A Race Like No Other

26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York

By: Liz Robbins

Narrated by: Chris Fogg

The New York City Marathon: 26.2 grueling miles across five bridges and through five distinct boroughs, accompanied by the cheers of two million fans and propelled by the unique motivation that churns inside every participant.

New York Times reporter Liz Robbins brings the famed New York City Marathon to life, capturing the day's festivities mile by mile. She tells the stories of the determined competitors - from their friendships and rivalries to their adversity and redemption - through the prism of the unforgettable 2007 race. Infused with rich history of the event's legends and its colorful neighborhood characters, A Race Like No Other provides a curbside seat to the first Sunday in November, breathlessly carrying the reader from the start on the towering Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the triumphant finish line in Central Park.

©2008 Liz Robbins (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

inspiring

excellent book! the NYC marathon is my "40" goal and this really lit the fire

Anecdotal Yet Captivating

This takes you inside the journey many folks take to run the marathon through storytelling and interesting vignettes. I enjoyed it.

I Enjoyed It

Would you consider the audio edition of A Race Like No Other to be better than the print version?

Perhaps. The narrator had an enthusiasm for the subject that was infectious. I thought she did a great job.

What did you like best about this story?

I find it interesting that this book was never written before. The NYC Marathon is a great sporting event, this book is a chronicle of the 2007 race and combines amateur and professional stories in order to the drive the narrative of the overall race. A logical idea, and I am surprised nobody thought of it before.

The author brings a certain naivety to the story that I found refreshing. This is not an insiders view of running. It is written in a style that attempts to describe it from a non-runners point of view. As a lifelong runner, I actually enjoyed this approach. It didn't veer into cliche and the enthusiasm of a non-insider was at times charming.

What does Chris Fogg bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The way she read the book was well done. I enjoyed her approach. Since many of the sties were about woman it brought an additional dimension to the audible book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I enjoy running and marital arts, and have my whole life. I rarely think movies about sports are any good because I am not sure these mediums are more dramatic than the events they cover. This would be the case with this book. Everyone should runt eh NYC Marathon, it is the experience of a lifetime. Watching a movie about it is a pale comparison. the author captured elements of the race that I think non-runners will find intriguing and runners will find somewhat inspirational

Any additional comments?

I enjoy a light read such as this book every once is a while. If you are a runner I would recommend it. Although Born to Run and Running with the Kenyans are better overall books, this audible book is a great addition to a runners reading list.

Love love love

A lovely and well documented view of a marathon, to run a marathon is more than just run, to cross the finish line is more than to cover the distance, this book will touch you.

Narrator really kills the book

Nice story but pretty pathetic narration: chutzpah Addis Ababa, yin and yang (not yong), Andrea Doris, German Silva, Joe Vigil and the list just keeps on going

Have to read

If you run this is a have to read, especially if you have or want to run nyc marathon!

Great story, horrible narrator

A fantastic book, but better read in print. The narrator didn't bother researching the pronouncement of places, names or even common words in the English language. It's incredibly frustrating to hear her pronounce things wrong over and over and over. She even CHANGES how she pronounces the same things throughout the book. So annoying.

However, the book is awesome. So motivating if you're planning to run the NYCM

Great Stories and Great for Visualization

What did you love best about A Race Like No Other?

I loved this book, I read it years ago and it was just as exciting to listen to. This book is a great visualization strategy for anyone running the marathon.

A must read for those who want to run NYC

A great book which will take you through all 5 Burroughs and to the finish line along with some elite and age group runners as well. The author does a great job of balancing telling the history of the race and how it came to be, taking people along the race so that they can experience the marathon, and giving the reader background on the people she is talking about. A fun read for those who have run the NYC marathon allowing them to relive their race, and a must read for those who want to run it!

Ms. Fogg does a good job with the narration, her pacing and story telling help make the story feel more real.

Poor Narration Detracts from Riveting Story

I downloaded this book to get myself mentally prepared for running the NYC Marathon this November. I loved the story, the history, the way it follows the details of runners both elite and amateur, but the narrator's consistent failure to pronounce words--not just proper names and foreign terms, but also multiple regular English nouns--nearly ruined this book for me. I have never heard so many gaffes in all my years of listening to audiobooks. Is there no budget for editors?