First Marathons (Paperback)

by Gail Kislevitz (Editor), Gail, editor Kislevitz (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
There's probably no more democratic image in sports than the sight of thousands of athletes and dreamers lined up in places like New York or Boston or Los Angeles or wherever they're about to test themselves against, in the end, themselves over 26 miles of running hell. The only thing the marathon discriminates against is the unprepared: age, sex, nationality, race, even physical disability all peel away when the mix of athletes, from the elite Olympian to the neighbor next door, responds to the report of the starter's pistol. This smart, agreeable compilation of oral histories recalls the first encounters of 37 marathoners, and the stories they tell are marvelous, inspiring, despairing, filled with hope, and wracked with aches and pain. The great Bill Rogers remembers not finishing his first attack of the Boston, and the equally great Greta Weitz recounts what it was like to smash the record in New York her first time out. But it is the voice of the common runner--some nationally famous, like writer Erich Segal, others only known to their loved ones--that consistently gives First Marathons its second wind as it details the drives and dreams that link all dedicated runners. Kislevitz, a marathoner herself, displays endurance by completing the book with a final section offering useful advice from top coaches, a comprehensive glossary of terms, and, to help maintain a steady rhythm, the favorite songs marathoners sing to themselves. Some of the more fitting: "Born to Run," "Groovin'" and, particularly appropriate for getting through the wall, "Running on Empty." --Jeff Silverman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Contrary to the subtitle, the marathon experiences shared in these pages represent anything but a monster. Rather, this life-changing journey becomes a path toward self-discovery for 37 men and women of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds. Famous runners, such as Bill Rogers and Kenyan elite racer Paul Mbugua, share their experiences, but it's the coverage of such everyday, average, and back-of-the-pack runners as the painter, the Episcopal minister, and the teacher (who was fired because she wanted the day off to run the 100th Boston Marathon!) that makes this book so memorable. Thomas King, who at one time weighed more than 300 pounds, run-walked the second half of his first marathon with tears streaming down his face. Funny stories include a runner so hungry that at mile 20 he cut to the front of a Dairy Queen line to beg a lady to buy him a cone. The book concludes with sage advise from noted coaches, such as Jeff Galloway and Don Kardong. Brenda Barrera --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Breakaway Books (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891369113
• ISBN-13: 978-1891369117
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #247,464 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #40 in

  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Marathons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!, December 16, 1999

By	J. Burcham "jcburcham" (Olathe, KS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I want to buy this book for everyone I know because I firmly believe, after reading this book and having run my first marathon, that ANYONE can do it. I became so involved in the stories of these people, I couldn't put the book down and when I reached the end, I wanted more. So I ran my own marathon. I opened the book again, after I'd run the 26.2 mile monster, and randomly picked one of the stories...I started to cry because it suddenly meant so much to me. If you read this book, not only will you want to run a marathon, you'll believe you can make it happen.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling stories, inspiring reading, August 21, 2000

By	Oren Mason (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First Marathons is simply the accounts of many different folks from elite (i.e. professional) runners to talented amateurs to ordinary folks. It seems at first that it would be interesting primarily to serious runners who have or will soon run a marathon. It is that, but surprisingly, it is so much more. This is a book for anyone who wishes to be inspired by quiet heroes and unsung heroics.

Why would anyone want to run 26 miles? Here are many answers from many different people. They are moving to read, not because the author is a gifted story-teller, but because the courage, humility, and conviction of her subjects is so clear that it shines through even when the retelling lacks those qualities in itself. Some people set out to run the marathon to change themselves. More don't understand their reasons for embarking on the journey but find that in the training and completion of this epic that they are forever changed.

Approximately 1 million Americans have run a marathon. I've run two. It's difficult to explain in a few words why those two painful, arduous days are two of the happiest days of my life. After you read this book, you will begin to understand why. If you are one of the lucky ones who has "been there, done that" the recollections should renew the wonder and pride you felt at your first finish line. If you are one of the people who has ever wondered that you might someday do this crazy thing, beware! This book is more likely to set you off on the training road than all the running "how-to" books you could buy at Amazon.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book made it possibe, February 24, 2001

By	Patricia A. Johnson (New Bern, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Marathons : Personal Encounters with the 26.2-Mile Monster (Hardcover)

While certainly not a "how to" book, (in fact in some cases it's a "how NOT to" book) this book made it possible for me to complete my first marathon. It provided the motivation every time the training became really hard. Gail Waesche did an excellent job providing a broad cross section of first marathon experiences. For some strange reason though, it was always the stories of runners who really suffered through their first marathons that I read again and again. These were the people I thought I could really relate to!

A marathon IS a 26.2 mile monster. And because it's such an awesome accomplishment, it is often a lifechanging experience. That's what Ms. Waesche gets across, and that's exactly what is was like for me.

Everyone who has run a marathon, or more importantly, has even the hint of desire to run a marathon, has to read this book. It makes a very difficult and wonderful experience seem humanly possible.

Thank you Gail for writing this book. And please PLEASE come out with a volume II.