Interview with John L. Parker, Jr.
“The Games were over for this time around. He knew quite well that for him they were over for good. Four years is a very long time in some circles; in actual time … real-world time, as that of shopkeepers, insurance sellers, compounders of interest and so on … it is perhaps not long at all. But in his own mind Time reposed in particular receptacles; to him the passing of one minute took on all manner of rare meaning. A minute was one fourth of a four-minute mile, a coffee spoon of his days and ways.”
From Once a Runner, by John L. Parker (first published in 1978)
Last month, I sat down with John L. Parker in the corporate offices of Fleet Feet Sports in Carrboro, NC to interview him about the much-anticipated sequel to Once a Runner, Again to Carthage.
Among other things, I asked Parker if he regretted not breaking the 4:00 mile. “Regret’s too strong a word,” he thoughtfully responded, “because that implies maybe you shouldn’t have done it at all. And that’s really a big theme in Once a Runner (whether people recognize it or not), the philosophical question of whether this is worth doing, you know? And I think people can honestly answer it in different ways and be correct.”
Listen to the entire interview. [55:36, 26 MB] The audio isn’t perfect, but it’s listenable. The quality will be better for the next one. Promise.
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Whew! Since I’ve been on the waiting list at Amazon for Again to Carthage for over 6 months, I was especially curious to hear what John P. had to say.
It surprised me, at the start of the interview, that you seemed to think Cassidy was modeled at least in part on Shorter. So much of his experience directly parallels Parker’s own days at U.F. including troubles with the football-mentality athletic dep’t. And almost everything in the locale is pure Gainesville of that era. Only the names have been changed - and sometimes he didn’t even change them.
As I write, I’m sitting in our house, about 2 blocks off the Bacon Strip which Parker mentioned at the end of the interview (as well as in Once a Runner). A “bionic” hip, the result, I fear, of c.70,000+ miles on the roads, makes me definitely once, but no longer, a runner (though I lasted to age 58, in ‘95). One of my all-time favorite training runs was on the 6 mile bacon strip loop in Nov. ‘71 with Barry Brown and some other Florida Track Club guys (not Shorter or Bacheler; they did a track work-out or maybe grass repeats, I think, that afternoon). We started easy and built up throughout and were flying (for me, anyway) at sub-5:00 the last mile down University Ave. to UF track. I was living and teaching and coaching in Miami then - and training almost always alone. It was wonderful to have a group of guys to run FAST with. I’d met one of the Florida Track Club guys, Jerry Slaven (briefly mentioned in OaR), now the U. of Tampa coach, at a road race and he’d suggested I come up to Gainesvile some time to run. “We meet outside jack Bacheler’s apartment at 6:30,” Jerry said. So… initimidated by the thought of running with an Olympian and other guys like 3:56 miler Sam Bair, I laced up my racing flats and jogged over from my el cheapo motel on 13th St., determined to hang on for as long as possible. And wound up running the slowest 8-9 miles I’d ever run. Ohhhh! (My own epiphany, at age 34) So that’s how they can do 130+ mile weeks. It’s not all fast. Throw in the 3 mile warm-up loop from the track in the afternoon and I had 11-12 for the day even before the quick bacon strip run.
Memories…. anyway, thanks for making the interview available. And, while I’m anxious to see where life takes Cassidy, I hope Parker takes his time and gets it right - as he did first time around.
Comment by Geoff Pietsch — 11/30/2005 @ 2:59 pm
I just received notice from Amazon today that they are cancelling my order for Again to Carthage… I cannot download the interview right now. Can someone please tell me why the book is held up?!?
Thank you!
Comment by Mike Hamilton — 1/26/2006 @ 1:00 pm
I especially enjoyed Geoff Pietsch’s recollections of running in Gainesville in those days. I remember most of those guys, crossing paths with them at Florida Relays or the national cross country meets or even on the roads at the Atlanta Marathon. Regarding speculation on Again to Carthage, John’s got it right; I’ve read over half the book although as chapters not as a continuous story. And while I look forward to the publication, I’m more interested in seeing Once a Runner made into a movie.
Comment by Tom Raynor — 1/27/2006 @ 4:13 pm
What happened to Again to Carthage?
Did John Parker decide not to release this?
Comment by Jeff Kirchner — 10/24/2006 @ 3:52 pm
Writer’s block?!
Comment by Joan — 10/25/2006 @ 6:25 am
My 15-year-old son told his librarian mother, me, that he wants to read a book entitled Once A Runner. I almost fell over, ran to the computer to get him a copy anywhere. To my shock and dismay I couldn’t find a copy in any library in lower NY State or for less than $124 froma book seller. Please do another printing. The library copies must have been stolen. I am ILLing it from somewhere across the country until I can afford to buy him his own copy.
Comment by Lisa, Runner's Mom — 12/26/2006 @ 6:23 pm
I’m not sure if its still in stock, but my mother was able to get a copy of Once a Runner for me for christmas from a Fleet Feet in CA. The Number is (530) 226-0600. I was told they had about 20 copies in early december, and they’re selling it for $20. This is my favorite running books, and I lost my original copy because I lent it to too many of my teammates. Though I wasn’t even born until a decade (or two) after the book was written, It’s inspriring, and applicable as ever.
Comment by Taylor — 1/10/2007 @ 9:12 pm
Wellbutrin….
Smoking pot and taking wellbutrin. Wellbutrin side effects. Where can i purchase wellbutrin. Wellbutrin….
Trackback by Side effects of wellbutrin. — 9/19/2007 @ 10:58 pm
I’ve been a runner for close to forty years and have read all the running books and the handful of novels worth reading–Once a Runner–in my mind— is grossly overrated–Don’t get me wrong, I believe Parker is the best writer on running–I stll read his old articles in Ultrasport and the other books he’s written.Try The Olympian by Brian Glanville–that’s far and away the best running novel.
Comment by Donnie — 10/27/2007 @ 10:11 pm
What is it with this guy, Parker? If ‘Once a Runner” is such a cult favorite, how come this book isn’t reprinted quickly? I don’t understand? I’d love to read it being a runner for 43 years but I can’t find it anywhere except in old copies for over $300. Libraries don’t even have it. Come on Mr Parker make it available or risk your credibility as a legitimate author.
Comment by Clyde Ferguson — 11/11/2007 @ 4:52 pm
Clyde, you may want to relax a little. If you’ve been a runner for 43 years, surely you’ve got to know someone that owns the book and trusts you enough to lend you their copy. And when you do read it; it’ll be well worth the wait. It may even be worth paying some of what they’re asking for newer editions on ebay.
Comment by Matt — 12/6/2007 @ 4:19 pm