hound

Summer Reading

BY MICHELLE BOUR G

Ah, summertime. You've already run today, in the cool

of morning. Now the after­noon's torpor is setting in like a fog, and you've got the per­fect excuse to stretch out in the shade with a good book.

A good running story would be perfect, if you can find one. Books even periph-erally about running are a ~ rari ty on bestseller lists, which is ironic, because run­ning as a sport actually traces much of its origins to the world of literature. Cross­country began with the "paper chases" depicted in Thomas Hughes' 1857 novel "Tom Brown's Schooldays," and that contemporary phe­nomenon, the marathon, is the only major individual sporting event directly inspired by a literary work: French historian Michel Breal was moved by Browning's poem "Pheidippides" to propose a long-distance footrace as the centerpiece of the inaugural Olympiad in 1896, lending a symbolic link to the games of ancient Greece and helping to crystallize the modern Olympic movement.

Although it isn't front and center on bookstore shelves, good writing about running does exist. Some of the best is collected in "The Runner 's Lit­erary Companion," a one-volume runner 's summer reading list with dozens of page-turning short sto-

st 200'1 WINGFOOT

ries, novel excerpts , and poems that celebrate running in all its aspects. Some are familiar, like A.E. Housman's "To an Athlete Dying Young;" others will be new discover­ies. An eclectic mix of authors yields a wide range of styles and moods: the sweetness of Eddy Orcutt 's "Wheelbar­row," the cocky exuberance of Toni Cade Bambara's "Ray­mond's Run ," the gut-churn­ing tension of Lon Otto 's "We Cannot Save Him. "

Although non-runners can enjoy "The Runner's Literary Companion," runners are at the book's heart. This is clear both from the selections themselves and in their arrangement. Each section focuses on a different aspect of the running experience,

and every runner- fast or slow, elite racer or week­end jogger- will be drawn to one or more, whether it 's "The Milers ," "The Marathoners," or "The Sprinters." At different times, everyone will see themselves in "Winning and Losing" or "Time, Memory, and Age. "

Appetite whetted, you can turn to Roger Robin­son's "Running in Literature," a lighthearted and learned overview of running in literature from the classical period to the present. Reading it is like taking a Survey of Western Lit class from a witty and engaging professor, minus the pop quizzes and

with lots more talk about running. This isn't coincidence: ic quality- purists and linguaphiles may want to re-read the Robinson is a former world-class runner, a professor of English at Victoria Uni­versity in ew Zealand and the author of several books on literature. His arti­cles on running have appeared in Run­ner's World, Running Times and Marathon and Beyond.

If you tuned out in school, here's your chance to get painlessly acquainted with the classics. There's Atalanta, "surpassing in her gift of glorious speed as in her loveliness," and the Bible 's "man of Ben­jamin," whose 26-mile run to tell of Israel's loss to the Philistines predates Pheidippides ' jaunt by some 600 years . And the granddaddy of all classics, "The Iliad," proves that slapstick and irony aren't exclusively modem concepts, as the goddess Athena "lifts [Ajax's) hands and feet quick and high"-before caus­ing him to sprawl face-first in a pile of dung. (Note: Robinson's translations go for accessibility at the expense of aesthet-

older translations). The book continues towards the mod­

em era, looking at novels, poetry, nonfic­tion, and even plays, citing works by such diverse writers as Shakespeare, Heming­way, Elmore Leonard and Tom Stoppard. It spends an "unforgiving minute" with Kipling and traces the several tales of Pheidippides, as convoluted a literary journey as the Greek hero's legendary one. It concludes with an overview of titles specifically about running, by writ­ers like Hal Higdon and George Sheehan. Throughout, Robinson illuminates the topic with expert commentary, offered from a runner 's perspective as well as a scholar's and peppered with wry humor.

Perfect for whiling away a summer afternoon, "The Runner 's Literary Com­panion" and "Running in Literature" will give hours of enjoyment as well as ideas for further reading that will last long past Labor Day. e

register online at www.dlnodashrun.com Questions? 770-518-8002 II' nilce@~"IBII1811.CODI

......,.. on-line by August 8111

Last Name - -------------------

First Name---------------------A~ress ____________________ _

a+ Peri""e+er Ma(( www.t>in ot>a S'h Run. co 1\'1 City __________ State __ ZIP ___ _

.tM!M&il>fli!itiUlJlld8tl~· Ml'lls IJ'IIII8IIIBd to overal male & female and masblrs male & female, and top tlree male & female finishers in 14 age categm'ies. Food, prize rPeaw&Ys. kids' activity dage, and other surprises!

·ll?OO_i~W'W~i• 815111818 • $20 8/7-8/13 • 825 8/14. AI kids $15. *Special Fanty Rate (fOr~ I'III18I'S my) .. .$55 fOr a filMY or 4 (e.g., Dad, Mom, and 2 kils age 16 yen or YfiiQIIII'). filii­lea 111'!181' IIBI4 add 812 fOr each add1 chid.

~r~ ~ LA IFITNESS. ~~

!!ipeclal Olympic§ Georgia

P!mJMETER ;-..IALL

Day Phone E-mail Address--------

Age (on race day) OM OF Race: 0 5K OFun Run

T·Shirt Size: Adult: OS OM OL OXL Kids: OS OM OL AH Kids' $15 $15 II 8/B • $20 8/7-8/13 • $25 race day • $55 tor a family ot 4 (see detals under lees)

Make checks payable to Dickey Publishing. and mail to: Dinosaur Dash, 3535 Piedmont Rd, Bldg 14, 12th noor, AUanta, GA 30305 For more information, cal nD-518-8002 or email nike@atlantasportsmag.com.

WAIVER; 1 know that running a road race is a potentially hazardous activity, I am in proper physical condition to comM pete in this run and assume all risks associated with my participation including, but not limited to falls, contact with other participants, the effect of the weather including high heat andlor humidity, traffic, and the conditions of the road, all such risks being known and appreciated by me. I will not wear head sets or any device that restricts my hearing or other per· ception. In consideration of this entry, I for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release all race officials, Racing Solutions, Dickey Publishing. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, Chick-fil-a, Perimeter Mall (Rouse Prop­erty Managment, Inc), DeKalb County, Fulton County, Georgia Events Today Co., LL.C, Publix, La Fitness. and any other sponsors, groups or individuals associated with this event of any and all liability. Further I hereby grant the agents of this event permission to use photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, recordings or any other record of me in this event for any legitimate purpose. Entry fee is non·refundable.

Signature (Parenrs signature it applicant is under 18 years oldl Date

Parent • JEZEBEL

WINGFOOT July/August 200'\ 7