while not allowing them to make a living off their talents. There are also plenty of insights about the early days of the running boom. This is great stuff for anyone who enjoys or has enjoyed long distance running or followed it 30-35 years ago.

 On a personal note, Rodgers has always intrigued me because when I started running as a teenager he was the top dog. He won the very first marathon I ran, (Orange Bowl 1983) and I had the chance to see him fly by twice throughout the course. After my second Marathon (New York 1983), my dad bought me a Bill Rodgers set of short and singlet, which I used only for my top races, including my 3rd and 4th marathons (Caracas 1984 and 1985), where I had my two best times. My 5th Marathon (Philadelphia 2012) was won by Rodgers way back when. So somehow he’s been a presence during most of my long distance endeavors.

 This is a fascinating biography about a fascinating character narrated in a fascinating way. Worth not only every penny but also every minute you’ll invest reading it.

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Book Review: Run for Your Life

Book Review: Run for Your Life

by | Jun 17, 2020 | Book Review

Run for Your LifeBook Author: Mark Cucuzzella
Review by Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

I read about Mark Cucuzzella for the first time through mentions on another book I have read a couple of years ago. To the author he seemed to know what he was talking about. Then, in the Marathon Training Academy podcast I heard an interview of the author about his “Run for Your Life” book and I knew I had to read it. It took a bit longer than I wanted to get my hands on it but once I got it, I consumed it with passion.

Cuccuzzella is a doctor and a runner who is passionate about both. His bio on Google Books reads as follows: Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel, practices family medicine in Ranson and Martinsburg, West Virginia. He is a professor at the West Virginia University School of Medicine and conducts Healthy Running Medical Education courses. He has run competitively for almost four decades, with more than one hundred marathon and ultramarathon finishes, and he continues to compete as a national-level masters runner with an active streak of thirty straight years under a three-hour marathon. Cucuzzella owns the first minimalist running and walking store, Two Rivers Treads, in his hometown of Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

The book is divided into three parts and an Appendices section. The parts are: Before the Starting Line, The Body in Motion and Running is for Everyone. Each one touches in form a different perspective, the importance, the right way, and the approach to human movement so you can do it smarter, stronger and springier. This book is as much for sub-3 marathoners as it is for walkers wanting to complete their first 5k.

Run for Your Life

Dr. Cucuzzella has run sub-3 marathons for 30 years in a row

Each one of the 19 chapters concludes with a short section of drills to address what was taught in the previous pages. Such drills are not just strengthening or stretching exercises, but approaches, mental exercises or adjustments in your mechanics, your approach to exercise on your everyday life. It also has a companionship website where the recommended exercises and drills are explained in video format and additional scientific resources are available.

Dr. Cucuzzella is a firm proponent of the minimalist shoe. He gives a scientific-based explanation on why this is the way to go, as well as the right way to transition there. As interesting and well supported as his theory is, I don’t see myself switching to a minimalist shoe anytime soon, although it has made me reassess my selection of footwear, which I have already discussed with the manager of my local running store.

Part II was the key section of the book for me. It is about the science of running. The part the brain controls, the engine that builds endurance, nutrition, recovery, injury prevention, flexibility; how to make your muscles, tendons and ligaments work on your behalf and biomechanics of our gait. His explanation is so well adjusted for non-doctor readers and so solidly and convincingly based on science, that I have already adopted a few of his recommended adjustments and have seen amazing improvements on my step, which are confirmed in the way my running shoes have started wearing out.

This book is worth the money and the time invested in reading it. It is not about how many miles to run on Saturday and how many 400 reps you need to do on Wednesday. Once you are done with the book, make sure to keep it handy because it will become a consultation volume for years to come.

I someone knows Dr. Cucuzzella, please send him a big thank you on my behalf. There are many great running books out there. This is certainly one of them.

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