cover image The Miler: America's Legendary Runner Talks about His Triumphs and Trials

The Miler: America's Legendary Runner Talks about His Triumphs and Trials

Steve Scott. MacMillan Publishing Company, $23.95 (304pp) ISBN 978-0-02-861677-3

It's doubtful whether many beyond fans of track and field have heard of Scott, who here writes with Runner's World journalist Bloom. But he has run 136 sub-four-minute miles, and in 1982 set the U.S. mile record of 3:47.69, which still stands. ""For me the game of life was the game of running,"" Scott declares, and who then goes on to document it; the miler seems completely self-absorbed as he offers details of race after race, occasionally adding information about his shaky marriage and his victory over testicular cancer. Scott became the national champion in Division II in 1975 and 1976 and later in Division I; he ran in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympic miles but did not do well in either. He writes of his love for running the mile, which he claims demands the ultimate combination of speed and strength, and advises young runners that they must have direction, desire and drive as well as the ability to visualize details of each upcoming race in advance. This book will probably appeal to only the most dedicated milers. Photos not seen by PW. (Oct.)