An Honorable Run

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But, freakishly, we had more important plans than indulging in liquid chocolate, if that's even possible. We robotically changed into tights, long sleeves, waterproof vests, caps and gloves. On Wednesdays, we were scheduled to run fifteen percent of our weekly quota. I had recently been experimenting with miles a week; that meant fifteen for me, as well as for the others. It was an aggressive workload, where we walked a fine line between injury and victory. Since snow covered the dirt trails, we used the lifeless Canyon Road which had been partially cleared.

It would have been one of the busiest roads in Boulder on a normal workday. We jogged over the wooden bridge above the creek and clicked our watches. One thought penetrated mind, "Run tough, when it's tough to run. We cruised down the center of the road, atop the yellow lane-dividing line.

It felt rebellious and freeing. Despite the massive orange snowplows that threatened to flatten us with each pass and the police roadblock set up at the bottom of the canyon, our Wednesday run into town proceeded smoothly.

Book Excerpt: An Honorable Run

After forty-five minutes, we popped into our team's headquarters, Balch Fieldhouse. Colorado's closed campus was devoid of life, yet we all knew at least one person would be there in his office, our leader: Mark also lived up Boulder Canyon, but had driven down before the police erected their roadblock. Seemingly indifferent to the weather, he penned the day's assignments as if the sun shone and all was as usual.

Almost the entire team would show up two hours later for practice, wearing the same "Snow? By the time we ran to his office, we had completed half of our workout, so he waived our attendance at practice and sent us back home, knowing we'd complete our remaining seven and a half miles along the way. Well, first I have to get over my bias of a book by someone who went to Regina The writing is not good enough to be likable by anyone who is 1 not a Regina alumnus 2 not from UC-Boulder 3 not an avid runner.

It basically falls in the same genre as all the facile feel-good books that seem to be swamping Barnes and Nobles tables--like Marley and Me, and Five People you Meet in Heaven, and so on. Except this book isn't quite as universally lika Well, first I have to get over my bias of a book by someone who went to Regina Except this book isn't quite as universally likable--see above.

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It was entertaining in so far as I'm a runner, know who Kara Goucher nee Wheeler is and the male CU runners--but otherwise, I finished it thinking, "well, good for you, I'm glad you've become somewhat more self-actualized, Matt McCue. A lot of folks have much better stories to tell, and while a touching encomium to his high school coach which I appreciate , it still at times just comes across as a poorly-written coming-of-age story.

Obviously, there are much better examples out there--Demian, for one, or more popular, Catcher in the Rye In short, his coach seemed a more interesting subject than him, but the book is about his coach's impact on his emotional growth, rather than perhaps, something more universal. Like, oh, Michael Lewis is able to do with the Blindside, or whathaveyou. Jul 26, David rated it really liked it. Recaps his high school in Iowa and college for U. Colorado distance running career, with main emphasis being his relationships with the coaches.

He was a very good terrific compared to most, but middle of the pack in his college conference, a non-scholarship walk-on for a national champion cross-country team runner but small fish in a big pond, and there is some nice material reflecting on how that affected his view of himself in general. Compared to, say, Chris Lear's book Running with the Buffaloes [focused on same college team a few years earlier: It's more of an extended essay about him and the coaches. Even there, it's a little lopsided -- he clearly respected and appreciated his college coach, but he loved and hero-worshiped his high school coach, as apparently did many others in same small town.

End of the book is poignant, as the h. He gave lots of hugs, but so do weird creepy people. He spouted aphorisms "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right" comes up a lot , but according to my kids even I do that. But regardless of whether it adds up to a precise explanation of the effect, it was a pleasure to read about such the author's experience and fond memories. Dec 11, Genevieve's Human rated it really liked it Shelves: An Honorable Run is well-written and a great read for runners.

It provides both a glimpse of the effect good coaching can have on ambitious kids and the mental state of high school and college cross country and track stars. It's riveting - I read it in about 3 hours on a Sunday morning - in part because the pace is quick and in part because the author does a good job of portraying both his own and his fellow athletes' and their coaches' personalities in a way that made me want to keep learning m An Honorable Run is well-written and a great read for runners.

It's riveting - I read it in about 3 hours on a Sunday morning - in part because the pace is quick and in part because the author does a good job of portraying both his own and his fellow athletes' and their coaches' personalities in a way that made me want to keep learning more about everyone in the story. Aug 16, Andrew rated it liked it. An interesting little book on running that focuses on the relationship between a runner and his high school and then college coach - two men with very different styles.

I thought the running descriptions were somewhat reminiscent of Once A Runner. Overall a pretty good book for any runner to spend a couple of hours with - but probably not as good as a read for non-runners. Sometimes I will get random phone calls, "Hey McCue. We're driving by your house.

He came to it which meant a lot to me. We went for a run together, just like old times. They're friends for life. DT - You guys lived in the "Fight Club" house as you called it. Is it still there?

Is it for Colorado runners still? MM - The house is still there now except Jorge doesn't live there now. Actually, Jorge's parents live there now. It's definitely not the bachelor pad it used to be. Jorge's mom put a lot more elegant touches on the decorations. There is still a sign outside announcing it as "The Fight Club.

What were the best things you took away from each coach? MM - Two guys who love coaching runners but couldn't have been more different in the way they went about it. From Coach Brown, I learned two important things. Coach Brown reminded me that it didn't matter as long as you gave your best effort. He treated everyone as an equal. Also the way Coach Brown defined success as giving nothing but your best. You can still find success even if you aren't at the top of the mountain. Coach Wetmore, very simple.

When he said something, you knew he really meant it. Every Sunday morning we would do a long run. We'd drive up to the mountains.

To do 20 miles in the mountains we'd run for over two hours. My Junior and Senior I was one of those guys. Everyone else would be gone. Coach Wetmore would be waiting there. He'd say, "How'd it go. Do you think this is a valid comparison?

I might have thought that at first, but it definitely changes as you get into the book. MM - That's a natural first thought. It goes in a different direction. While they are both about the University of Colorado, they are each their own story. A few more before we go. How is living in New York going? Are you working on any other writing projects? MM - It's been tough. I self published An Honorable Run. I feel there's a big audience for An Honorable Run.

I work about half to three-fourths of my day trying to market it, trying to put it out there as a mainstream title. The rest of my day I do my writing. It's very much like my running regimine. I write for two or three hours every morning. I also wrote a story for Runner's World. I don't know if they'll accept it. I have a younger brother Tim who was born with cerebal palsy. He can't walk without the assistance of a walker. The story is about two young men, two brothers, both who love track track.

Former CU runner pens ode to coaches, life lessons

They come to it from very different paths, different backgrounds. Tim did wheelchair racing in high school and I came from it as an able bodied person. We shared our sport in our own way. It's about runners who have a passion for running, but come from different backgrounds and different abilities. Congrats on the book. You said you self-published it, but I found it on Amazon. Is it readily available if you want to get it. MM - Yes it is. I think there is a stigma about self-publishing, but I am hoping it is going a way. It will continue to go away in the next couple of years.

I found a company that's affiliated with Amazon. Once I signed out for the book to go to press it immediately went onto Amazon.

"An Honorable Run" by Matt McCue review

I feel like that's a good place to get it out there. The book is also in about 30 running specialty shoe stores. You can't get a better supports system that that. I also sell it on my website. I am willing to talk to any high school team. I have a 25 minute presentation I give. I go for a run with them. That is something that has been really popular. If it's meant to be, if it's good, word will get out.

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