About the Book
Standing at the start of his last regular season race, Jordan was in pain.
He knew the race was going to hurt. His shape was not in question, his
injury was. When the gun sounded, Jordan took off with only one thing on
his mind, the coach’s race plan. He noticed some of Tech East’ runners
around him but their best, Steve Lash or Stan Newbern weren’t there. Instead,
they were other runners possibly trying to force the pace. They played
right into Jordan’s hands. He picked the pace up and flew through the first
mile in 4:52, faster than the week before by 3 seconds. By then, no one
from Tech East was near him. Even Cliff Wills from Liberty who was in the
race was not close. Jordan pushed his sore leg over the course, painful
step after painful step. With every footfall of his left foot the pain
would shoot through his leg. By the end of the second mile, not only did
he have a good lead but he also had stomach cramps. The cramps were caused
either from lunch or from changing his stride because of his left leg.
On the last mile, even though the pain was different, it was the worst
he had experienced all season. With a half-mile to go it was slowing him
down. By the time he burst out of the woods and saw the finish a quarter
mile away, he had nothing left. He just wanted the pain to end. All he
could hear was the Tech East fans screaming at one of their runners who
was closing in fast. Jordan looked around and saw Stan Newbern who was
sprinting up behind him. Jordan could go no faster. But as Jordan turned
back around the finish line was upon him. He crossed the line in a grimace
of pain and against every ones concerns laid down at the end of the chute
with no wishes to ever stand again. Today he had used it all; the well
was empty.
About the Author
Free-lance writer and track and field literature historian, Paul Boyette
has been a runner for 30 years. This is his first book about the sport
set in the era of the mid 1970's. He is presently working on his next book
“The Essential Guide to Running Literature”. He has also written a booklet
for the RRCA 2002 Convention titled, “Guide Booklet to the best of Running
Literature”. He is a regular contributor to “The Rundown”, a monthly newsletter
of the Tidewater Striders. He lives, writes, and races in Tidewater, VA.
Visit the Tidewater Striders web site at www.tidewaterstriders.com
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