Marathon: from start to finish
category: self help, author:Sam Murphy
original copyright 2004
read in April 2012
Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10: really quite good
A marathon is about 42 km, 26 miles. For most of us, it's an enormously long way. A long way to run, anyway.
Could I even make the distance? Or would I just collapse along the way...
This book is rather reassuring.
No, Marathon does not go all gung-ho. There is no exhortation to run through the pain... No demand to win at all costs... No claim that positive thinking will overcome the agony of the body...
In Marathon, Murphy simply treats the run as something that can be done.
Sure, you need to train. And perhaps you need a doctor's check-up before you even start. But -- in this book -- a marathon is just a longish race to be run. Not a challenge to be won. Just a race to be run.
For the runner who is considering running a marathon, this book is quite reassuring. Without being demanding.
Do you feel foolish if you can't run all the way? Walk if you must. You're just not going to make the distance? Withdrawing from the race is an acceptable option.
Yes, you want to complete a marathon. But it does not have to be "this" marathon.
Yes, it would be nice to win a marathon. This book is all about taking part... And doing what you can. Perhaps to the best of your own ability.
A good positive approach to a major physical challenge. Follow this book for your first few marathons. Then employ a sadistic personal trainer if winning is your ultimate goal.
As an aside: It's a good book which is already showing the effect of rapidly advancing culture and technology.
The names of races have changed... Sponsors with naming rights have changed. But it's still easy to track down the renamed races.
The biggest changes are in technology.
Sports watches with GPS tracking are now common. And the internet has developed.
Murphy mentions web sites which help you to track sponsorship. Now each race will (probably) come with its own sponsorship pages.
Various other mentions of the web are also rapidly being outdated.
Not that this detracts at all from the book!
This is an excellent book for the wannabe marathon runner. Set at a realistic level, with good advice. Just minor details of technology already behind the times.
Read and learn.
And good luck with your run!
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