Marathon (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Training for and running the New York City marathon serve as the backdrop for this open and honest account of the author's relationship with poet William Meredith, who was awarded the 1988 Pulitzer Prize. The work explores the demands of maintaining a career, sustaining a relationship, and caring for a seriously ill loved one. From Meredith, a stroke victim and Harteis's 17-year companion, Harteis gains courage, discipline, and resolve. For runners, the most moving part is Harteis's vivid first-person account of the marathon experience. He is particularly adept at capturing the excitement, energy, and rhythm of the race, as well as the interaction between entrants and the crowd. The work goes far beyond running in its stoic acceptance of life.
- Russell T. Clement, Brigham Young Univ. Lib., Provo, Ut.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

The best first-person marathon story ever published anywhere. -- Amby Burfoot, executive editor of "Runner's World"

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Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Vivisphere Publishing (March 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892323583
• ISBN-13: 978-1892323583
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,737,812 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Marathon to Read!, February 7, 2007

By	Tom Plum "TC" (Roswell, NM United States) - See all my reviews

Excellent; quick read. I did not know what I was quite getting into when I picked this book up; the main thing I saw was it was about a guy who ran a marathon, the New York Marathon in what is probably about the mid-1980s; but it is fairly about quite a bit more. The guy has a relation with the Pulitzer Prize winning poet and former World War II pilot William Meredith; Meredith has in fact had a stroke at this time in his life and the author Harteis takes care of him; while preparing for the NY Marathon, his first marathon.

There are a few poems of Meredith contained in this book.

My favorite parts are where the author Harteis discusses running, some of his training run and the Marathon itself. I definitely give it a near top rating because it was a page turner in a kind of smooth; non-anxious way, so rather enjoyable and as a runner myself; somewhat enlightening on the subject in a compare notes kind of way (though I have to be true and say, Harteis has done a marathon; as have thousands but I am not one). Others might surely describe this book in different ways; and I am surprised there have been no other reviews for it.

I do particularly enjoy all of the talk on New England, pets, working in some foreign lands. These do tend to give the stories some spice. The brevity of the book works very well; however, when it could have been expanded on, it might have gotten bogged down.

Having read a few "marathon" accounts of a marathon in itself; Harteis does excel.