A review by tim_ohearn
Duel in the Sun: Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America's Greatest Marathon by John Brant

3.0

I read Kara Goucher's book and, noting her praise for this book featuring her old coach, picked up Duel in the Sun. The so-called Duel in the Sun, the 1982 Boston Marathon, is undoubtedly the greatest American distance race ever run. This book does it some justice, but the book feels dusty and old-timey. Rather than being published in 2006, it reads more like a 1999 or earlier piece. The writing is boring compared to modern sports books, and the excitement of the race is almost completely lost.

I find it odd that the author withholds who won the race, and then skims over it to the extent that the engaged reader may have to flip back a page to check that nothing was missed. I picked the book up not remembering who won, so having it delivered in such a way 24 years after the race was a bit weird.

Not my first pick for running books but a solid second-tier choice.