Marathon

by Hal Higdon

For several years Hal Higdon, Contributing Editor for Runner’s World Magazine, has devoted his working hours to writing a work of fiction. Higdon’s just-completed Marathon describes the 72 hours leading up to a major marathon. You can buy that book now.

Higdon, who has published 35 books and sold articles to magazines as diverse as Sports Illustrated, Playboy and National Geographic, is best known as a writer of non-fiction. (Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide has sold more than a quarter-million copies.) Although technically this is Higdon’s first novel, he has written fiction before for children. The Horse That Played Center Field was made into an animated film by ABC-Television. “I’ve always wanted to write an adult novel,” admits the Runner’s World contributor. “But busy with other projects, I just never found time. It finally reached the point where I had this idea threatening to explode within my head, and I just had to let it out.”

For Marathon, Higdon created a fictional marathon with 50,000 runners, each with their own goals, whether it be winning, qualifying for Boston, or having a medal hung around their necks after finishing in four, five or six hours. The main character of the book is race director Peter McDonald, who in the final 72 hours before the marathon’s start must cope with: warm weather, sponsorship problems, the illness of a star runner, and the appearance of a celebrity “more famous than Oprah.” Complicating McDonald’s life further is the arrival in town of a very attractive woman, TV reporter Christine Ferrara. When will she learn his dark secret? Marathon offers readers a multi-character and multi-dimensional story, one in the grand tradition of Arthur Hailey’s best-selling books, Hotel and Airport.
The official publication date for Marathon is 7:30 AM on Sunday, October 11, not too coincidentally the starting time for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Until that date, Hal will be both signing and numbering pre-publication copies of his novel. You can order your copy of Marathon now by clicking on the link below.

Genres: Fiction

454 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Hal Higdon is an American writer and runner. He has contributed to Runner's World magazine longer than any other writer. He is the author of 34 books, including the best-selling Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide. He has worked as a freelance writer since 1959, and has written a variety of subjects including a children's book that was made into an animated feature. He ran eight times in the United States Olympic Trials and won four World Masters Championships. He is one of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA).

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little hit or miss. I really enjoyed the variety of characters and especially the last section which described the fictional Lake City Marathon as it took place. At other times it bogged down with repetitious details (i.e., length of a marathon? Twenty-six miles and 385 yards--which I know because it was repeated about twenty times throughout the race section alone. I have run a marathon in the past, but I prefer to stick to the more common 26.2 miles description). Some of the plot lines were a bit forced or overplayed as well.

My two biggest gripes had to do with the fictional setting. The marathon is set in "Lake City," a large city on the southern end of a Great Lake. However, seeing as the marathon course itself crosses the Des Plaines River and there are numerous references to Chicago (some of them quite clever), it's obvious that the setting is Chicagoland with a sprinkling of northwest Indiana in the mix. I'd prefer that authors in general set their stories in a real city rather than work so hard to cover up an actual well-known location while still citing geographic details, but that may be my pet peeve. (Also, if I hadn't grown up in Chicagoland and gone to college in NW Indiana, it might have flown under my radar.) My other gripe had to do with a plot event near the end that turned the book from fiction into fantasy. Suffice it to say that if said event had occurred, the ending would have to be necessarily different to be vaguely believable.

Other than that, the book flew by and I was particularly interested to see how a few of the plot lines developed outside of, of course, finding out who wins the marathon.

Readers who don't mind skimming when things slow down and suspending their disbelief for a bit will find this a mildly entertaining read.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but was unable to. Hal Higdon can get me through any number of race distances, but the writing of this book left me wanting to tear my eyes out. The strangeness of multiple omniscience within a matter of sentences was jarring. There were too many plotlines, and none of the characters were fleshed out enough that I cared about them.
My biggest issue was the last line of the book, indicating that everyone lives happily ever after. I'm sorry, but if I'm going to be reading a fairy tale, you need to start the book with Once Upon a Time, otherwise I'll think I'm just reading regular fiction.
Why did I finish the book? I wanted to know what happened. Needless to say, I found the ending disappointing as well. I'm the kind of person who is constantly surprised by endings, and I saw all of it coming 26 miles down the road.
Like others have said, the story does get better during the actual race, but only marginally. I deserve a finishers medal for making it all the way through this book.

[Jac · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was pretty terrible. From the poorly edited repetitive sentences to the unnecessary focus on how horny all the women were and how their boobs felt rubbing against their clothes, or whatever the hell that was. Didn't even manage to be a good description of running a marathon once we finally reached the race.

And holy shit, what was that line - "his skin so dark against his white teeth that he could have been in a toothpaste ad, if toothpaste ads used black people"? I've already returned the book so can't doublecheck but, jesus.

[Linda Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book for those planning to run a marathon or half marathon. Hal Higdon is an expert at helping novices (like me) complete their first marathon or experienced marathoners to improve. Great plans in the back of the book for novices, intermediates and advanced runners.

[Karen Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a super fun page turner!! I loved the Celebrity X story line especially. Totally written with Chicago in mind - the writing isn’t the most “sophisticated” but I’d recommend this to other runners who enjoy reading fiction once in a while.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years as I've taken part in marathons and half-marathons, I've often expressed that a huge part of the appeal for me is being part of a giant circus rolled out for a weekend and then torn down again. Through a fictional race in a composite city, Higdon takes the reader through the logistics of these circuses and reveals pieces of information that the average participant may have always wondered about or may not have even considered.

I had such a great time inside this novel! Although it is not difficult to find non-fiction about the lives of marathoners and ultra-marathoners, finding a rich and detailed novel about this subculture is unusual. The fact that it was so well written was a plus. I was riveted every moment, and just when I thought the action had climaxed with the men's elite finish, I was rewarded with so much more excitement! I would say that this book will take it's place in my top five, but I can't unseat one of those, so I'm going to have to have a top six favorites, Marathon among them

[Gary Mundhenke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book - especially for runners. Gave a very good behind the scenes look at what is involved in planning and executing a marathon. This is a work of fiction so the marathon is fictional one and also has a nice story line with many of the characters in the book.

I bought this book at a the expo/packet pick-up and the author Hal Higdon was there at a table selling this book. So I have an personalized autgraphed copy by the author.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me of a medical thriller where you think the specialized topic will have limited appeal but then the author takes the story to the edge to create some good tension. This was better than I expected. :)

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The book covers the 72 hours leading up to the race and then the race. Many characters including the race director, members of the press, famous runners, elite runners and average runners. The most exciting part of the book was the actual marathon.

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seriously needed an editor. It got more interesting during the race section, even though I saw the ending coming 26.2 miles away :-P You'll definitely have to suspend logic and reason during the race section.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whoa. Hal Higdon should stick to nonfiction.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hal should stick with non-fiction.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down! Such a great story about the preperation of the marathon and a large cast of characters to keep the book interesting.

[Karon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was enjoying this book until I found out who celeb x was. Immediately lost all interest.

[Agatha Donkar Lund · Rating 3 out of 5]

First 350 pages: rotten. Actual marathon narration: fantastic. Also, featured the Pope.

[Michel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was entertaining but the plot was far fetched. The ending was fine but the epilogue was appalling.

[Rick Reitzug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little hokey in parts but, nonetheless, a very enjoyable read for anyone who has ever run a marathon (or is considering running a marathon).