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Willamette Valley Road Runners (WVRR)
www.WVRoadrunners.org.

Run Down on Runners' Biographies by Abigail Elder, Dan Fontanini and Judy Martin

     This year brought a great crop of biographies, sure to satisfy and inspire you through the long, dark nights of winter. All are approved for reading while on the treadmill or whenever you need some motivation. Available at your local library.

Chasing the Hawk: Looking for My Father, Finding Myself by Andrew Sheehan
    This book has just come out and already has received great reviews. While runners revered George Sheehan as a philosopher for the sport, his relationship with his son Andrew languished due to the father's emotional distance. The careful rebuilding of their relationship is a testament to the power of family and forgiveness.

No Finish Line: My Life As I See It by Marla Runyan and Sally Jenkins
     Soon to be released, this autobiography is the story of Marla Runyan, the first blind Olympian. Co-written with Sally Jenkins (the same woman who co-authored Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike), this promises to be a great read.

Running with Pheidippides: Stylianos Kyriakides, the Miracle Marathoner by Nick Tsiotos and Andy Dabilis.
     As the world came out of World War II, Kyriakides risked his life to win the 1946 Boston Marathon. He sought draw attention to the plight of the Greek people, starving and destitute after years of resisting the Axis powers and in the midst of a civil war. Suffering the effects of starvation himself, Kyriakides ignored doctors' warnings and became a worldwide hero.

Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
     Okay, so in this story the runner is a horse, not a human. If you can get past that little detail, you will love this book. An unwanted horse, a partially blind jockey and a socially inept trainer work with a flamboyant owner to create one of the biggest legends of the 1930s.

See How She Runs: Marion Jones & the Making of a Champion by Ron Rapopart
     By now, we all know the story of Marion Jones and her quest for gold in Sydney. This book, written before her Olympic bid, reveals how she came to be the best. In addition to the personal information about Jones, this book is a great introduction to the world of track and field.

Up and Running: The Jami Goldman Story by Jami Goidman and Andrea Cagan
     New to the shelves is another incredible story of beating the odds. Trapped in a car for eleven days during a blizzard, Jami Goidman was rescued but lost both legs below the knee. With state-of-the-art prosthetics, she has become a world-class runner.

Abigail Elder

It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins
     "The truth is. ..I would rather have the title of cancer survivor than winner of the Tour, because of what it has done for me as a human being, a man, a husband, a son, and a father", states Lance Armstrong in It's Not About the Bike. The truth is... this book is a must read for anyone who thinks Lance Armstrong is only a three time winner of the Tour de France. It chronicles the life of a trash-talking, brash, arrogant kid from Piano, Texas - a kid with more raw talent than just about anyone in the world. As cancer weaves itself into a healthy body, this book weaves the story of Lance Armstrong around his battle with cancer. The reader gets a first-hand look, no holds barred, of what it's like to be sentenced to death and then battle for life anyway. It's not a pretty picture. But it explains a lot about the development of a human being. It explains a lot about how adversity can wake us up. It explains why it's not having talent that counts; it's what we do with the talent.
     And don't despair, cycling fans. While the soul of the book is not about the bike, there are fun and exhilarating cycling passages. This guy can ride!
     Written with Sally Jenkins and published by G. P. Putnam's Sons. Read it, you'll like it.

Dan Fontinini

Running After Antelope by Scott Carrier.
     When I heard Scott on Ira Glass's National Public Radio program "This American Life," I had to read this book! The author describes his incredible adventures, including several attempts with his brother to run down antelope! After all, man has the greater endurance....
     Antelope have diaphragms that cause them to breathe in such a way that they have to rest. So the logic goes, and so the brothers go, chasing antelope across the hills of Montana. You can listen to Scott's stories on www.thisamericanlife.com or you can check out the book from the library. I predict that you'll laugh, and you'll shake your head in amazement!

Judy Martin