Once a Runner, John L. Parker Jr.
Once a Runner, John L. Parker Jr.
11 Rating(s)
List: $35.99 | Sale: $25.20
Club: $17.99

Once a Runner

Author: John L. Parker Jr.

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Unabridged: 8 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/15/2009


Synopsis

Once a Runner captures the essence of what it means to be a competitive runner; to devote your entire existence to a single-minded pursuit of excellence. It has become one of the most beloved sports novels ever written. Originally self-published in 1978 and sold at road races out of the trunk of the author’s car, reading the book became a rite of passage for many runners, and tattered copies were handed down like sacred texts from generation to generation.Once a Runner is the story of Quenton Cassidy, a collegiate runner at fictional Southeastern University whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. He is less than a second away when the political and cultural turmoil of the Vietnam War era intrudes into the staid recesses of his school’s athletic department. After he becomes involved in an athletes’ protest, Cassidy is suspended from his track team.Under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, Bruce Denton, a graduate student and former Olympic gold medalist, Cassidy gives up his scholarship, his girlfriend, and possibly his future to withdraw to a monastic retreat in the countryside and begin training for the race of his life: a head-to-head match with the greatest miler in history.This audiobook is a rare insider’s account of the incredibly intense lives of elite distance runners; an inspiring, funny, and spot-on tale of one man’s quest to become a champion.

About John L. Parker Jr.

John L. Parker, Jr. is the author of the highly acclaimed novel Once a Runner. He has written for Outside, Runner's World, Running Times, and numerous other publications. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida, and Bar Harbor, Maine.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Matt on July 30, 2014

One of my favorite novels. Very funny at times. This will really strike a chord for anyone who ran distance at the college level. Parker gets everything down from the dinnertime antics to the pre-race jitters and the absolute strangeness that goes along with identifying yourself as a long distance r......more

Goodreads review by Allison on December 19, 2016

Disclaimer: I am a runner. If you are not a runner, I'm honestly not sure that you will enjoy this book, because as a novel, it has a number of shortcomings. You know the ending from the start. The plot lags in a number of spots, and the rise to the climax is agonizingly slow. And I personally never......more

Goodreads review by Blondish And on September 11, 2019

I get the feeling that this is one of those books that just don't hold up to the test of time. Like Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, which was apparently a huge bestseller in the 70's but which, if you read it now, is laughable, I think this book probably had more impact in 1978 when it was first writt......more

Goodreads review by Angela on February 25, 2014

I'd heard of this book but never really had the urge to pick it up until I got a copy for free & figured "Eh, what the heck." 12 chapters in I was convinced it was about the stupidest book I'd ever read. The writing was cliche & forced, & the dialogue was unbelievable and frankly hard to follow (tho......more

Goodreads review by Andy on November 25, 2012

After reading this book written in 1978 I understand why it went from a small publisher to being sold out of trunks during track meets and runs to cult classic to now being regarded by many as the best book on running ever written. But this is not just a runner's book. in fact it is now one of my all......more