My lovely friend Cari sent me this in a parcel of books very recently – we’ve been reading friends for well over a decade and since she’s started running, running/reading friends, and there has always been a flow of books between us. Even though I have reading plans and challenges to do, given the circumstances of doing my first ultramarathon this past weekend, I pulled it from the shelves to take with me for that essential very-early-morning pep-talk read. And it worked well! So thank you, Vassos, for a great book which helped me through that morning and was fun recovery reading, too.
Vassos Alexander – “Don’t Stop me Now: 26.2 Tales of a Runner’s Obsession”
(05 July 2019: BookCrossing)
Based around the 26.2 miles of the marathon at the end of his first Ironman triathlon, one chapter per mile, and the frankly hideous time he had, explained by various errors he made, this also covers his journey into running and also pieces by different runners and their own stories, from Olympic medallists to a random man he collided with on a bridge and his own children. As a sports journalist he’s had access to some greats, and it’s lovely to see favourites there.
I hadn’t realised when I picked it up to take with me that he actually did Race to the Stones as his own first ultra, but when I did realise, I quickly leafed through to that section and gained some last minute inspiration, how lovely and appropriate was that? Talk about reading books in the place they’re set!
I really liked the honesty of both Alexander and his interviewees – from Donovan Bailey, the sprinter’s, new respect for endurance runners in the midst of hurt after a long run to Alexander’s own desperate toilet break (if there’s one thing runners love it’s a toilet story). I also liked his use of the well-known term “hangry” (crossly hungry) and the previously unknown “runpy” (lack of a run grumpy), the latter of which I am indeed right now myself.
An entertaining book, there are always new tricks of the trade to pick up or mistakes to avoid, and I liked the context of his work reporting on sports allowing him to run in all sorts of different places.
Black Knight
Jul 21, 2019 @ 09:37:58
Interesting book, even if now, for me, the mistakes to avoid are related to “survive” and no more to improve speed and mileage.
“Don’t stop me now” is also a Rod Stewart’s beautiful song.
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Liz Dexter
Jul 21, 2019 @ 10:32:11
His mistakes included dropping his cake that he was meant to eat during his marathon and having no fuel, and turning up to Race to the Stones with his old gardening trainers on, having left his proper ones behind. Quite fun to read!
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heavenali
Jul 21, 2019 @ 10:33:41
How lovely to be able to take such a helpful book with you that had been sent by a friend. Glad it was a good read.
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Liz Dexter
Jul 21, 2019 @ 19:54:18
Yes, it was perfect timing!
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Wendy
Jul 21, 2019 @ 19:47:42
I’ve got my share of toilet stories, lol! Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the review!
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Liz Dexter
Jul 21, 2019 @ 19:54:32
Goodness me, yes. Like … no, I’ll leave that one!
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Cari
Jul 22, 2019 @ 13:55:19
Oh I thought I’d told you he ran Race to the Stones. That’s why I was trying so hard to get it to you in time. Glad you got on better with it. If I ever get his other one to the top of Mt. TBR, that’s yours too
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Liz Dexter
Jul 22, 2019 @ 14:13:25
You know what, you probably did! I didn’t realised how fatigued I’ve been with a woolly brain!
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Cari
Jul 22, 2019 @ 15:06:56
Sometimes I lose track — easy to find if the conversation is in MEssenger but often we’re scattered across FB, blog comments. Maybe I just thought I did
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