Ah, the book that single-handedly killed my love of running. Just kidding. I’m being a bit dramatic, but in a running book my bar is reasonably low: Does this book make me want to run? If the answer is no, then it isn’t a great running book. But I get ahead of myself.
Once upon a time we lived in a world where everyone and their aunt hadn’t run a marathon, or trail race, or even ultramarathon. It was a simpler time without social media and that sort of thing. People who had hobbies, like running had to get magazines about their interests. John Morelock started running marathons in 1985 where he ran four in eleven weeks. This is not common, but Morelock didn’t know that. He then started running Ultras and writing an article for UltraMarathon Magazine called Run Gently Out There, do you see what is happening here? Many of the essays or vignettes were previously published in his column. I’d never read it, so I couldn’t tell you which percentage or compare and contrast from previously published vs. newly published material. Morelock’s writing doesn’t have a cohesive style (perhaps that is what bothered me so much?). Sometimes he tries to be funny. Sometimes he tries to rally the running family troops together. Sometimes he instructs. Sometimes he admires nature. Every now and again there is some poetry involved. Yes, heaven help us all, I did say poetry. At the end of the book, I felt like I knew what running meant to Morelock, but through his writings I didn’t get many profound insights as to what running means to me. I didn’t connect well with this book. Maybe it is because I came to maturity when so many people I know run marathons and trails and long distances so I don’t need a grandfatherly initiation to the mysteries of running. Maybe it is because the lack of a cohesive point was the struggle? For whatever reason, this book only rarely made me want to dust off the running shoes and hit the trail.
There were positives. Some of the essays and philosophies are beautifully thought provoking and well written. Exactly the sort of thing I’d read for a quick article in a magazine or blog post. I felt that I understood Morelock, and his wife Kathy. I got insights about his personal relationship with running, nature, and his wife. I grew up in the Rocky Mountains and love nothing better than to be outside, up where there are very few people, and contemplate the big questions. I feel peaceful, and at ease which is in direct contrast to my scurry, scurry, scurry get things done lifestyle that I live day to day. I believe Morelock and I are on the same page there. We both feel the importance of taking the time to be truly aware of our surroundings. Morelock seems to love the running community, and if he were your friend would be helpful and considerate. His essays show a desire to volunteer at races and mentor young runners along.
While portions of this book were lovely, the book as a whole was challenging for me to get enthusiastic about. The format is odd, and the last 80 pages or dragged on and on and on for me. I didn’t feel any new insights were coming along and Morelock just didn’t know when to stop. If I had the time and energy, I think I could re-edit and abridge this book into the type of book I was hoping for when I started reading. There might be an audience for this book, but it wasn’t me.
I have not read this book but am familiar with Morelock’s writing through the column in UltraMarathon as well as some of his posts on a running forum I used to frequent. I agree that he is all over the place both in subject and style, to the point of being unreadable. He always reminded me of a crazy older neighbor that you might find yourself getting stuck talking to, all the while thinking, “what the hell is this guy talking about?”
Ha! Exactly. That is a much better way to review this book.
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