PatrickR
Total Posts: 90
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jamej
Total Posts: 510
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Dan John
Total Posts: 12292
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05-06-20 02:19 PM - Post#897710
A classic.
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...
Make a Difference.
Live. Love. Laugh.
Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude)
Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk.
Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth.
Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights.
Reread great books. Say thank you |
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Dan John
Total Posts: 12292
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05-06-20 04:08 PM - Post#897713
The idiotic comments are worth a read.
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...
Make a Difference.
Live. Love. Laugh.
Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude)
Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk.
Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth.
Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights.
Reread great books. Say thank you |
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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05-06-20 06:58 PM - Post#897716
Wow, thank you so much. Stills from that film clip are in books I have seen since my youth, but I never knew they were from a film. Amazing to see Percy and Herb in their prime, and moving.
Portsea is awesome. When in Melbourne 20 years ago staying with relatives I made a "pilgrimage" - the dunes have changed shape but the local lifeguard showed me where they reckon it was. Those dunes are BIG, a single rep up wrecked me, the fact that those guys did multiple 5 minute circuits is mind-blowing.
As an aside, anyone live near sand dunes? anyone tried running up them? Honestly, 30 metres from the sea to the top of a beach (3m higher) on the beach where we last vacationed is harder than pushing a prowler to me.
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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05-07-20 06:18 PM - Post#897755
Old Miller,
Yes, I "attempt" to do Sand hill sprints for 2 weeks in December each year.
They are a killer.
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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05-07-20 06:24 PM - Post#897756
Just as a side note.
My dad & his parents migrated to Australia from Glasgow, Scotland, the year after the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.
He always told me that one of the reasons why they migrated to Australia was because they were amazed at how well Australia would perform at the Olympics & Sport in general with a relatively small population. Back in the 1950's, Australia's population was about 7 million.
We had a lot of Champion's back then & Percy played a huge part.
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Dan John
Total Posts: 12292
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05-08-20 09:54 AM - Post#897769
Happily, Cerutty is finally getting his "due." Once jogging and high carbs showed up in endurance (the Death of American running), "all of this" lifting, hills and gymnastics were tossed out.
He was way ahead of us. MovNat, xfit, and all the rest should bow to him.
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...
Make a Difference.
Live. Love. Laugh.
Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude)
Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk.
Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth.
Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights.
Reread great books. Say thank you |
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DanMartin
Total Posts: 20705
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05-08-20 01:44 PM - Post#897787
Happily, Cerutty is finally getting his "due." Once jogging and high carbs showed up in endurance (the Death of American running), "all of this" lifting, hills and gymnastics were tossed out.
He was way ahead of us. MovNat, xfit, and all the rest should bow to him.
Percy, if for no other reason, should be acknowledged for having his trainee's make the own homemade potato chips...brilliant.
Dan is right about the high carb/jogging thing. But I have an even worse and or better reason for the death of running smart, it was the death of Steve Prefontaine. YMMV
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Arsenio Billingham
Total Posts: 159
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05-08-20 03:11 PM - Post#897790
He's such a fascinating character. I remember stumbling upon this article a few years ago: https://www.outsideonline.com/1928036/lessons-paleo -guru-history-forgot
“My philosophy is based on communication with nature, this communication takes place when the person sleeps under the stars at night, hears the birds in the morning, feels the sand between his toes, smells the flowers, hears the surf. Nature can bring the mind and body into perfect harmony and balance with the universe. This is one of the factors that allows the athlete to reach new levels of excellence.”
Say howdy, in other words, to the world’s first Paleo CrossFitting locavore, a role he fit right down to the box: In 1946, Percy bought himself a half-acre of no-man’s-land on Australia’s rugged southern coast and hauled a shipping crate down there to use as the bunkhouse for his “International Training Center.”
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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05-08-20 03:36 PM - Post#897791
Percy was also the President of the weightlifting association for the state of Victoria!
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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He always told me that one of the reasons why they migrated to Australia was because they were amazed at how well Australia would perform at the Olympics & Sport in general with a relatively small population. Back in the 1950's, Australia's population was about 7 million.
Most Brits of my generation dreamed of a 'gap year' in Oz before University - we had teenage fantasies of racking up the bucks shearing sheep, then a few months with these things called "Sheilas", "Barbies" and "Beaches" which were not much known in the UK ;-). And, an amazing sporting scene
I did not go out of the genuine fear that I might just stay and not return to my place at university. Bitterly regret it. I still feel that Australians are what Brits would become if we relaxed a bit and had a decent climate.
The Kiwis are even more scary per head of population though. Peter Snell, John Walker, the All Blacks...
Edited by Old Miler on 05-08-20 03:43 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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Old Miller,
I agree with you about the Kiwi's & they love to remind us at every available opportunity!!!!
They have produced some amazing Olympic Gold Medal winning Rowers as well right up to the current day.
We won't get them started on their beloved All Blacks.
Not to forget Sir Edmund Hillary.
Andrew Gunn
Edited by Gunny72 on 05-08-20 05:15 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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05-08-20 07:20 PM - Post#897800
He's such a fascinating character. I remember stumbling upon this article a few years ago: https://www.outsideonline.com/1928036/lessons-paleo -guru-history-forgot
“My philosophy is based on communication with nature, this communication takes place when the person sleeps under the stars at night, hears the birds in the morning, feels the sand between his toes, smells the flowers, hears the surf. Nature can bring the mind and body into perfect harmony and balance with the universe. This is one of the factors that allows the athlete to reach new levels of excellence.”
Say howdy, in other words, to the world’s first Paleo CrossFitting locavore, a role he fit right down to the box: In 1946, Percy bought himself a half-acre of no-man’s-land on Australia’s rugged southern coast and hauled a shipping crate down there to use as the bunkhouse for his “International Training Center.”
Just been reading up some more on Percy & you can see why he was Deades ahead of his time.
Some more of his pearls of wisdom.
a) Do not smoke.......this was said at a time when smoking was fashionable & there was litle medical evidence to dispel the terrible effects that smoking does to your body.
b) Drink alcohol at a minimum.
c) White flour/white bread is the enemy.
d) Sand hill running & Hills are too important not to ignore.
e) No socialising after midnight.......This reminds me of a great piece of advice a former Rugby coach said to me in 1992 when I was a mere 20 year old. His advice was " Bad things & trouble tend to happen to young men when they are still out drinking after midnight." So true.
Percy was definitely years ahead of his time.
I liked the story where Percy & Herb Elliott got into a heated argument. Percy said "I will challenge you to a race & the victor wins the argument". The distance was 1500m from memory & Herb was the current World record holder. Herb won the race easily.
When the race was over, Percy said that he had won the race because he put in 100% effort whereas Herb didn't. Percy also won the argument.
Andrew Gunn
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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05-09-20 03:14 PM - Post#897816
a) Do not smoke.......this was said at a time when smoking was fashionable & there was litle medical evidence to dispel the terrible effects that smoking does to your body.
There was one time when Herb and Percy were at a press conference, maybe after the Olympics or a record. Herb (who had been a smoker, like everyone, before joining Percy's squad) was feeling celebratory and lit up a cigar. Percy stormed over and ripped it out of his mouth in front of the world's press.
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Jordan D
Total Posts: 771
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05-09-20 04:51 PM - Post#897822
That’s a great article. Thanks for posting.
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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a) Do not smoke.......this was said at a time when smoking was fashionable & there was litle medical evidence to dispel the terrible effects that smoking does to your body.
Old Miller said this.
There was one time when Herb and Percy were at a press conference, maybe after the Olympics or a record. Herb (who had been a smoker, like everyone, before joining Percy's squad) was feeling celebratory and lit up a cigar. Percy stormed over and ripped it out of his mouth in front of the world's press.
Gunny said:
Talk about going the full circle.
At 43, Percy went from a 3 pack a day, binge drinking, nervous breakdown recovering postal worker, to an ultra marathon runner, coach of world champion's, healthy living guru.
There should have been a movie made about this bloke along time ago.
All the very best Old Miller ! My thoughts are with you & your family over there during these challenging times.
Andrew.
Edited by Gunny72 on 05-10-20 05:54 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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DanMartin
Total Posts: 20705
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He always told me that one of the reasons why they migrated to Australia was because they were amazed at how well Australia would perform at the Olympics & Sport in general with a relatively small population. Back in the 1950's, Australia's population was about 7 million.
Most Brits of my generation dreamed of a 'gap year' in Oz before University - we had teenage fantasies of racking up the bucks shearing sheep, then a few months with these things called "Sheilas", "Barbies" and "Beaches" which were not much known in the UK ;-). And, an amazing sporting scene
I did not go out of the genuine fear that I might just stay and not return to my place at university. Bitterly regret it. I still feel that Australians are what Brits would become if we relaxed a bit and had a decent climate.
The Kiwis are even more scary per head of population though. Peter Snell, John Walker, the All Blacks...
John Walker was an animal.
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Andy Mitchell
Total Posts: 5269
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05-10-20 07:33 PM - Post#897856
Living on an island at the bottom of know where makes us a little different.
Good and bad...
Nice legs-shame about the face
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NSmith
Total Posts: 156
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I've been on a bit of a running reading kick the last couple weeks, and while I have not been able to track down any reasonably priced Cerutty books, he keeps popping up in the books I am reading. In the biography of Emil Zatopek Today We Die a Little the author confirms the legend that Cerutty slept in Zatopek's bed a few nights ahead of his 10,000m victory at Helsinki (and the first of THREE gold medals he would go on to win at that Games). They were talking late into the night about training and when they realized the time it was too late for Cerutty to return to the Western athletes village (they had separate villages for Eastern Bloc countries and everyone else), so Zatopek, being the consummate gentleman, offered his bed and slept on the ground.
I also just finished rereading Once a Runner, probably the most beloved running novel of all time. In it there is an exchange between the protaganist Quenton Cassidy and his mentor/coach Bruce Denton. Cassidy has been driven into the woods in a very "Stotan"-eqsue training program, and tells Denton he "feels like an animal" and wants to give up.
Denton relays that this is the same reason Herb Elliot gave Cerutty when he told him at one point early in their relationship that he wanted to quit, and then goes on to tell this story, which is almost surely fiction, but entertaining:
"You feel like an animal? Denton had asked. Just what Elliot told Cerutty when he wanted to quit. (As if it were some kind of answer.) But there was a day, Denton said, when Cerutty had been caught in a riptide at Portsea, and Elliot had grabbed the old man by his white hair and just swam, He swam and swam, not going anywhere at all, just there in place, for what seemed like hours, until the f#&%ing ocean just gave up. Animal's exactly right, Denton had said, but Jesus, what an animal." (Emphasis original)
Up next is Amazing Racers, the chronicle of Fayetteville Manlius school in upstate New York, whose girls cross country team has won 11 of the 15 national championships that have been contested since 2004. Their head coach Bill Aris has co-opted Cerutty's Stotan philosophy and adapted it to high school runners with unprecedented success (his boys teams are also consistently national class, just not with the same dominance as his girls).
Edited by NSmith on 05-12-20 01:43 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Dan John
Total Posts: 12292
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05-12-20 02:54 PM - Post#897925
Thank you for sharing this. Those are very good.
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...
Make a Difference.
Live. Love. Laugh.
Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude)
Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk.
Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth.
Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights.
Reread great books. Say thank you |
|
Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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05-12-20 06:32 PM - Post#897936
I am putting this down in writing so I can be held accountable for what I am about to say & do.
I am going to write a Non-fiction book on Percy Cerrutty. There settled. His story needs to be told & I don't believe it ever has to any great length before.
This dawned on me on Sunday Night when I was sharing a couple of Reds with my wife on Mother's Day. For some reason, this thread & Percy kept popping into my head & it was there & then that it dawned on me that a book must be written about this Aussie Legend.
My plan was to e-mail a well-known & best-selling Australian Non-fiction Author my idea for him to write a book on Percy Cerrutty but then something in my head said…………….. "Gunny, you do it!"
I have been in Finance all my life & haven't written an article before let alone a book but I am going to get this done. It might take me 5 years, but, I will get there eventually.
I want to thank everybody on this thread for planting the seed in my head, getting me out of my comfort zone, firing some passion inside of me & giving me inspiration from you posts.
Andrew Gunn
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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I also just finished rereading Once a Runner, probably the most beloved running novel of all time.
Seconded. It gets it so right. The throwers will appreciate the opening chapter about distance runners, throwers and sprinters too...
Interestingly, Quenton's nemesis with the demons wailing in his eyes is widely considered to be John Walker from NZ.
Edited by Old Miler on 05-12-20 07:10 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Craig1971
Total Posts: 250
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05-12-20 08:06 PM - Post#897943
I am putting this down in writing so I can be held accountable for what I am about to say & do.
I am going to write a Non-fiction book on Percy Cerrutty. There settled. His story needs to be told & I don't believe it ever has to any great length before.
This dawned on me on Sunday Night when I was sharing a couple of Reds with my wife on Mother's Day. For some reason, this thread & Percy kept popping into my head & it was there & then that it dawned on me that a book must be written about this Aussie Legend.
My plan was to e-mail a well-known & best-selling Australian Non-fiction Author my idea for him to write a book on Percy Cerrutty but then something in my head said…………….. "Gunny, you do it!"
I have been in Finance all my life & haven't written an article before let alone a book but I am going to get this done. It might take me 5 years, but, I will get there eventually.
I want to thank everybody on this thread for planting the seed in my head, getting me out of my comfort zone, firing some passion inside of me & giving me inspiration from you posts.
Andrew Gunn
Best of luck with this. Great idea.
| Thanks to everyone who makes this forum so useful and such a good place to be. |
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Dan John
Total Posts: 12292
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05-13-20 10:29 AM - Post#897967
Gunny,
I'm here to help. I think I have most of his books. I would also recommend J K Doherty's Track and Field Omnibook, 1971 edition where he really does a good job explaining Stotanism.
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...
Make a Difference.
Live. Love. Laugh.
Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude)
Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk.
Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth.
Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights.
Reread great books. Say thank you |
|
Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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05-13-20 03:50 PM - Post#897987
Gunny, I salute you! I wonder if you could interview Herb Elliott? This has potential to sell really well to runners.
I once co-wrote a book - nothing to do with sports, but coincidentally with a guy in Melbourne, which is what allowed me to visit Australia and that sand dune. It's one of those bucket-list things really worth doing at least once in your life, and rounds you out if you've been dealing with numbers all your life, as I had until then. It kept me really busy for more months than expected, but was worth every hour. Quite cool when your kids and relatives see it on the shelf too ;-)
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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Many thanks Craig for your support.
Dan - Thankyou. I would really appreciate your generous gesture. I will try & find "J.K Doherty's Track & field Omnibook" on e-bay. I would also be honoured if you could be 1 of the" Forward" writers at the start of this book.
Old Miller - funny you mentioned Herb Elliott. I googled him yesterday & he is still very active. He is a very successful businessman. Chairman of a massive Mining Company in Western Australia. I would be an absolute fool not to try & reach out to him & get his memories & thoughts on Percy.
I have a lot of work to do.
Andrew Gunn
Edited by Gunny72 on 05-13-20 05:15 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Dan John
Total Posts: 12292
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05-13-20 05:59 PM - Post#897993
Of course!!!
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...
Make a Difference.
Live. Love. Laugh.
Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude)
Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk.
Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth.
Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights.
Reread great books. Say thank you |
|
NSmith
Total Posts: 156
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Seconded. It gets it so right. The throwers will appreciate the opening chapter about distance runners, throwers and sprinters too...
Interestingly, Quenton's nemesis with the demons wailing in his eyes is widely considered to be John Walker from NZ.
I love that part. Also nails the very real difference between mid distance men and true distance men in his comparison of Cassidy and Mizner's personalities.
The part with the high jumpers getting loaded and "playing" track and field in the garage is also gold.
Andrew, I just found a copy of the Track and Field Omnibook on ebay in the $20 range. Might end up being a little more expensive to get to AUS. Good luck with the writing, sign me up for an advanced copy!
It's interesting the way ideas catch and mature in your mind over years and experience. I remember reading a young adult novel in high school probably 15 years ago called "Stotan!" and having it make an impression, I think it was about swimmers, and over the years here I've heard Dan and others reference Cerutty repeatedly. Recently diving into the Fayetteville Manlius coaching philosphy and having Cerutty rear his head again. There's a thread that's been there and even though you've stumbled over it many times it takes a while before you see it. The mind is an interesting place, I guess I'm saying, takes a while before you can get out of your own way and see the true things.
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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05-13-20 06:16 PM - Post#897995
Herb is as much of a legendary figure to the running community as Percy was to the coaching one - and from reading some recent interviews, still has 100% of his marbles. He would still be world class today, 55 years on. Why not try to write and publish an interview with him, exactly 60 years after the Rome Olympics?
And, after about 30 years trying to find a print copy, I see his book 'The Golden Mile' is now on Kindle! My life is complete!
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jp92
Total Posts: 650
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And, after about 30 years trying to find a print copy, I see his book 'The Golden Mile' is now on Kindle! My life is complete!
The reprint edition is also available in printed form. It was recently republished in 2017 by Runner's Tribe (Australian company).
You can find it at this: Link
It is selling for $30 Australian dollars plus postage.
If you are buying from America, you have a very favorable exchange rate at the moment.
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jp92
Total Posts: 650
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PMA Books (another Australian company) republished four of Percy Cerutty's books:
Athletics: How to become a champion
Be Fit! Or be Damned!
Middle Distance Running
Success in Sport and Life
For anyone in Australia, PMA Books have stock of print books of Success in Sport and Life and Middle Distance Running - but only ship inside Australia.
Their Australian website is at this:
Link
There are Amazon links under each book that may be useful.
Amazon sells via its Print On Demand function. It might be still operational for US buyers? Or possibly after COVID19 crisis is in hand, Amazon will restart the Print On Demand feature for all countries?
If you cannot buy via Amazon.com, you could try Bookfinder.com and enter the ISBN to find what you like?
Bookfinder.com at this: Link
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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JP92 - Thankyou for your time with this. I will be sure to visit the link over the coming weekend. I really do appreciate this.
NSmith - You have also been very helpful.
Old Miller - Do you mind if I ask you what was the book you co-wrote?
Andrew
Edited by Gunny72 on 05-14-20 05:25 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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Old Miller - Do you mind if I ask you what was the book you co-wrote?
Python Programming on Win32, with Mark Hammond (now there's a classic name for an Aussie - you might be too young to get the reference!).
Even if the book was relevant to you 15-20 years ago, it wouldn't be now ;-) My next one will be a bit more relevant. I hereby trademark the title "Mud, sweat and beers: a club runner's life"
Edited by Old Miler on 05-14-20 07:11 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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05-14-20 07:54 PM - Post#898044
Your next book is one I would love to read !
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NSmith
Total Posts: 156
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JP92 - Thankyou for your time with this. I will be sure to visit the link over the coming weekend. I really do appreciate this.
NSmith - You have also been very helpful.
Old Miller - Do you mind if I ask you what was the book you co-wrote?
Andrew
Gunny, my copy of Track and Field Omnibook just arrived. There's not a ton of stuff on Cerutty, he is presented as part of the mosaic of different distance running philosophies and programs. The book itself is an absolute treasure trove, well worth my $23 or whatever, but might not produce a huge yield as a Cerutty specific resource.
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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12-10-20 07:42 PM - Post#905528
Good morning all,
I thought I would give a bit of an update on where I am at with my Book on Percy Cerutty.
I have just had a fascinating conversation with a Gentlemen by the Name of Peter Masters who actually trained with Percy at Portsea in the 1970's. It was Peter & his lovely wife who owned the Publishing company that reprinted Percy Cerutty Books earlier this Decade.
I am catching up with him again over Christmas as we don't live too far away from one another.
This has got me buzzing again. Peter's memories are as sharp as a knife. Great conversation.
Andrew
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Dan John
Total Posts: 12292
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12-11-20 09:59 AM - Post#905534
My post vanished.
Basically: this is great!
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...
Make a Difference.
Live. Love. Laugh.
Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude)
Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk.
Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth.
Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights.
Reread great books. Say thank you |
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Old Miler
Total Posts: 1744
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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Old Miller,
I apologise for the late reply. We were away all weekend.
Herb has been very hard to track down to be honest but my new Contact has people who know him so will be looking to touch base with him in 2021.
The Book won't be a Biography on Percy however I am looking more at his training methods, his impact on his athletes & how his training philosophies still stand the test of time to this very day.
Getting there very slowly. I have committed myself to having the first draft completed by September 2021.
Have great Christmas in the U.K. Stay happy & healthy.
Andrew
Edited by Gunny72 on 12-13-20 03:54 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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NSmith
Total Posts: 156
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Andrew, great to hear this is moving forward!
The Book won't be a Biography on Percy however I am looking more at his training methods, his impact on his athletes & how his training philosophies still stand the test of time to this very day.
To your last point, I would highly recommend getting a copy of Amazing Racers by Marc Bloom. It tells the story of Fayetteville Manlius high school in upstate New York, whose coach Bill Aris essentially created his own Portsea in the early 2000s and has been dominating prep school cross country in the States since.
I'd also encourage reaching out to Coach Aris directly. His email is easy to find and I've exchanged several emails with him (about Cerutty actually).
Best of luck!
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Gunny72
Total Posts: 410
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NSmith,
You have no idea how valuable your input on this thread has been to me.
Wishing you a great Christmas & happy & healthy 2021.
Andrew.
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