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Michael Taylor, December 11, 2007

Oh how I wish this book were still in print. Grab it while you can! It's among my all-time favorite titles and I don't know how many people I have recommended it to. FLANAGAN'S RUN takes place during the US depression and involves a likeable flim flam man who comes up with the idea of holding a Trans-America foot race with a big cash prize. It attracts tens of thousands to the starting line in California . . . everyone from the desperate and unprepared to a Scots runner and Powderhill champion sent by his out-of-work companions in a coal mine, a dancer from Minskys, a little runner representing his village in the hills of Mexico, a strong and silent widower on the run as a result of accidentally killing a man in a boxing bout, and an old veteran of the 7-day races and marathons who sells patent medicine on the side. There are also US and German national teams who sometimes use less than legal methods to remain at the top. The chapters are peppered with real people of that time whose names you'll recognize and some hilarious towns. Without going into detail and spoiling things, I'll mention that one event involves a Scottish Highland games competition and another a cross-country relay race against a trotter. Flanagan and his runners are forced into one fundraising event after another when the US Olympic committee objects to the participation of amateur athletes (whose amateur status would be nullified, making them ineligible to compete in the Olympics) and tries to sabotage it in any way possible. The author is able to bring authenticity to the book because at one time he coached runners for the British Olympic team and was also an advisor for the film, CHARIOTS OF FIRE. Extremely well written and plotted. You'll be carried along and constantly wondering what else can possibly happen to these runners. I first read it while on a hiking trip in Canada about 20 years ago. My companion on the trip, who is not much of a book reader, picked it up after I had finished with it and couldn't put it down. And it is 444 pages long! That's an extremely strong testimonial to its charm.

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