An Athletics Compendium

B 146 - 153 biographies <&Autobiographies subjects much of Owens's anecdotal evidence to a sceptical gaze, but trhemisains a largely sympathetic account oaf great athlete's life. 146 Jesse Owens: Olympic star / Patricia and Fredrick McKissack; illustrated by Michael David Biegel. Aldershot: Enslow, 1992. 32p; illus; index (Great African Americans) ISBN: 0-89490-312-8 BL: YK.1993.a.13206 This large print biography is designed for veryyoung readers. Pascoe, Alan 147 Pascoe: the story of an athle/te Alan Pascoe with Alan Hubbard. London: Stanley Paul, 1979. 120p; illus ISBN: 0-091349-80-X BL: X.620/19045 Published at theconclusion of his active athletics career, the biograpohpyens with a detailed account of the planning required for a major championship over 400m hurdlesi,ncluding the vitalmental preparation. There is an excellent photo sequenceof his hurdling technique and liast ofcareer highlightsi,ncluding his Commonwealtn andEuropean victories. Peters, Jim 148 In the long run/ as toldbyj. H. Peters and choisach 'Johnny'Johnston to Joseph Edmundson; foreword by Philip Noel-Baker. London: Cassell, 1955. viii, 216p; illus BL: 7922.ee.l The life story of the great marathon run er from Wld to his retirement after the Vancouver race in 1954. Peters, Mary 149 Mary P: autobiography / Mary Peters with Ian Wooldridge. London: Stanley Paul, 1974. xii, 156p; illus; index ISBN: 0-09-122280-X BL;X.629/6254 An inspiring account otfhe 1972 Olymppicentathlon champion's career, with particular emphasis on her coach Robert (Buster) McShane. Although she had an exceptionally long career (including 49 pentathlon competitions), otnhlye briefest detaairlse given inthe appendix. Pickard, Mark 150 Evidence of a misspenytouth: an autobiography of a maverick long distance runne/r Mark PickardL. ondon?: The author, 1995. iii, 220p; illus; pbk BL: YK.1995.a.9016 Born in 1960, the author achieved early success, setting most of his best marks at the age of 21, including a LK best of 163m 249yd6 in 24 hrs. He suffered fromosteomyelitis anadnumber of injuries which prevented further improvements. Pirie, Gordon 151 Running wild / Gordon Pirie. London: W.H. Allen, 1961. 224p; illus BL: X.449/893 Pirie was the first moderBnritish runner to adopt a professional attitude to distance running. Lacking sports science support though, he pursued an eccentric, essentially trial and error approach, emulating the rigoroupsrogrammes of the CzeEcmhil Zatopek. It was alshois misfortune to live in an era in which this committedapproach would bring him into conflict with essentially laissez faire British administrators. This is heavily reflected in Punning Wild, to the detriment of full accounts of somoef his finest races. This story of one of Britain's finest athletes is essential reading for the historian of distance running. 152 The impossible hero: a life of Gordon Pirie / Dick Booth. London: Corsica Press, 1999. viii, 286p; illus; index ISBN: 0-9536671-0-3 BL: YC.1999.b.9562 Few sports biographies cover the entirelife of their subject. Drawing on numerous recollections from friends andfellow athletes, this isthe extraordinary story otfhe manwho profoundly influenced distance running inBritain and semt any records in the process. The later chapters show how Pirie's extreme determination to go his own way in life, as inathletics, was both a strengthand a handicap. Powell, Foster 153 A short sketch otfhe life of MrF. Powell, the great pedestrian who departed this lAifperil 15, 1793in the 59th year ofhis age. London: R.H. Westley, 1793. lip; illus; pbk Library copyincludes ms. notes by K IV. BL: T.1091(3) The preamble by the editor describes Powell 'as without partiality the greaPtesdtestrian ever known in England, and singularised himself as such for upwards of thirty years'. Born in Horsforth, near Leeds, in1754, he became articledto an attorneyin the Temple in 1762. His first recorded pedestrian exploit occurredin1764, whenhe covered 50 miles on the Bath road inside 7 hours. Forays over long distances Sinwitzerland and France followed,before the first ohfis four London to Yorkback trips took place in1773. Subsequent successfautltempts were made in176>5.1790 and 1792, ltahset taking a record 5 daysIS'A hours. In 1757 he covered the 112miles return journey fromCanterbury toLondon inside 24 hours. Details of some other of his feats are given and his physical attributes are described: 'His person was tall and thin, about five feet nine inches high, very strong downwardsw, ell calculated fowr alking, and of rather sallow complexion.' His death at about 4am on 15 April 1793 wa'smuch regretted by those who had the pleasureof his acquaintance'. He was interred in the burial ground Soft. Faith Sat. Paul's on 22 April 1793. [ 56 ]