Hills, Hawgs and Ho Chi Minh: More Tales of a Wayward Runner

by Don Kardong

Book Overview

At the heart of every run is an adventure.... and never has adventure running been given such full voice as in this collection of stories. Don Kardong is a former Olympian and world-class marathoner.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1879628120
• ISBN13: 9781879628120
• Release Date: February 1996
• Publisher: Keokee Company Publishing
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Misplaced memoirs

Wait a sec... found this book in the "Martial Arts" category?!? Anyway, by and large an enjoyable read, but not quite as funny as, say, "The Looniness of the Long distance runner". Kardong writes in the manner of a columnist, concisely and accessible. Basically, the book is a collection of essays, each of which has as its theme a particular race or event the author participated in.

Run On

You have to be or have been a dedicated runner, or at least a serious athlete, to appreciate the motivation behind the things that Don Kardong undertakes in this book. It also helps to be or have been a triathlete and/or a multi-sport enthusiast since Kardong frequently finds himself involved in competitions which require skill in something other than running. Fortunately for everyone involved, Kardong has a great sense of humor and is truly in love with his sport. Both dedication and humor are found in abundance here. I especially enjoyed the piece about Steve Prefontaine and Kardong's attendance at a Triathlete workshop where he steadfastly refused to so much as look at the swimming pool. However, I did get a bit tired towards the end of all the over the top races - the grueling 50 miles, the Grand Canyon trek and the seemingingly endless marathons where he inevitably gets nauseated at mile 22. Kardong is a truly talented writer whom I suspect has a bit more to say than he's letting on. Wonder what he'll write next?

entertaining and inspiring for weekend warriors of the world

If you are a runner who enjoys the unusual (or just dreams of it) this book will bring a smile to your face. Kardong taps into some of the things that make me (and I think other runners too) tick while adding his amusing outlook on many of his experiences.