runners (sports)

Matt Long recounts how he fought through the fear, despair, loneliness, and intense physical and psychological pain he endured after being struck by a bus and nearly losing his life, and chronicles his efforts to train for the New York City Marathon.

The 26.2 mile Antarctica Marathon, first held in 1995, is now an annual event that sells out years in advance. Muddy, cold, hilly, and horrible, the race goes up and down a melting glacier twice, past curious penguins and hostile skuas. What possesses runners to brave a trip across the world's most turbulent body of water, the Drake Passage, to be a part of all this? When John Hanc turned fifty, he gave himself a present: a trip to the marathon. He attempts to answer the question of why in his book.

Chronicles the 1952-54 struggle between Britain's Roger Bannister, Australia's John Landy, and the U.S.'s Wes Santee to become the first person to ever run a mile in under four minutes.

Quenton Cassidy, trying to cope with the death of a friend and realizing his life as an attorney is unfulfilling, returns to the world of competitive running and tries to qualify for the Olympic team.

Tells the life story of ultramarathon runner Scott Jurek, describing his beginnings as a runner, his victories, and his training and lifestyle.

Outlines the history of the marathon and the careers of seven great marathon runners, including Emil Zatopek, Abebe Bikila, Frank Shorter, and Bill Rodgers.

Biographies of world record-breaking mile runners, including Glenn Cunningham, Roger Bannister, Herb Elliott, Jim Ryun, Kip Keino, John Walker, Filbert Bayi, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, and Mary Decker.

After setting a record at the Virginia Cross-Country Championship, Zan sets her goals for an Olympic gold medal in the first women's marathon in Olympic history set to take place in Los Angeles in 1984.