Once a Runner: A Novel [Paperback]

John L. Parker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

This is the inspirational cult classic that Runner's World (and many others) have called "the best novel ever written about running".

The Reno Gazette-Journal has also called it "a book so good, people will steal it."

How often do you hear about someone borrowing a friend's book, then later buying their own copy because they liked it so much? Or a book so treasured that it gets passed from friend to friend until it simply falls apart from so many readings? Once a Runner is such a book. It has become a cult classic and our all-time best seller. It's been acclaimed over the years by Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Alberto Salazar and many other top runners.

Many regard the story of Quenton Cassidy's battle to the top as the most accurate portrayal yet written of the tiny universe of world class runners. And it's a great source of training inspiration and wisdom as well. Many readers say they learned more about running from this novel than from all the training books they have read.

It has won Running magazine's award as the best book of the year, and has been highly acclaimed by Runner's World, Running Times, Racing South, and Track & Field News, as well as by writers like Don Kardong, Kenny Moore Tom Jordan and Hal Higdon.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"By far the most accurate fictional portrayal of the world of the serious runner. . . a marvelous description of the way it really is." -- Kenny Moore, of Sports Illustrated

"I hate to use a clich, but I couldn't put it down." -- Joe Henderson, Runner's World

"I'm jealous. This is very close to the kind of book I've wanted to write for years. . . [Parker] has shown an ability to find that vein that runners have within them, and write about it better than anyone ever has." -- Don Kardong, of Runner's World

"I've read `Once a Runner' six times and still enjoy it immensely. It continues to renew my heart to `go after the fire, not the smoke." -- J.A. Sandoz, Olympia, WA

"My 17-year-old son was transfixed with `Once a Runner'. . ." -- Jon Boon, Columbia, MD

"Perhaps the best novel ever written about running. There are parts of Once a Runner that are pure poetry. I have never read descriptions of what it is to run and race as accurate and compelling as Parker's." -- Tom Jordan, Track & Field News

"The best piece of running fiction around. Beg, borrow, or buy a copy, and you'll never need another motivator." -- Dave Langlais, Runner's World

"There is a remarkable parallel between the pacing of this novel and a well-run race." -- Ed Ayres, Running Times

From the Publisher

Truly a cult classic. Now in its 8th Printing!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Cedarwinds (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915297019
• ISBN-13: 978-0915297016
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (222 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John L. Parker, Jr. has written for Outside, Runner's World, and numerous other publications. He was the Southeastern Conference mile champion three times, and the United States Track and Field Federation national champion in the steeplechase, and was the teammate of Olympians Frank Shorter, Jack Bacheler, and Jeff Galloway on several championship cross-country teams. A graduate of the University of Florida's College of Journalism as well as its College of Law, Parker has been a practicing attorney, a newspaper reporter and columnist, a speechwriter for then Governor Bob Graham, and editorial director of Running Times magazine. He lives in Gainesville, Florida, and Bar Harbor, Maine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

228 of 246 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure excellence, but with a disclaimer, September 30, 2004

By 

Andrew (Baltimore, Md) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once a Runner: A Novel (Paperback)

There are 87 other reviews here, so all I will do is offer the following breakdown for people interested in buying this book. Put yourself in one of these categories:

a) Competative runners: this is an increadible book, period. The best part about it is reading about a little tiny nuance in Quenton's running life and saying to yourself, "I know exactly what he's talking about, wow", which will happen literally hundreds of times. Your hopefully already-substantial appreciation for the sport will likely increase tenfold with this book.

b) The casual runner, recreational, or other athlete: this is an excellent book and is very highly reccomended. You probably will not appreciate it to it's fullest extent, but there are aspects of the story and how it is told that will be enjoyed by anyone with the capacity for excitement from sports or human physical endeavors.

c) The non-athlete: this book may not make sense to you. Not in the literary sense, but it may seem as though there is little direction in the story, and you might read it and then find yourself thinking that nothing interesting really happened, and you are not really to blame for this. There is still a good chance that you will find it enjoyable, but if you are looking for a piece of literature based on traditional merits (plot, character development, etc) there are likely better books out there for you to spend time on.

Clearly I thought this book was one of the best I've ever read. However, I hope this breakdown about who in particular might enjoy it the most was helpful.

-Andrew

53 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST book I've ever read!, January 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Once a Runner: A Novel (Paperback)

I'm a sophomore in highschool and I'm also a extremely dedicated cross-country and track runner. This book has changed my life! The inspirational story of Quenton Cassidy's runner career left me breathless! The first chapter gave me goose-bumps because it decribed the start of a race perfectly. I read chapters from the book every night before a big race. Reading about Cassidy's determination gives any runner a boost. This book has to have the most accurate description of a runners mentality ever written. This is the best book about running I've ever read!

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just wail on, August 14, 2005

By 

Joe-sph (Stockbridge, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once a Runner: A Novel (Paperback)

The book was great, easily one of the best I've ever read. The only times I ever put it down were to eat, sleep and run. There was one quote from Cassidy that i feel sums up the book, the main character, and competative running. I don't know how some one can read this and not be in the mood to run. "It's a simple choice: We can all be good boys and wear our letter sweaters around and get our little degrees and find some nice girl to settle, you know, down, with...take up what a friend of ours calls the hearty challenges of lawn care...Or we can blaze! Become legends in our own time, strike fear in the heart of mediocre talent everywhere! We can scald dogs, put records out of reach! Make the stands gasp as we blow into an unearthly kick from three hundred yards out! We can become God's own messenger delivering the dreaded scrolls! We can race dark Satan himself till he wheezes fiery cinders down the back straightaway! They'll speak our names in hushed tones, 'Those guys are animals' they'll say! We can lay it on the line, bust a gut, show them a pair of clean heels. We can sprint the turn on a spring breeze and feel the winter leave our feet. We can, by God, let our demons loose and just wail on!"