The Honolulu Marathon. The third-largest marathon in the world. Over 30,000 runners in a single year. Over $100,000 paid to leading racers.But it didn't start out that way.In The Honolulu Marathon, Mark Hazard Osmun, recounts the origins of this amazing event and the motivations of the people who made it happen.From recording the promotional showmanship of the zealous Dr. Jack Scaff, to kidnapping world-class runners, to running in the race itself, Osmun became the principal chronicler of the marathon--an event that became the bellwether for the nation's subsequent "Running Boom."Originally published in 1979, and told in a fast-paced, engaging, and sometimes irreverent style, The Honolulu Marathon placed the event on the international stage and now gives us perspective on the colossus it has become.Now with new material, an author preface, and an annually updated Race Statistics section, The Honolulu Marathon is a must-read for everyone who has--or will--run the race.

The Honolulu Marathon debuted in 1973 as the shared vision of a maverick cardiologist bent on proving the benefit of long-distance running for cardiac patients and an impetuous mayor eager to prove Honolulu the equal of the top cities in the country. Over a span of forty-plus years, the race matured into one of the largest marathons in the world, a $100 million economic engine for its home state, and a launch pad for some of the most dominant long-distance runners in modern history. From its modest start as a community event for local amateurs, the race now regularly attracts 30,000 entrants—more than half from Japan—and boasts elite fields led by Kenyan and Ethiopian professional runners, each hoping to earn a share of a $150,000 prize purse. The People’s Race Inc. captures the personalities, politics, and power plays behind the burgeoning growth of the Honolulu Marathon and provides a unique lens for understanding the complex history of the sport itself. Drawn from revealing interviews with those closest to the event, as well as exhaustive research, journalist Michael Tsai presents an insider’s account of how organizers forged lucrative partnerships with foreign investors, helped initiate the age of African dominance of the marathon, and weathered some of the most bizarre challenges imaginable. The book also exposes the ways in which the marathon's expansive growth mirrored the explosive, at times bewildering, development of post-statehood Hawai‘i.

A wild ride to the dark side of Americana. Hunter S. Thompson's and Ralph Steadman's most eccentric book "The Curse of Lono" is to Hawaii what "Fear and Loathing" was to Las Vegas: the crazy tales of a journalist's "coverage" of a news event that ends up being a wild ride to the dark side of Americana. Originally published in 1983, "The Curse of Lono" features all of the zany, hallucinogenic wordplay and feral artwork for which the Hunter S. Thompson/Ralph Steadmanduo became known and loved. This curious book, considered an oddity among Hunter's oeuvre, was long out of print, prompting collectors to search high and low for an original copy. TASCHEN's signed, limited edition sold out before the book even hit the stores--this unlimited version, in a different, smaller format, makes "The Curse of Lono" accessible to everyone.

The Joy of Running is BACK! Current and future runners can now discover the inspiration, support, and guidance packed in this essential running book-information no other book can give you. If your doctor or a friend has ever told you to start exercising, you'll feel better, it's thanks to this book, because in its pages Dr. Thaddeus Kostrubala first described how running can lift your spirits. This is the book that started it all, the book you read to discover how running can save your life-and your soul. The Joy of Running is the book you read to reveal the secrets of running as a path to self-discovery. Running can literally rearrange your personality. In some people the changes are profound-introverts become extraverts. Depressed people lose their depression. Anxiety diminishes or disappears. The Joy of Running was the first book to describe in detail what we now call "runner's high." In no other book will you find a highly-credentialed psychiatrist exploring this expansion of consciousness and its effects on a runner's life. You'll discover how running benefits not only physical fitness, but psychological and spiritual health, as well. And you'll finally understand the changes in your own personality that running can bring about. As Dr. Jack Scaff, founder of the Honolulu Marathon Clinic, said: "The Joy of Running is a bright new light at the end of a long tunnel of ignorance about the effects of slow distance-running on the mind and body of man. Books like this are long overdue." The Joy of Running is the book you hand to someone who is just starting to run. The Joy of Running is the book you read to finally understand the true reason why you are a runner and why you want to ALWAYS be a runner. The Joy of Running is the book that will help you take your running to the next level-the level of self-discovery and growth. The level of joy. But be warned: After almost 40 years the book's magic is very much alive and powerful. Reading it will change your life-and your running.

"In this spellbinding book, journalist Ed Caesar takes us into the world of elite marathoners: some of the greatest runners on earth. Through the stories of these rich characters, like Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai, around whom the narrative is built, Caesar traces the history of the marathon as well as the science, physiology, and psychology involved in running so fast for so long. And he shows us why this most democratic of races retains its brutal, enthralling appeal--and why we are drawn to test ourselves to the limit, "--Amazon.com.

Growing up in Santa Monica, California, Julie Weiss would do almost anything for love. She drank, she quit school, she stole-and she ended up a mother in her teens. Years later, overweight and depressed, she put one foot in front of another and found a new road beckoning.Running gave her the answers she was looking for. Julie's loving, larger-than-life father, her biggest critic during her wayward years, became her biggest fan as his now-fit and healthy daughter began to run marathons. When he died suddenly of pancreatic cancer, she decided to turn her new pursuit into a purpose and, in his memory, embarked on an incredible endeavor to raise money and hope in the fight against pancreatic cancer. In 2012-13, Julie-a/k/a, the Marathon Goddess-ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks. Along the way she was featured in a major documentary film, Spirit of the Marathon II, appeared on national television and attracted a passionate social media following, as she logged the miles of each of her 52 marathons in honor of individuals lost to or fighting pancreatic cancer, ultimately raising over a half million dollars for the cause. It's a story of resilience, perseverance, endurance-and romance: Julie's turbulent early life; the rekindling of a father's love extinguished too soon; her epic year travelling to far-flung races and places; not to mention her relationship with coach David Levine. After a rocky road, their underlying love emerged, culminating with a finish line marriage proposal. It all adds up to make "The Miles and Trials of a Marathon Goddess" a riveting, humorous, poignant and ultimately uplifting book, for runners and non-runners alike.

The greatest athletes in the world today are not the Olympic champions or the stars of professional sports, but the "marathon monks" of Japan's sacred Mount Hiei. Over a seven-year training period, these "running buddhas" figuratively circle the globe on foot. During one incredible 100-day stretch, they cover 52.5 miles daily—twice the length of an Olympic marathon. And the prize they seek to capture is the greatest thing a human being can achieve: enlightenment in the here and now. This book is about these amazing men, the magic mountain on which they train, and the philosophy of Tendai Buddhism, which inspires them in their quest for the supreme. The reader will learn about the monks' death-defying fasts, their vegetarian training diet, their handmade straw running shoes, and feats of endurance such as their ceremonial leap into a waterfall. Illustrated with superb photographs, the book also contains the first full-length study in English of Mount Hiei and Tendai Buddhism.

According to author Joe Chavez, Oxford houses have been in continuous existence since the first house opened in 1975. Today there are over 1,400 houses opened in forty-six states in the United States, Canada, Australia, and our newest international house located in the African country of Ghana. This book is a collection of stories from the men and women of Oxford House. Their lives have changed for the better in this institution, overcoming addiction using a peer-based strategy of group living. “The stories in this book are from people who, as you will read, were hardcore addicts and alcoholics who gained long-term sobriety only after living in Oxford houses. This is a testament to the power of positive peer pressure and democracy in a diverse and, sometimes, contentious environment,” says Chavez.

A breathtaking guide to the world’s fifty best places to run, as chosen by experts who’ve been there. The beautiful thing about running is that all you need is a trusty pair of shoes and a little determination. When you can practice a sport almost anywhere, from your own neighborhood to courses across the world, where do you begin? In Fifty Places to Run Before You Die, Chris Santella gathers fifty bucket list recommendations from some of the running world’s most accomplished leaders and athletes, including ultra-runner and record breaker Jim Walmsley; Runner’s World chief running officer Bart Yasso; NPR star Peter Sagal; race director of the Boston Marathon Dave McGillivray; U.S. Olympian Magdalena Lewy Boulet; and internationally recognized endurance athlete Dean Karnazes. Featuring a mix of popular foot races (such as marathons, 10Ks, and endurance runs) and scenic trails off the beaten path, this book divulges what makes each venue unique, offering firsthand anecdotes and practical advice for those who aspire to run there. Discover incredible events and trails both national and international, including the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France, the New York City Marathon, the Vancouver Sun Run, the Grand Canyon, the Dolomites in Italy, and the Great Ocean Road Marathon in Australia. Fifty Places to Run Before You Die is the essential travel companion for runners of all levels who seek to conquer new terrain while breaking personal records.

Inspiration and practical tips for runners who prioritize enjoyment over pace and embrace their place as an "average" runner In her first book, popular runner blogger Amanda Brooks lays out the path to finding greater fulfillment in running for those who consider themselves "middle of the pack runners" -- they're not trying to win Boston (or even qualify for Boston); they just want to get strong and stay injury-free so they can continue to enjoy running. Run to the Finish is not your typical running book. While it is filled with useful strategic training advice throughout, at its core, it is about embracing your place in the middle of the pack with humor and learning to love the run you've got without comparing yourself to other runners. Mixing practical advice like understanding the discomfort vs. pain, the mental side of running, and movements to treat the most common injuries with more playful elements such as "Favorite hilarious marathon signs" and "Weird Thoughts We all Have at the Start Line," Brooks is the down-to-earth, inspiring guide for everyone who wants to be happier with their run.