Humorist Gives Runners Reasons to Laugh

CHAMPAIGN, IL-I Run, Therefore I Am-Nuts! is a highly entertaining read on
every serious runner's favorite topic: running. Like the Dave Barry of
running, popular running humorist Bob Schwartz pokes fun at the quirky
personalities of runners and the funny situations they encounter in
training, eating, racing, preparing for races, and revolving their everyday
lives around running.
I Run, Therefore I Am-Nuts! brings out the humor in situations that every
dedicated runner can relate to. With chapter headings like "City of Lard,
Here I Come," "It's All in the Drool," and "Run to Glory, or at Least the
End of the Block," runners are sure to laugh at themselves, their running
buddies, and maybe even pick up some tips along the way.
Susan Kalish, Executive Director of the American Running Association, says,
"There is wisdom behind the laughter!  Bob Schwartz encourages runners with
wit and revelations that years of running experience (and inexperience!)
provide. It's a fun read that I recommend to runners of all abilities."
Schwartz's long-awaited contribution to a widely appealing genre of running
books is sure to be a hit with the hundreds of thousands of recreational and
competitive runners, many of whom are already fans of his essays in several
running-related publications, including Runner's World, FootNotes,
Washington Running Report, Fitness Runner, New York Runner and many more.


For information or for a review copy contact
Aisha Ansari
Publicity Manager
1-800-747-4457 ext. 2248
[email protected]


  ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Schwartz is a longtime freelance writer who specializes in running
humor. He is well known to the mainstream running media. In addition to his
weekly syndicated newspaper column, he has had hundreds of humorous essays
published in national and regional publications, including Runner's World,
FootNotes, Fitness Runner, Michigan Runner, New York Runner, Washington
Running Report, Tail Winds, Run Ohio, Oklahoma Runner, Inside Texas Running,
Arkansas Runner, Running Fitness and many others. Schwartz also presents
comical speeches at race expos.
 Schwartz has been an avid and slightly over-the-top runner for more than 20
years. He has completed countless marathons as well as all race distances
from the 200 Meter Kids Snowman Shuffle to ultramarathons.  In the universal
language of runners, he has PR's of 2:42 for the marathon, 34:18 for the 10k
and 56 seconds for the third grade potato sack race.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Once a creative consultant for Walt Disney Feature Animation, B.K. Taylor is
now a well-known illustrator and writer. He has contributed comic strips to
many publications including National Lampoon, Hot Dog, and Dynamite
magazines; scholastic publications; and various joke books.  He has also
illustrated Sesame Street books and magazine.
 Taylor's work has been recognized with the Inkpot Award, the Gold
Brick, seven Caddies, the Funny Bone Award, and the Ace Award.



        
QUOTES

"In this book, Bob Schwartz captures a unique spirit that every runner
experiences regardless of fitness level. His perspective on running--a sport
that can cause extreme moments of both glory and pain--is sharp, real, and
very funny. Schwartz covers all the basics with a witty voice and a runner's
hard-earned experience."

Lizzie Wann
Editor of Fitness Runner magazine

"Every true runner will get a laugh out of this book. Schwartz does a good
job pointing out the wonderful absurdities of our sport."

Arturo Barrios
Five-time world-record holder

"Most runners take their sport seriously-sometimes too seriously. Bob
Schwartz provides a refreshingly irreverent slant on a variety of topics to
help keep a more balanced perspective. Take a run on the lighter side!"

Jeff Galloway
1972 Olympian, 10,000m
Author of Galloway's Book on Running

"What a delightful book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could relate to it
through my own experiences. The reading is light and humorous, and it takes
a completely different approach to running. Very refreshing."

Colleen De Reuck
Professional Runner



Publication Date - August 2001
ISBN: 0-7360-4035-8
Price $15.95 
Binding: Paperback 
264 pages; 48 Illustrations



CONTENTS
     

Introduction 

Part I Training: Avoiding the Fall From Pace and Belly Smacking into the
Lactic Acid Pool
Chapter 1 Rules to Run By (Heh, Heh, Heh)
Chapter 2 Just Call Me Gumby
Chapter 3 I'm Treadmill Man, Hear the Hum
Chapter 4 Around the Learning Curve
Chapter 5 Kenyan Water Aerobics

Part II Racing: The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Da Feet
Chapter 6 Runner Mutation
Chapter 7 Not So Scarlet Letters
Chapter 8 City of Lard, Here I Come
Chapter 9 Parade Charade
Chapter 10 Introduction to Ingurgitation
Chapter 11 Send in the Clowns
Chapter 12 Turkey Lemmings

Part III The Mindset of the Distance Runner: The Plentiful Peculiarities of
the Perspiring Fanatic
Chapter 13 Trick or Feet
Chapter 14 A Streak isn't For the Meek
Chapter 15 Loony Ways of the Wayward Runner
Chapter 16 Mind of the Lost
Chapter 17 Shoe-Be-Do-Be-I-Did
Chapter 18 How Many Virtual Miles Do You Have?
Chapter 19 The Runner's Better Half

Part IV The Runner's Multiple Skills: Abilities Uncovered in the Unbearable
Heaviness of Breathing
Chapter 20 Tegla Take Two
Chapter 21 Aggrandizement Amplified
Chapter 22 Get Your Groove Thing
Chapter 23 You Can't Lose Me Now
Chapter 24 Exhilaration of Exhaustion

Part V Nutrition and Recovery: The Search for the Holy Snail and the Joy of
C3 - - Couch, Chips, Clicker
Chapter 25 On My Way Back to Candyland
Chapter 26 It's All in the Drool
Chapter 27 The Idle Truth
Chapter 28 The Missing Drink

Part VI The Marathon: Would We Be Doing any of this If  Pheidippides Had
Been in Just a Little Better Shape?

Chapter 29 Marathon Madness
Chapter 30 From the Plains of Greece We Come
Chapter 31 Rookie Runner, Hear My Words
Chapter 32 The Answer is Going to Be Yes
Chapter 33 Coach Rod and the Zone

Part VII Injuries: What Tunes Does the Iliotibial Band Play?

Chapter 34 The Endorphinless Runner's Low
Chapter 35 Name that Ailment
Chapter 36 Run to Glory, Or at Least the End of the Block

Part VIII Aging Gracefully: If I'd Known it Could be so Fun, I'd Have Done
it Sooner

Chapter 37 Lifetime Taper for a Masterous Peak
Chapter 38 Which Way Did it Go?

Part IX Competition and Effort: I'd Whoop My Grandma in Tidily Winks!

Chapter 39 Battle in the Basement
Chapter 40 Nocturnal Decathlon
Chapter 41 Yo Einstein! Recognize a Pattern Here?
Chapter 42 Running Matters
Chapter 43 Best Laid Plans

Part X Motivation: To Thine Own Sole Be True

Chapter 44 The Motivator in a Hat
Chapter 45 A Very Calculating Man
Chapter 46 Procrastinate Now
Chapter 47 Twin Theories of Running Resourcefulness