Sub 4:00: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile [Paperback]

Chris Lear (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 2004

For more than three decades, not one American schoolboy had run a sub-4:00 mile. Then, in January 2001, Alan Webb clocked a 3:59.86 mile, the fastest indoor U.S. high school mile ever. Just a few months later, the young track star achieved legendary status: he ran a 3:53.46 mile-a full 2 seconds faster than former record holder Jim Ryun. Everywhere Webb was hailed as "America's Next Great Miler."

In Sub 4:00, noted track writer Chris Lear follows Webb to college at the University of Michigan. As we witness Webb's freshman track season-watching him struggle with injuries, interpersonal conflicts, the politics of the collegiate track world, and his own aspirations to become the best miler ever-we get an unprecedented behind-the-scenes view of the life of one of the nation's most promising track athletes with a new chapter describing the latest developments in Webb's fascinating career.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Alan Webb was just 18 when he broke a 36-year-old record by running the fastest mile ever for a high-school athlete, breaking Jim Ryun's mark by two seconds. Lear spent most of the 2001-02 school year with freshman Webb and his teammates at the University of Michigan, where many of America's best distance runners gather to learn from legendary coach Ron Warhurst. Though there have been any number of books chronicling the ups and downs of seasons in major sports, this may be the first to follow a group of world-class distance runners through a competitive cycle. The focus is on Webb as he juggles the challenges of college academics, injuries, and media attention along with the rigors of competition, but Lear also examines group dynamics as the other runners adjust to the presence of a track wunderkind in their midst. The best books take us to places or situations we are unlikely to experience firsthand. Lear succeeds admirably as readers experience vicariously the fiercely competitive, often anonymous lives of modern distance runners. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Webb's pursuit of the 4-minute mile as a high school senior was one of the most compelling stories in recent U.S. track history. Chris Lear's insightful work picks up the tale where many dropped it, following Webb to college and exposing the sub-4:00 as not just a blessing, but a burden as well." --Tim Layden, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated

"What John Feinstein did for collegiate basketball with A Season on the Brink, Lear does with Sub 4:00. This dramatic story of personal and athletic growth is the literary equivalent of a 4-minute mile."--Sportswriter Mike Sandrock, author of Running with the Legends

"An insightful look into the life of a high school phenom and the resulting pressures at the collegiate level."--Suzy Favor Hamilton, Olympic miler

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (August 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594860564
• ISBN-13: 978-1594860560
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shining Star, July 12, 2003

By 

Michael DENNISUK "cc coach" (trenton, michigan USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sub 4:00: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile (Hardcover)

The Alan Webb story is an intriguing one. He flashed on the running scene and broke Jim Ryun's high school mile record. Those of us in Michigan were excited by his arrival at U of M. But after one year he's gone. Lear does an excellent job of telling the tale of that year. Webb's intensity, immaturity and lack of patience come through loud and clear even though Lear does an excellent job of presenting both sides of the arguement. This one does not quite measure up to "Running with the Buffaloes" but that is a classic. Great, quick read if you are a runner or a fan of the sport.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing and insightful book, January 5, 2004

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A S B (Boulder, Co United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sub 4:00: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile (Hardcover)

A great read for anyone interested in Track & Field or runnng in general. This books brings to life the trials and tribulations of Webb and the Michigan track team in the spring of'02. What makes it especially interesting are the behind the scenes stories of Webb, his teammates and coach that Lear delivers, as only he can. Warhurst and Brannen also emerge as very intriguing characters. I can't wait to see how Webb and Brannen do in the years to come, as they are huge talents with speed to burn. Any competitve runner can tell Lear has been there before and writes like he is with Webb every step of the way. He has definitely developed a knack for capturing the emotion and drama of competition. A very impessive second book that was tough to put down.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not great. Middle of the road., April 14, 2010

By 

JK "JK" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Sub 4:00: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile (Paperback)

Most people have only so much time and money to devote to pleasure reading. So, in that light, I would not recommend this book. It's not terrible, by any means, but I think your time and money would be better spend on another book. I would, however, recommend his other book, Running with the Buffaloes.