Once a Runner captures the essence of what it means to be a competitive runner; to devote your entire existence to a single-minded pursuit of ex... read full description
reviews
Jan 18, 2011
Rebecca
rated it: 
I am not totally sure how I feel about this book as a whole - but I loved the last quarter of it.
The beginning nearly killed me with the author’s seemingly needful sense to try to impress us with his constant use of obscure words. It nearly handicapped the book as each sentence read as though he used a book of synonyms to replace simpler everyday language to build up his writing? I very nearly gave up and just walked away from the book.
However, if you can plow through More...
The beginning nearly killed me with the author’s seemingly needful sense to try to impress us with his constant use of obscure words. It nearly handicapped the book as each sentence read as though he used a book of synonyms to replace simpler everyday language to build up his writing? I very nearly gave up and just walked away from the book.
However, if you can plow through More...
Jan 27, 2008
Matt
rated it: 
One of my favorite novels. Very funny at times. This will really strike a chord for anyone who ran distance at the college level. Parker gets everything down from the dinnertime antics to the pre-race jitters and the absolute strangeness that goes along with identifying yourself as a long distance runner. A must read for anyone planning to run a marathon or who trains regularly. A great motivator for those days when you just can't seem to get out the door. Pick this up, read a chapter, and
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Jul 11, 2011
Burd
rated it: 
OK. It's not the best written book. But if you're a runner, you can't not like this book. Not all of it held my attention. I devoured the parts about running and training because they were so bang on and passionately written. I guess Parker wanted to round out the novel so that it wouldn't be a total runner's geekfest. But the side plots about love affairs and political drama were like junk miles to me and I found myself skimming over them.
Apparently this book has been a cult classi More...
Apparently this book has been a cult classi More...
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Jun 11, 2011
Amy
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Since entering the running community a few years ago, I heard so much about this book. And yet, I started it without knowing much about it other than the amount of high praise it received. At first, I didn't get it. The first quarter or so of the book took some time for me to get into. Perhaps it's because it's a "guy's" book, I thought. The story lines depicting collegiate pranks from the 1970s just seemed to get in the way at first. Get to the running stuff, I thought. But as the sto
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Apr 03, 2011
Terzah
rated it:
Despite being a classic from the 1970s that someone in Runner's World called the best-ever novel about running, Once a Runner started off on, um, the wrong foot with me. That's because it started off with this:
"The night joggers were out as usual.
"The young man could see dim figures on the track even in this pale light, slowly pounding round and round the most infinite of footpaths. There would be, he knew, plump, determined-looking women slogging along while fl More...
"The night joggers were out as usual.
"The young man could see dim figures on the track even in this pale light, slowly pounding round and round the most infinite of footpaths. There would be, he knew, plump, determined-looking women slogging along while fl More...
Jan 30, 2011
Katie
rated it: 
I think I could only recommend this book to runners, and even then I'd have to qualify it by saying it is probably best enjoyed the way I read it--by listening to it as an audio book on my morning jogs. That definitely helped... listening to running tales while I was desperately trying to make it up the hill, or psyching myself up to finish the 8th and last mile (even though my 8-mile runs are seen as easy warm-ups by the Olympians in this book!).
The author is clearly more a passionat More...
The author is clearly more a passionat More...
Jun 27, 2010
Vanessa
rated it:
There are truths about distance running in this novel that strum at the very essence of it all.
Aptly named Quenton Cassidy is a promising collegiate runner who aspires to run the mile in under 4:00 minutes. The intensity of his training naturally has side effects on other areas of his life, causing rifts in his love life and a earning him a reputation as the ringleader of dangerously absurd escapades.
Having run cross country and track throughout my high school years, I More...
Aptly named Quenton Cassidy is a promising collegiate runner who aspires to run the mile in under 4:00 minutes. The intensity of his training naturally has side effects on other areas of his life, causing rifts in his love life and a earning him a reputation as the ringleader of dangerously absurd escapades.
Having run cross country and track throughout my high school years, I More...
Mar 27, 2010
Andy
rated it:
After reading this book written in 1978 I understand why it went from a small publisher to being sold out of trunks during track meets and runs to cult classic to now being regarded by many as the best book on running ever written.
But this is not just a runner's book. in fact it is now one of my all time favorite books period.
Set in an university during the 70's the book is about a nonconformist runner who loves to think for himself and loves to run. A sample early passage:
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But this is not just a runner's book. in fact it is now one of my all time favorite books period.
Set in an university during the 70's the book is about a nonconformist runner who loves to think for himself and loves to run. A sample early passage:
More...
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Feb 28, 2010
Mark
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Loaned by Devin, this book touches the part of you that wants to go to the Olympics and thinks that, with a little more work, you can.
I am not a runner, but have been an athlete and can tell you the experience Parker relates transcends any particular sport, so you may resonate with this, whether a runner or not. I remember that feeling~! It was right after college, when Ron Wilkes proposed we work together on a pair. I felt very strong, agonized anticipating the work that would be r More...
I am not a runner, but have been an athlete and can tell you the experience Parker relates transcends any particular sport, so you may resonate with this, whether a runner or not. I remember that feeling~! It was right after college, when Ron Wilkes proposed we work together on a pair. I felt very strong, agonized anticipating the work that would be r More...
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Feb 07, 2010
Dave
rated it:
I read lots of pans here and got frustrated...until I realized that it's simply because this isn't a book for everyone.
This isn't a book I'd recommend to a non-runner. In fact, it's not a book I'd recommend to every runner, either. If you know at some level what it's like to strive for an unapproachable, amazing physical goal, then I hope you can enjoy it for the description of that struggle. If you have to have great writing, or feel like the storyline has to be scintillating or More...
This isn't a book I'd recommend to a non-runner. In fact, it's not a book I'd recommend to every runner, either. If you know at some level what it's like to strive for an unapproachable, amazing physical goal, then I hope you can enjoy it for the description of that struggle. If you have to have great writing, or feel like the storyline has to be scintillating or More...
Dec 02, 2009
Matthew
rated it:
The history of this book is more interesting than its contents.
The former Dallas Baptist University cross country runner who loaned it to me said it was a "cult running book". I was eager to see what type of book runners would form a hidden fan base around.
Unfortunately, and quite predictably, the running enthusiast's choice of fiction is a book that enthuses about running. A book that describes running accurately and compares most everything in life to runnin More...
The former Dallas Baptist University cross country runner who loaned it to me said it was a "cult running book". I was eager to see what type of book runners would form a hidden fan base around.
Unfortunately, and quite predictably, the running enthusiast's choice of fiction is a book that enthuses about running. A book that describes running accurately and compares most everything in life to runnin More...
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Sep 01, 2009
Clint
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How in the hell is the average rating for this book over 4 stars? Oh yeah, I know, the only people who would read this book are runners and they don't really care about literary merit at all, they only care that the main character in the book is a runner. Not that runners make bad writers (or readers, can there be a bad or good reader?), but runners are usually people obsessed with running over everything else, so a book about a runner is probably the coolest thing in the world for them. I th
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Jan 07, 2011
Jeff
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Quite simply, Once a Runner is a novel about running. Originally self-published in 1978 and sold by the author at foot races across the country, the book became a cult favorite among high school, college and professional runners of all abilities. I was skeptical when I first heard about it. What does it mean to be a novel about running? Seems like saying John Grisham's oeuvre is about law, or that Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series is about politics. The only novel I could think of that used runn
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Aug 01, 2011
Courtney
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The book was about a runner who runs in college and how running takes over his body. I loved reading about a world I know nothing about. The amount of running, the amount of pain and the amount of emotional work they put into being a runner. It really was amazing to read about a life that is so much more into runner than I ever will be.
Now as someone who isn't or wasn't ever competitive it was hard to understand. They don't always explain the details of something so you shake your head More...
Now as someone who isn't or wasn't ever competitive it was hard to understand. They don't always explain the details of something so you shake your head More...
Aug 29, 2010
Beth
rated it:
I have had this book on the periphery for a few years now. Running seems to be in the spotlight for exercise and this book has been rediscovered by running enthusiasts all over.
Reading this book reminded me of stepping into my grandparents house and going to their limited bookshelf and finding the one book that was not written by some 1960s 1970s christian minister. The style of writing in this novel is very dated and it is amazing to see how literature and fiction can be identified with More...
Reading this book reminded me of stepping into my grandparents house and going to their limited bookshelf and finding the one book that was not written by some 1960s 1970s christian minister. The style of writing in this novel is very dated and it is amazing to see how literature and fiction can be identified with More...
Mar 30, 2011
John
rated it:
Whew! This book dredged up the old feelings, now carefully filed in my subconscious, of my competition days.
I was a half-miler in the 1:58 range and my mile time didn't even reach the 4:30 time that, according to the runners in this book, "everyone" ran in high school. So I am not privy to the feelings of the really excellent runners such as the author, John Parker. Thus, to be fair, I have to give great weight to his description of how a well-trained competitive runner fee More...
I was a half-miler in the 1:58 range and my mile time didn't even reach the 4:30 time that, according to the runners in this book, "everyone" ran in high school. So I am not privy to the feelings of the really excellent runners such as the author, John Parker. Thus, to be fair, I have to give great weight to his description of how a well-trained competitive runner fee More...
Aug 16, 2010
Alan
rated it:
Wow! I cracked this book for the first time yesterday afternoon, and before I knew it I was 1/3 of the way through. I opened it again last night, and when I checked I was 2/3 of the way through. Then, this morning, the last 1/3 flew by and I made a beeline for the computer to post this review...it couldn't wait!
I have been active most of my life...all kinds of sports, but mostly basketball and soccer, but about two years I started to run for exercise. I ran first on a treadmill and More...
I have been active most of my life...all kinds of sports, but mostly basketball and soccer, but about two years I started to run for exercise. I ran first on a treadmill and More...
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Jul 16, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
I want to give this book five stars. I absolutely LOVED certain chapters, sections, lines. Then there are a few chapters that I really didn't like AT ALL (most notably chapter 30) and I felt weren't even important to the plot. And there was a lot of language. I don't mind a colorful adjective now and then, but there were a few too many for my taste. Still, overall I couldn't put it down, thought about it when I wasn't reading it, couldn't wait for the end, loved it.
Favorite pa More...
Favorite pa More...
Aug 07, 2011
Joan
rated it:
This may be a good book for someone who is a competitive runner. It is described as 'one of the most beloved sports novels ever written." I expected more from this book than what it delivered.
a passage from the book that I enjoyed:
"The herd reached the fence, turned sharply to the right, and proceeded parallel to the runners at the same pace, looking straight ahead and running at a slow gallop with what appeared to be considerable pleasure. When they reached the More...
a passage from the book that I enjoyed:
"The herd reached the fence, turned sharply to the right, and proceeded parallel to the runners at the same pace, looking straight ahead and running at a slow gallop with what appeared to be considerable pleasure. When they reached the More...
Jun 16, 2009
Elissa
rated it:
Despite being a work of fiction, Quenton Cassidy and his mentor capture the mentality of a distance runner perfectly. So much so that I had goosebumps and tears streaming down my face during the final pages of this book.
Many truths reside within the pages which describe what it means to be a runner.
"Cassidy knew what the mystic-runners, the joggers, the runner-poets, the Zen runners, and others of their ilk were talking about. But he also knew that their euphor More...
Many truths reside within the pages which describe what it means to be a runner.
"Cassidy knew what the mystic-runners, the joggers, the runner-poets, the Zen runners, and others of their ilk were talking about. But he also knew that their euphor More...
Jul 13, 2011
David
rated it:
I've read this novel twice because it's a wonderful book about serious running. At times Parker gets bogged down in sophomoric plot points about campus life, but it is peppered with tremendous passages that seem to really capture the essence of why running can be so consuming. Few books have given me such motivation, and Once a Runner has the effect of making me want to run a hundred miles a week, plain and simple. Many people have tried to explain why they run, and Quenton Cassidy muses on it m
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Dec 04, 2011
Justin
rated it:
This came highly recommended as the best fiction on running.
I suppose running is a key part of the story, but everything else is horrible.
The arrogant lead (Cassidy) is frustrating. The basic premise is interesting-- the personal goal to be your best. But, the writing is very hamfisted, the key plot is basically a joke <spoiler>and not even developed! The character is banned from racing over some petition. But the football team's side of things is barely explored, and is mos More...
I suppose running is a key part of the story, but everything else is horrible.
The arrogant lead (Cassidy) is frustrating. The basic premise is interesting-- the personal goal to be your best. But, the writing is very hamfisted, the key plot is basically a joke <spoiler>and not even developed! The character is banned from racing over some petition. But the football team's side of things is barely explored, and is mos More...
Nov 03, 2011
Aimee
rated it:
This book took me some time to get into, like other reviewers had mentioned. It felt heavy and difficult at times, and I could only read a chapter or two before I had to walk away from it for a while(the chapters are very short, mostly only a few pages long).
But, WOW, the last third to last quarter of the book was amazing! I felt like I was actually inside the character's head, and felt every spike of adrenaline, every drop in the pit of my stomach. I will never ever be an elite ath More...
But, WOW, the last third to last quarter of the book was amazing! I felt like I was actually inside the character's head, and felt every spike of adrenaline, every drop in the pit of my stomach. I will never ever be an elite ath More...
Jan 22, 2011
Pwilczewski
rated it:
A novel written by a runner for runners. I wish I had read this book 8 years ago, it may have made me enjoy racing far more. I never ran to race, it has always been about the training for me. I never had the right mentality to race, winning was just never that important. For me it was always about the comradery among runners and the freedom of the run.
This book really hammers home the point that running is simple, the more you run the better you get. Its easy to measure, there are no t More...
This book really hammers home the point that running is simple, the more you run the better you get. Its easy to measure, there are no t More...
May 17, 2010
Paul
rated it:
I enjoyed Once a Runner in a nostalgic sort of way. I never read it before, but the training and race scenes returned a flood of memories from high school and college. Unfortunately for me, my memories of those days contain a number of regrets. Being me, reading this book put me into a funk at times. When one is remind of oneself via passages like this:
. . . those who partook of the difficult pleasures of the highly competitive runner only when comfortable. . . . where the ones who sMore...
Sep 07, 2010
Sara
rated it:
This is one of the greatest and most encouraging novels I've ever read. This book is most definitely a "runner's book" so to speak. This novel is not meant for non-runners or anyone who is looking to become a runner over night. Parker was able to capture the true essence of the trials, obstacles, boundaries, physical limitations, internal conflicts as well as external conflicts that a dedicated runner encounters regularly. No matter how many races I've run before, I will still feel hor
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Jan 20, 2012
Helen
rated it:
Published in 1978, Once a Runner is dated; but charmingly so. While there is a noted absence of ipods, cell phones, and cable television, exclamations of “Great God in Heaven” and “they don’t know a flying you-know-what about spring sports” are the most notable indicators.
Quentin Cassidy is a collegiate “miler”. After he is expelled from the fictional Southeastern University, fellow runner, friend and former Olympian Bruce Denton mentors him as he prepares to break the four minute mi More...
Quentin Cassidy is a collegiate “miler”. After he is expelled from the fictional Southeastern University, fellow runner, friend and former Olympian Bruce Denton mentors him as he prepares to break the four minute mi More...
Jan 07, 2010
Mitzi
rated it:
This was described as the "best novel about running", and I read an excerpt in Runners World that was pretty good. I admit I checked it out hoping to help my motivation but I took the "best novel about running" in stride--add enough adjectives and anything can be the "best". I will readily admit that it's not the best novel--some parts are confusing, the subplot about being kicked out of school isn't very developed and doesn't seem to make much sense--but it may v
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Jul 03, 2009
Dawn
rated it:
Since I started running, and have been reading a lot of running magazines etc. I've heard a lot about this book. However, it had been out of print for many years, and was hard to come by. The author then wrote a sequel a couple of years ago, so this book was finally re-printed, and I was eager to check it out.
The book has been called the best novel written about running. I'm not sure what other novels there are about running, so I can't really say if that's true or not, but I di More...
The book has been called the best novel written about running. I'm not sure what other novels there are about running, so I can't really say if that's true or not, but I di More...
Oct 24, 2011
David
rated it:
I've been craving another running book which led me to Once a Runner. Held in high esteem by the running community it's certainly geared to the serious runner. It's all inside baseball from the first chapter with the codified language of the runner. On the whole it reads like so many self help books where the message is wrapped up in some propulsive, action. I'm thinking the Celestine Prophecy with it's pulpy train wreck of a story.
But buried within was the small nugget of truth to ru More...
But buried within was the small nugget of truth to ru More...
