Runner's World called Once A Runner "The best novel ever written about running." Personally, I agree with the running part of that compliment. I loved the descriptions of both the physical & mental demands placed upon runners. Unfortunately, I didn't like the "hero" of the novel Quenton Cassidy, at all. I couldn't help but wonder why a runner blessed with such a natural gift had such a negative attitude on just about everything in his life. After awhile I just got tired of his self indulgent whining. ( )

I started running in the mid-1970s in Middle School, discovering a love for running it Cross Country and Track. This book brought me back to this era with all the descriptions from the shoes to the attitude of racing when the U.S. was catching the spirit of the running boom. Some parts of this book dragged for me, others were great. ( )

An okay novel, but pretty much perfect encapsulation of endurance sport and running in particular. The author grasps the essentially indescribable nature of dedicating your existence to repeating over and over and over again the same basic mechanical actions and somehow believing that it is the greatest thing you could possibly be doing.
Beautifully captures the despair, longing, childish delight, monotony, aching thrill and wild surges of adrenaline that come with trying to get yourself to go ever so slightly faster. ( )

My co-worker gave me this book to read. All his said was, "This is a must read if you are a runner." I could not put it down once I started. I know first hand that runners are "rare-breads." This book is able to put what every runner thinks into words in a hilarious fictional text. At times I thought that the Quentin Cassidy was one of my former college teammates. I am happy to recommend this book to other runners! ( )

If you've run competitively you've probably already read this, everyone else can skip it. ( )