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Steve Scott the Miler: America's Legendary Runner Talks About His Triumphs and Trials

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The sport of track and field has only a limited audience in the U.S. American athletes typically receive recognition only after setting a world record or winning an Olympic gold medal. Steve Scott, America's top miler throughout the 1980s, did neither. In his book, The Miler, Scott writes of a running career in which he unquestionably was America's best miler (his U.S. record of 3:47.69, set in 1982, still stands), and certainly one of the world's best (10 consecutive years ranked among the world's top 10 milers by Track & Field News). Yet without a world record or Olympic gold medal to his credit, Scott remained virtually unknown outside the small U.S. track and field community. The Miler traces Scott's reluctant beginnings as a high school runner, his development into a national-class competitor in college, and his emergence as a world-class racer. Along the way we're treated to profiles of Scott's leading international competitors, all icons in the history of the mile: John Walker, Eamonn Coghlan, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Said Aouita. Scott beat them all, but not in either of the two races -- the '84 or '88 Olympics -- which would have brought him the recognition and financial rewards that accompany a gold medal. The Miler is not simply a book about running. Scott details the struggles he faced to support his wife and kids early in his career, when track and field was still regarded as an "amateur" sport. Scott also writes frankly of the toll the nomadic career of a track and field athlete exacted upon his marriage. Although it probably was cathartic for Scott to write these passages, it is uncomfortable for even a dedicated track & field fan to read. Despite this, I admire Scott for his willingness to write something other than the puff pieces that frequently pass for the biographies of famous athletes. He deals frankly with some of track and fields' unsavory elements -- unscrupulous meet promoters, under-the-table payments, agents, drugs, stars avoiding races with potential rivals, and track's governing bodies -- and isn't afraid of putting himself in the middle of situations that don't frame him in the best light. In fact, perhaps in an effort to balance his career's many triumphs, he frequently seems to come down too hard on himself. He writes extensively of his failures at the Olympics, but covers the race in which he set the American record for the mile in a few paragraphs. He takes great pride in having run more sub-4 minute miles (136) than any miler in history, but dwells more on how another runner, John Walker, beat him to the "media friendly" 100th sub-4 mile goal. I would have liked to have read more of his numerous triumphs, and less of his real or perceived shortcomings. Scott also write of the challenge of, and eventual triumph over, his most formidable opponent: cancer. The story of his recovery from testicular cancer and return to competition demonstrates that sheer force of will, more than physical ability, is the true mark of a champion. The Miler certainly will appeal to fans of track & field. But it should also find a wider audience among those who are curious as to the challenges, costs and rewards that come to those who strive for world class status in any field. For in The Miler Scott shows himself to be a winner not only on the track, but also in the ongoing race called life.

Near the end of his autobiography, Steve Scott talks about running in the National Cross Country Championships in Montana (there are pictures of the race in the book). It was 4 degreees and snowy. Scott was past his prime as one of the greatest milers in the world. He didn't need to run the race; few World Class milers run serious 10K cross country at any time, let alone in their declining years. But Steve Scott loves to run. He loves to train very hard and run very fast. He finished 10th that day, not far behind distance greats like Pat Porter and Todd Williams, and just a few seconds away from qualifying as a member of the U.S. team for the World Cross Counttry Championships. Afterwards he overheard a couple of young runners talking. One said, in obvious surprise, "Did you see Steve Scott finished 10th? I thought he'd retired." His friend responded, "I thought he was dead."
Well Steve Scott ain't dead folks, and I'll bet wherever he is right now he's still running far and fast. Scott's autobiography is hard to find now. It never caught on the way some of the books for joggers did - or those about another Steve: Prefontaine. But read Scott's book if you can find it. Serious runners will love it and even joggers will be fascinated by its honesty and by the character - in both senses of the word - that Scott reveals. Jim Ryun remains the legendary American miler, but he would have been 30 meters behind Scott in their best races. Ryun gave up the sport in his early 20s because he couldn't handle the pressure; Scott raced at the highest levels for 20 years.
With the help of Marc Bloom, the longtime dedicated chronicler of Cross Country and Track, Scott helps us understand his love for running and for being really fit. He was "Pre" without the sharp edges. He deserves to be better known and more honored. But even if that never happens, no one can ever take away what he accomplsihed. The numbers - 3:47.69, and 136 sub-4:00s - will stand for as long as runners circle the track for four laps.

Although it was an interesting read, this is not one of those books you can't put down. I don't know steve personally but if it were me I would have been upset as how the end result of this book makes me seem like such an thankful complainer. The jist that I got from this book was that steve did not get this, did not get that, the wife did not like the cheating, the training partner messed him up, he got elbowed, the race was too rough, he went out to hard, he was forced to race for time, Coe/Ovett was dodging him, Cram would not have beat him if he knew he was that good, he never made enough money, his endorsements dropped him, blah blah blah, shut up. The way that he raced brought much of it on himself. When you are a late race surger you have to deal with passing people and not being able to catch people from waiting to long. It just seemed like he was tring to get sympthothy through the whole book for never obtaining a World Record or an Olympic Medal. The only legit complaint I felt he had was of the olympic boycott, Everything else that he complains about were his missed oppritunities where he had some control of the situation.

Track and Field is not a very well-known sport outside its small sphere of runners. The general public is normally ignorant of the sport unless a world record is set or an Olympic gold medal is awarded. Steve Scott the Miler tells the story of America's greatest miler who did neither. Throughout his career he ran under a 4 minute mile 136 times, and his American record of 3:47.69 still stands today. Unquestionably, Steve Scott did his part to shape the young sport of American track and field. His story is one of winning and losing, accomplishments and disappointments, but overall pure enjoyment to all who read it.

Even though The Miler isn't the traditional feel-good autobiography about the disadvantaged individual who overcomes tremendous odds to reach his goal, it is nonetheless informative, entertaining, and inspiring. Steve Scott tells of his epic battles on the track with legends such as Eamonn Coghlan, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, and others. These motivational race stories are perfectly balanced with the less appealing side of the sport - battles with sponsors, drugs, struggles with track's governing body, and rivals dodging out of races. Even through all the adversity, which included a successful fight against cancer, Scott was able to perform in peak condition for the better part of 20 years. America knows about running legends such as Jim Ryun and Steve Prefontaine, but Steve Scott's contribution to the sport he loved was equally as valuable.

For the avid runner, this book will absolutely not disappoint, and even the casual reader with no invested interest will be sure to feel empowered by its theme of "me against the world." Track and field is more or less an individual sport, one where motivation must come from within. This principle of self-motivation is taught throughout Scott's story, and its value can be applied to whatever sphere of life we are in. I would highly recommend this book to both runners and non runners alike. It is written in such a way that those unfamiliar with the sport of running can still understand and appreciate all that Steve Scott accomplished.

I can understand why the general public didn't buy this book. It's appeal is to those of us who have undergone the "Trial of Miles." Like Once a Runner's Cassidy, Scott gave it everything and sacrificed much, as did his family. Yet, like Cassidy, he didn't win the Gold, so the ignorant have forgotten him. Even so, he should be remembered for his dedication to the sport and his willingness to give everything, to be the front runner, to not hide until the final lap, so, like Prefontaine, he is an inspiration to runners. A very good book. I wish him and his family well.
John Matney
Oregon, 81