This years TRACK AND FIELD WRITERS ASSOCIATION final selection for the Best Book of the 2016 Year and THE ARMORY TRACK AWARD ARE:

THE BOY WHO RUNS
THE ODYSSEY OF JULIUS ACHON
By John Brandt
Ballentine Books, New York 2016

The inspiring story of a boy running through the jungle becoming an Olympian and a problem solver for his fellow man. Huck Finn like Julius Achon takes on the adventures of his life running full tilt into the bad, the sad and overcoming evil as he pushes away the obstacles to the starting line. Partnering with an unlikely ally he creates a world of safety, joy and lastingness. This book is about the character of men and the goodness of human kind. Running with heart can lead to great triumphs and in this case a greater life.  The author of DUEL IN THE SUN John Brandt writes with a knowledge of running and a pulse of poetry.

OLYMPIC COLLISION
THE STORY OF MARY DECKER AND ZOLA BUDD
By Kyle Keiderling
University of Nebraska Press
Lincoln and London, 2016

The most famous running mishap in the history of the Olympics.  Keiderling writes in a rat-a-tat-tat style that moves the story in a hot off the press immediacy. We follow Decker and Budd as they punch and paw, run and gun, rise and fall, surrounded by the craziness of their lives and the usual insanity of politics, media and bureaucracy.  You might think you knew the story, but now you feel the pain.

SHOE DOG
A MEMOIR BY THE CREATOR OF NIKE
By Phil Knight
Scribner, New York 2016

Shoe Dog is a chronological memoir of one of the great revolutions of business, sports and innovation.  Knight takes us around the world where his “crazy idea” and the serendipity of friends, acquaintances and events continually open doors and manufacture reality from his wheel of dreams.  Focused on the core people of family, friends and workmates this juggler keeps the show moving and exciting. Knight especially knows how to give some good payback to bankers and connivers as he runs this story true, and sometimes blue.

THE RIVER ROAD
BECOMING A RUNNER IN 1972
By Dennis Barker
Self Published 2016

A young person’s story of going down to the river and finding solace, himself and the exuberance of running.  Samuel Clemens must be in the air because when you take a young man, a river and those extraordinary characters that step into our lives as we meander in search of ourselves you have a Twain adventure.

THE WAY OF THE RUNNER
A JOURNEY INTO THE FABLED WORLD OF JAPANESE RUNNING
By Adharanand Finn
Pegasus Books, New York, 2016

In case you haven’t noticed, the Japanese do it differently.  Finn immerses himself into a running culture that gets rid of the clutter and stoically strips down the urge to why we run.  So get ready to find the joy in pain or the pain in joy or just getting smashed with monks throwin’ cold water on frigid loin clothed bodies jumpin’ in the frosty.  I believe that is enough to make this a special book and perk the interest of even the most mundane jogger.  Gambatte (Good Luck)

GHOST
Running for his life, Or From It?
By Jason Reynolds
Athenaeum Books, New York

The author takes the insides of his young protagonist and brings them out to the reader.  Sometimes the actions of a young person seem so careless, selfish and destructive, but than we bother to look deeper into ones’ history, makeup and background and wonder how they can be so incredibly wonderful.  Reynolds’ explores the ghosts that inhabit our souls and brings us to the starting line, which is the real victory of life.  Life becomes the people we meet, teachers, coaches and shopkeepers.  And success is the recognition of talent and it’s exploration.