As if Running on Air

Description

THIS TITLE IS NOW OUT OF PRINT.

In the 1930s the New Zealander Jack Lovelock was one of the world’s best-known athletes. In 1933 he broke the world record for the mile. At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games he won a gold medal and broke the world record for the 1500 metres.

Throughout his running career Lovelock kept a remarkable series of journals and diaries, until now unpublished. As If Running on Air reproduces his journals from late 1931 to the end of 1935 and extracts from his 1936 training diary. There is an entry for every race: some are brief, little more than notes; others are eloquent and reflective. Collectively they constitute a unique record of a sporting life in the 1930s and offer insights into what it took to make a world champion.

David Colquhoun’s introduction provides an overview of Lovelock’s life and considers the myths and legends that surround him. Essays introduce each year and, along with biographical sketches of other key figures in this golden era of middle-distance running, provide a rich sporting context. A description of Lovelock’s training methods and a full race list conclude the book. This elegant, collectable book is illustrated with photographs and cartoons from Lovelock’s own albums.

about the author

David Colquhoun is Curator of Manuscripts at the Alexander Turnbull Library, where the Lovelock manuscripts are held. He is also a dedicated runner. In 2000 he curated the exhibition Come on, Jack! The Lovelock Olympic Story at the National Library Gallery.