Keeping it Real

"He ran because it grounded him in the basics. There was both life and death in it; it was unadulterated by media hype, trivial cares, political meddling.... Running to him was real, the way he did it the realest thing he knew. It was all joy and woe, hard as a diamond; it made him weary beyond comprehension. But it also made him free." 

Once A Runner 

The book Once a Runner by John Parker was written over 40 years ago now. Parker self published it and used to sell copies out of the back of his car at college and high school meets. The book is now a cult classic for runners and others and has been called "the best book ever written about running." 

Most people of my generation learned about the book because a teammate told us to read it. My college teammate Mike McGrath was the one who gave a copy to me back in 1982. I have bought it for athletes I have coached at times.  But it is not for every runner. You have to get to a point in your running where you transcend the reasons you run from just being on a team or just trying to get in shape. 

So I don't expect everyone to understand today's post. But the quote summarizes what I am looking for for every athlete at North Shore no matter the sport.