by Jeff Benjamin
This is the second of Jeff Benjamin’s summer book reviews, and this guy can read, and review! Enjoy!
Jeff Benjamin’s Summer Book Review 2nd In A Series –
When Legends Run Free By Ken Norton
“Yes, these programs are successful, but they don’t produce revenue.”
This statement above has sounded the death knell to many a College XC/T&F program.
Where once in a different era the Sport was treated almost equally on the same basis as Football & Basketball, recent times have shown that a movement in this direction by various Universities has sadly become the norm.
In Ken Morton’s wonderful fiction book, “When Legends Run Free”, this theme shows that facts can meet fiction and, as shown by the author, can have devastating effects.
The reader will no doubt be drawn into the inner workings of the Twain College program and its solid coach John Mosley, who must navigate both the physical and psychological development of his runners.
Norton even delves into a really cool, somewhat fictitious experience of one of the characters’ performances at the New York City Marathon, paralleling the author’s own NYC Marathon race where he once ran a 2:20 time.
The great collision in the book is when the College will be moving from Division 2 up to Division 1, which tragically calls upon the school leadership to cut certain “non-revenue generating” Sports – we do t have to be told which ones are being considered.
The passions of Mosley’s athletes, a true reflection of him, pain the reader as we travel into the conclusion of the book. Norton sends quite a message in a way that reflects the status of College XC/Track programs and the challenges which they face for survival in reality today.
As “When Legends Run Free” shows, there are some things money can’t buy, but are well worth it!
It would be wise for the establishment bosses to read this book!
Bell Lap –
“When Legends Run Free” is available on print & digital on Amazon.com
