Reviews
" Running to the Edge reveals the untold history of how a determined coach and his motley crew of underdogs practically defibrillated U.S. distance running. It is at once a beautiful meditation on effort and a tale as captivating and suspenseful as a great race." --David Epstein , New York Times bestselling author of The Sports Gene " Running To The Edge is at its heart a vivid, fascinating and affectionate portrait of a man who changed the sport of running in America, and of the sport that changed him. Through the story of a pioneer coach, Bob Larsen, Matt Futterman deftly describes both the running boom era of the 1970s and 1980s, and the resurgence of American distance-running talent in the aughts. I can't think of a runner who wouldn't enjoy this book." -- Ed Caesar, author of Two Hours: The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon "A captivating narrative. Futterman gives us an informative history of American distance running while telling a fascinating story about a group of unconventional San Diegan boys who unexpectedly competed for a national cross country championship in 1976 against the well-established major running clubs. Futterman profiles a young coach Bob Larsen, who was developing training methods that would later turn UCLA into a national running powerhouse, and help lead Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor to become Olympic marathon medal winners." --Bill Pierce, co-author of Run Less, Run Faster "At the core, running is about pushing one's self to the limit. Matthew Futterman's Running to the Edge is a fascinating account of Bob Larsen's journey to uncover the secrets of optimal run training, initially for himself and then for his runners. The story is riveting. If you love running this book will knock your shoes off--highly recommended!" --Jordan D. Metzl, MD, author of Dr. Jordan Metzl's Running Strong "Matt Futterman's definitive examination of this primal human sport--distance running--richly serves a subject he knows intimately and rewards the reader with a captivating ride. This is a classic American underdog tale, populated by appealing oddballs, in search of answers to an age-old mystery: Why do we run? Running to the Edge takes you right where it promises it go." --Mark Frost, author of The Match , and creator of "Twin Peaks" "Many running fans know about marathon star Meb Keflezighi and perhaps even about his longtime coach, Bob Larsen. But few have heard about Larsen's life and coaching before Meb. That's the story told for the first time in Running to the Edge , a tale about the ragtag, improbably named "Jamul Toads" running club, and how Larsen's training methods turned the toads into national-class gazelles. It's a throwback story, recalling an era when passion was more important than sponsorships and the goal was more often guts than glory. Readers will feel themselves drawn into the Bob Larsen-Jamul Toads ethic, and they'll cheer out loud for the little-known underdogs. I know I did." - - Amby Burfoot , 1968 Boston Marathon champ, former editor in chief of Runners World and author of Runner's World Complete Book of Running "Packed with valuable knowledge elegantly conveyed, Running to the Edge is an inspiring and eye-opening look into the evolution of the distance running tradition. Matthew Futterman beautifully translates his passion and curiosity for running into a book that speaks to runners of all abilities." -- Alexi Pappas, distance runner and star of Tracktown, "A captivating narrative. Futterman gives us an informative history of American distance running while telling a fascinating story about a group of unconventional San Diegan boys who unexpectedly competed for a national cross country championship in 1976 against the well-established major running clubs. Futterman profiles a young coach Bob Larsen, who was developing training methods that would later turn UCLA into a national running powerhouse, and help lead Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor to become Olympic marathon medal winners." --Bill Pierce, co-author of Run Less, Run Faster
