Runners & Other Dreamers

by John L. Parker

Parker's writing is as powerful as ever in this entrancing non-fiction collection of profile and essays. What really made Jim Ryun tick? Why did Jim Fixx really die? What is the Cinnamon Bun Theory and what does it have to do with Pat Porter, high altitude sickness, and four national cross country championships? Readers will find the answers to such questions and a great deal more in his latest work. This one is destined to become a cult classic like Once a Runner and Runners and Other Ghosts on the Trail. This collection of Parker's non-fiction pieces contains everything that originally appeared in the earlier Runners & Other Ghosts on the Trail plus much, much more. Profiles on Jim Ryun, Pat Porter, Barry Brown, Frank Shorter and others. Incisive essays on The place of sports in the post-industrial age, Comebacks, The Aging Athlete, and Missing the Poetry, all from his highly regarded Ultrasport columns. Lighter moments like The Great Dragon Run, The TeeVee Olympics, Training in Greece, and Getting Beaten by a Woman.

Paperback

First published April 1, 1989

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but no 'Once a Runner.' Then again, what is?

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wide range of Parker's life takes, from excellent to not so much. I enjoy most of the running life stories the best.