December 18, 2023 BORN TO RUN

 

Did you grow up--BACK IN THE DAY?? When your parents didn't know where the HELL you were AND  didn't seem to care---As long as you made it home for dinner. Summer days were spent running around the fields, riding bikes, or swimming in the pond. FREEDOM. The good old American Childhood. My brothers and I were left home to fend for ourselves in the summer. We were young--the oldest being 11 years old. It was survival of the fittest. Kool aid and fluffernutter sandwiches if we were lucky. I can vividly remember sweating to death in the heat and humidity thinking the sprinkler in the backyard was the answer to our prayers. Life was pretty simple and innocent. If you want to feel that way again then I recommend you check out John L. Parker's lovely novel Racing The Rain. Parker is a three time Southeastern Conference mile champion, US Track and Field National Champion and former Olympic runner. Racing the Rain is the prequel to his incredible book Once a Runner.  The main character of this coming of age story is Quentin Cassidy, who grows up in the Florida Gold Coast in the 1950s-60s. As the story unfolds,  Quentin is a young boy of about ten who loves running. Parker captures the innocence of youth as Quentin runs barefoot not only against his friends, but against the rain because it's fun. As Quention grows,  he discovers that he has a gift--speed-- but also perseverance, and a desire to win. The reader then follows Quentin through junior high and high school where he learns many lesson from coaches (good and bad) and mentors including the eccentric "Tarzan of the Swamp" John Nelson. The writing is flawless--the descriptions vivid--and the cast of characters--priceless. You don't have to be a runner to enjoy this book. It's really about so much more. This little gem is about 360 pages and  well worth your time. Enjoy.