Talent thrives best where a few friends or relatives offer whole- hearted encouragement. The cheers of fans increase one's enjoyment of sport. A teenage New Zealander, Anne Audain, describes the joy of participating in the 1974 Commonwealth Games: ". . . it was just a wonderful experience and a load of fun. The bigger the event the more excited I got and the better I performed." In the Midwest, teenager Dick Beardsley found happiness with the encouragement of a friend's father: "Joe Ross was the biggest fan of running . . . . Because of him, I associated running with fun--and that's the key. He was always there for me."

Personal accounts from two world-class runners during the 1980s offer their own quirky insight into the sport and provide a chance to redefine "normal" behavior. These tales of forward motion, with diets that encourage light fasts and daily routines of long runs on nature trails or country roads, provide a refreshing alternative to spectator sports. A drive to uncover physical potential is described in Dick Beardsley's biography, Staying the Course, a comic delight until a serious second half battle with prescription drugs. Anne Audain's Uncommon Heart places greater emphasis on social commentary; she describes her youth in New Zealand as background information on her adult career. She candidly describes an abusive coach and shows how she broke away to continue with an ideal guide in John Davies:

"In January John and I went down to Christchurch to a track meet where Grete Waitz was attempting a world record for 5000 meters . . . Grete missed the record by about 20 seconds . . . . I was in awe of her as she clicked off mile splits that I could only dream of. After her race, John turned to me and said, 'You know, you could break that record.'" [And Audain did break it, as described in the following chapter!]

Astuteness and optimism allowed her to choose a route before it became a clear success. She didn't wait for long distance athletes to be treated like professionals-Audain took a risk, left her country, and competed on the American road circuit because she loved running. Both runners had careers that challenged distance superstars such as Bill Rodgers and Grete Waitz; they were willing to go up against anyone and avoided the distraction of media hype.

Beardsley and Audain are gracious athletes who inspire with their emotional love of the sport. Their accounts emphasize the need to value human relationships and express gratitude to others. Beardsley, who praises many people in his book, writes of how he accepted an offer from Coach Bill Squires to work together: ". . . the word intense does not begin to describe Bill Squires . . . The workouts I got from Squires were critical to my rise in marathoning . . . I'm an enthusiastic guy to begin with, but Squires took that enthusiasm to a new place."

Running is a wonderful activity due to its accessibility--there is no need to sit on the sidelines as a backup. Audain is the founder and director of the Idaho Women's Fitness Celebration that recruits women, much like the Race for the Cure series brings in a diverse group of participants. She writes about a casual conversation with a woman spectator on the curb after winning the 1981 Bloomsday race. Kim Jones returned to the sport after that chat and became one of America's best female runners. Beardsley and Audain avoid isolation as "elites" by mingling with groups and maintaining an appreciation for the contributions of volunteers, cheerleaders, and race directors. Runners carry their own weight yet gain from those around them, the supporters.

There is a thread of common trials and triumphs, resilience and ecstacy, that weaves through the tale of any professional. One must be willing to take action and develop potential rather than endlessly contemplate alternative game plans. Risk entails coping with uncertainty-one can't predict the outcome but one can prepare and embark on an adventure while others sit and speculate. These two outstanding personalities have entrepreneurial skills to survive in a sport of modest financial means. Running has the capacity to move lives forward with emotional highs and lows, which is to be preferred over a numb existence void of challenge. Long distance running has its own history and these biographies arouse curiosity to learn more; coaching advice is well illustrated in experiences of top flight athletes.

Dick Beardsley and Maureen Anderson, Staying the Course, University of Minnesota Press, 2002.

Anne Audain and John L Parker, Uncommon Heart , Cedarwinds Publishing, 2000.