“In running, if I get tired, I’ll stop; in boxing, if you get tired and stop; you’ll get murdered.”
– Floyd Patterson, former world heavyweight champ prior to running the New York City Marathon

I bet there are some runners who run in some pretty seedy neighborhoods that would tend to disagree.

There’s a book out that I can’t wait to read. The title is “A Race Like No Other” by Liz Robbins and the paperback hits the shelves September 22nd.

When you think of iconic marathons, the New York City Marathon and Boston Marathon have to be right on the top of your list. Since it’s pretty much a given that I will never qualify for the Boston Marathon, that only leaves me one option. I’ve never really thought about running in New York and to be brutally honest with myself, I’ve never really thought of myself as worthy enough to run in the race.

After reading the reviews on Amazon and reading Liz’s blog on the book, I think this might be the very thing I need to kick start my dreaming for running New York.

I love reading about running but I hate reading about the technical side of running. I enjoy the human interest stories that relate to running. When I get my Runner’s World every month, I skip to the feature story towards the back. Sure, I’ll take a peak at nutrition, running tips and shoe reviews but it’s the inspiring stories that I’m thinking about when I run.

That’s what’s so intriguing about this book. Not only does it look like to capture the spirit of the New York City Marathon but it also takes a look thru the eyes of regular runners like you and I that have stories to tell. Time will only tell if I ever run in New York but until that time, I’ll have to rely on Liz’s account.

Since most of us don’t have Monday off I’ve set the DVR to record the 113th Boston Marathon. For those of you that would like to do the same, it’s being broadcast on NBC’s Universal Sports.

There site has a bunch of interviews and support pieces. I suggest checking it out when you have time. Click here for the Boston Marathon site.

Big running events need to be broadcast nationally. Here’s to hoping that the big five (Boston, Chicago, NYC, London and Berlin) will all be on for us to celebrate in the achievements of our sports best.

RMFR