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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 4 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
reflective running Nov 08, 2008
By A. Daniels
I stumbled across this book when my husband recieved it as a gift from a co-worker. Since we are both avid runners he would read me lines in the book that resonated with him. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it too. Each chapter resonated with me and my love for running and all the great people this sport has led me too and all the great challenges, triumphs, dissappointments, achievements and lessons that running has brought to my life. Dr whitis captured so many of the instances where life parallels the sport of running. His love of life, his family and of running is an ispiration.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A wonderful reading experience Jun 30, 2008
By Eugene E. Herzberger
Even though it mentions the physical and psychological benefits of running[significant stress relief,sometimes trance-like state during slow,long distance running],this book is much more:running stories,anecdotes,philosophical musings,memoirs.
The style is brilliant;the stories are easy to read and very entertaining;Dr.Whitis is indeed an excellent story teller.The reader will gain insight into and enjoy the authors' sensitivity and idealism.
This book is not only for runners - it will delight also non-runners,and perhaps tempt them to start running.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A Rare Find Jun 18, 2008
By Melvin T. Kohler
Thursday Oct. 31, 2002
I start out reading with the best of intentions. I will not fold, bend, underline or use a marking pen to hilite insights or experiences that I find interesting. This book would go into the bookcase next to Frank Capras "The Name Above The Title" to be collected not marked up and wore out.
Saturday Nov. 1, 2002
So much for "Best Intentions". I'm staying at Gidden Lodge on the Lake Michigan side of Door County Wisconsin. After taking to "The Road" for an early morning run, I convince myself that you would want me to tear into this book; bending, folding, underlining, marking (whatever it takes to get to the insights and experiences that lie within). Lets face it, "The Road" of which you write about so eloquently is going to test us, so I'll take all the insights I can get should it try to trip me up with a "POP QUIZ".
INSIGHTS-TREASURES I'LL TAKE WITH ME ON "THE ROAD"
FINDING ONES LIMITATIONS
"Only as the runner comes to accept the limitations of his body, and the boundaries of the road, will he be free to develop his latent potential to become a better runner". "and in learning about the boundaries, we grow". I think when people behave as if there are no limits, they end up hurting themselves and failing to grow. Early on I had to face limiting my runs and adding other exercises {Nordic Track, Weight Training, Stationary Bicycling) to avoid injury. I found out that sometimes less is more (less running).
PROFOUND FAILURE OR REAL FAILURE
"I now perceived how much I had identified myself with what I achieved, as long as I kept achieving I thought I was doing great. I had lost track of myself, that I was more than what I accomplished. In fact, the humbling conclusion out of all this was that it really didn't matter much what I had accomplished, but if I was a good man that mattered a lot more."
My "REAL FAILURE" happened freshman year at Loras College. I failed Spanish. What really hurt was when the Professor said that he didn't think I was "College Material" (whatever that means). Fortunately, his opinion of me did not become my reality. I graduated from Loras in 4 years. I think I'm a better person because of that experience. Its nice to accomplish things,"but to be a good man that matters a lot more".
THE ALTERED STATE
"Sometimes though, once in a great while and not nearly often enough, something happens inside my head which is hard to describe but comes under the heading of an "Altered State of consciousness". "Sounds become muffled and seem distant and go on indefinitely without effort." "There is a profound sense of "Oneness" with Nature, with Life, with the Moment, an indiscribable sense of beauty and peace." "I feel I have been given a glimpse of Heaven, of my Spirit, of my Potiential as a human being".
I believe we are born into this World Incomplete. The pieces we need to bring about that completeness have been sprinkled on this path that we journey. I call these missing pieces "Pieces of Heaven" and each time we find one we experience a "Profound Sense Of Oneness".
"When I ran out that door and ran headlong into the transforming effects running can have on a Persons Life,..."
I have found this to be so true. Perhaps one reason for this is that we are a nation of insiders {we spend way too much of our lives encapsulated within our cars. our homes, the companies where we work}. There may be an inner need to experience more of the outside. Also, because of being insiders, we fail to move enough. Movement is an essential part of living. I believe that the behavior of running outside makes us focus on the fact that our environment is larger and richer than we are aware.
"Beyond Running" brought back many good memories. From the Twenty-Four Hour Marathon to Race Day (The Half Marathon). It was a great feeling knowing that I had participated in those events and shared in the friendships of many of those you wrote about. I'm proud to have been a part of the running movement and really appreciate your gift of a book that effectively demonstrates the significance of that movement.
Sincerely, Mel Kohler
A fellow runner's perspective Jun 12, 2008
By Joe C. Jarosh
I just finished reading "Beyond Running" by Dr. Peter Whitis and found it to be both enjoyable and enlightening. It felt like the author was inside my head describing all of the thoughts and feelings I have experienced while running. He describes what only other runners have felt and experienced and what they cannot possibly explain to non-runners to have them understand how special running is both physically and spiritually. "Beyond Running" is an excellent book that all runners will relate to and feel that someone understands their feelings and thoughts about running. A book that deserves a 5 star rating.
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