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One Last Mile
A poignant tale of a runner's second chance and vivid portrayal of life's Agony Hill.
"ONE LAST MILE" is a compelling novel about a high school miler's journey of self-discovery, life and friendship, who dreams to earn a scholarship from one of the premier track and field schools in the country. When after an incidental death of a classmate his life turns on a dime with a broken ankle that threatens his running future and scholarship hopes vanish. After graduation, still wracked with guilt and blame, he decides to get away from town to spend the summer with his uncle down in South Carolina. The summer turns into two years. Then after receiving a letter from his best friend he decides to face his demons and give running a second chance. He returns to Brevard, and with his friends support, and the help of an unlikely coach, he chases a new dream. But the quest comes with conditions: the head coach at NC State will give him a full-ride scholarship only if he can run a mile in under 4:05. The catch? He has nine months to do it.
"ONE LAST MILE" is a compelling novel about a high school miler's journey of self-discovery, life and friendship, who dreams to earn a scholarship from one of the premier track and field schools in the country. When after an incidental death of a classmate his life turns on a dime with a broken ankle that threatens his running future and scholarship hopes vanish. After graduation, still wracked with guilt and blame, he decides to get away from town to spend the summer with his uncle down in South Carolina. The summer turns into two years. Then after receiving a letter from his best friend he decides to face his demons and give running a second chance. He returns to Brevard, and with his friends support, and the help of an unlikely coach, he chases a new dream. But the quest comes with conditions: the head coach at NC State will give him a full-ride scholarship only if he can run a mile in under 4:05. The catch? He has nine months to do it.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2021
11 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 27, 2021
I hate to say it, but I almost didn't finish this book. In fact, I only finished it out of spite to prove I was right for disliking it so much. Here's why I wouldn't recommend this book:
- It needs somebody to go through with a fine-toothed comb and edit the heck out of it. There were multiple grammar and punctuation and spelling mistakes, sometimes multiple per page. It was very distracting at times.
- It moved way too slowly. This book promises a story about a runner who had to fight his way back into the track world for a scholarship, and we don't even get to that aspect until over 60% of the book. In fact, he doesn't start training till we're about 75% into it. We had too much backstory that didn't matter. I don't need to know about every little thing that happened in his high school career. Give us a little bit of exposition, but they needed to kill of Buzzy and break Eric's ankle by the 25% mark.
- The way this was written, it felt like a stream off consciousness rather than a book that went through story structure edits and multiple drafts. There were often times where the narration and the quotations were repeating each other. It dragged the story longer and made it harder to read.
Look, I'm a former high school XC and track runner. I will eat up anything about running that I can. I love and miss the joy of racing. But this just wasn't it.
*I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.*
- It needs somebody to go through with a fine-toothed comb and edit the heck out of it. There were multiple grammar and punctuation and spelling mistakes, sometimes multiple per page. It was very distracting at times.
- It moved way too slowly. This book promises a story about a runner who had to fight his way back into the track world for a scholarship, and we don't even get to that aspect until over 60% of the book. In fact, he doesn't start training till we're about 75% into it. We had too much backstory that didn't matter. I don't need to know about every little thing that happened in his high school career. Give us a little bit of exposition, but they needed to kill of Buzzy and break Eric's ankle by the 25% mark.
- The way this was written, it felt like a stream off consciousness rather than a book that went through story structure edits and multiple drafts. There were often times where the narration and the quotations were repeating each other. It dragged the story longer and made it harder to read.
Look, I'm a former high school XC and track runner. I will eat up anything about running that I can. I love and miss the joy of racing. But this just wasn't it.
*I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.*
August 13, 2021
This is a novel about a young man. I hate the whole "coming of age" theme, but if any book fits that description it is this one. The author seems to do whatever he can to get you to dislike the protagonist through the first 75% of the book.
As the cover and title show this is a book about a runner. Books with running settings can vary from a running being a small part of the story to being nearly the complete book (I think of Once A Runner here-still the greatest running book I have ever read and read and read). The first half plus is a story with a runner involved but is not a running story while the last third is focused on running. As a used to be runner I enjoyed the last segment of this book the most. Others who may be interested in this book are those who have ties to Brevard College. I am sure non-runners will enjoy the story as well.
Lastly the book ends in such a way that hints toward a future novel. I for one would welcome such a work.
Note I read the kobo edition.
As the cover and title show this is a book about a runner. Books with running settings can vary from a running being a small part of the story to being nearly the complete book (I think of Once A Runner here-still the greatest running book I have ever read and read and read). The first half plus is a story with a runner involved but is not a running story while the last third is focused on running. As a used to be runner I enjoyed the last segment of this book the most. Others who may be interested in this book are those who have ties to Brevard College. I am sure non-runners will enjoy the story as well.
Lastly the book ends in such a way that hints toward a future novel. I for one would welcome such a work.
Note I read the kobo edition.
July 27, 2021
One Last Mile by Roger Saltsman is a inspirational novel about a young runner named Eric, who is a star runner on his high school team. As the book starts, our protagonist is a bit arrogant in his ways, though we learn more about him as he talks about his upbringing with his widowed single mom. A life altering tragedy kills his dream of a full athletic scholarship at any of the best colleges, and Eric has to do some soul searching to make alternative plans after high school.
The story follows a few years in his life. At one point, Eric is given a possible opportunity to compete again as a runner, but it will take a lot of will power and coming to terms with his past to get there.
I really enjoyed the book a lot. You can tell when an author spends a lot of time on a book, or when it’s a rush job. I can see the care that went into crafting this story and creating these characters. It’s an inspiring story about confronting your past and following your goals. Bonus points if you’re into running, there are a lot of descriptions of the training and mindset of an athlete, as well as exciting descriptions of the races.
I look forward to reading more from Roger Saltsman.
The story follows a few years in his life. At one point, Eric is given a possible opportunity to compete again as a runner, but it will take a lot of will power and coming to terms with his past to get there.
I really enjoyed the book a lot. You can tell when an author spends a lot of time on a book, or when it’s a rush job. I can see the care that went into crafting this story and creating these characters. It’s an inspiring story about confronting your past and following your goals. Bonus points if you’re into running, there are a lot of descriptions of the training and mindset of an athlete, as well as exciting descriptions of the races.
I look forward to reading more from Roger Saltsman.
August 8, 2021
Great young adult story
This story is about a young man in his successful high school foot races, challenges that tore him down, a sad accident that made him doubt his worth and his talent, but a goal to work towards after high school.
The tenacity required to accomplish success in physical and mental strength is a monumental lesson for this young man to achieve, as well as providing an example to young adults to never give up.
This story is about a young man in his successful high school foot races, challenges that tore him down, a sad accident that made him doubt his worth and his talent, but a goal to work towards after high school.
The tenacity required to accomplish success in physical and mental strength is a monumental lesson for this young man to achieve, as well as providing an example to young adults to never give up.
September 7, 2021
This was a refreshing read about a young man's journey from confident, self-absorption through a life shattering injury and tragedy to rebuilding and reprioritizing his life. It's an interesting story that had me interested right from the first to the abrupt last line. It also makes me want to find a mile race to watch for I suspect I will be looking with a different set of eyes from now on.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
July 24, 2021
One Last Mile by Roger Saltsman is a great, feel good story, filled with inspiration and determination. The main character, Eric, is determined to attend college on a track scholarship. Due to a series of tragic events, he graduates and moves in with an uncle. A surprising event convinces him to give running another try and chases a new dream - one that could come with a full-ride scholarship. A very sweet story which will pull at the heartstrings. Highly recommend!
October 24, 2021
This story has it all! It is a coming-of-age story about Eric Roberts, rising through tragedy while maturing and finding out what really matters to him most, family/friends and running. I throughly enjoyed the characters and the interactions and relationships Eric had with each of them. It was a real page turner. Even if you aren't a fiction sports reader, you can enjoy the inspirational story within.
July 8, 2021
It was hard to put down
December 5, 2021
Great Story
I wasn't sure if I would like this kind of book, but it was excellent. I have never wanted to be a runner but I enjoyed learning something while I read a good story. Everyone should check this book out
I wasn't sure if I would like this kind of book, but it was excellent. I have never wanted to be a runner but I enjoyed learning something while I read a good story. Everyone should check this book out
December 6, 2021
Goodreads giveaway. This book needs editing ! It needed to have a grammar check, a spell check and a heavy hand from the editor!
October 5, 2022
is this a good book about running? Yes. is this a great book about running? Not really. if you want to read a great running book, please read Running & Being: The Total Experience by George Sheehan. Now that I think abut it, if you run you really should read that book. It (One Last Mile) has heart & soul by the metric ton. After it got going, I could not stop reading it. This should be mandatory reading for all high school XC teams.
April 15, 2023
I love running books but not shoddy ones. And this one was very good. Very believable about a young man and his quest for a certain time in the mile. The back stories or side stories really added to the plot. One fault - at the end of the book, the author talks about all the editing the book went through, and it still needs more. Many grammatical errors. Too many.
January 28, 2023
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I think it had good detail. There were some grammatical errors. It was nice to watch Eric evolve and mature throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2022
Starts slow but builds up momentum - stick with the story & you will enjoy it.
October 28, 2023
inspirational running story
Great read, nice character development. Makes me want to work hard for a Boston Marathon qualification time. The plot development was to notch
Great read, nice character development. Makes me want to work hard for a Boston Marathon qualification time. The plot development was to notch
December 20, 2023
Easy read
Once started,couldn't put the book down. Habits and runner's superstitions are there. Easy to see the improvement with a good coach and plan
Once started,couldn't put the book down. Habits and runner's superstitions are there. Easy to see the improvement with a good coach and plan
January 7, 2025
Great and motivating story
A few life lessons and peek into small town Western Carolina life before the rest of the country discovered its beauty.
A few life lessons and peek into small town Western Carolina life before the rest of the country discovered its beauty.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews