Racing the Rain: A Novel

When I first got into distance running when I graduated from college, a friend of mine suggested I read "Once A Runner". I did and it has been one of my favorite books ever. My son runs high school varsity track and I told him about it. Of course, his generation thinks most of what his folks like as being "old" but I am hoping he will come around.The sequel "Again to Carthage" was a very satisfying follow up to OAR. I was happy to see what happened to Quenton Cassidy after that novel. Like another reviewer mentioned I thought it would be cool if Parker wrote a sequel to "Carthage".I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a PREQUEL had been written. "Racing in the Rain" is an excellent "Coming of Age" story where you see how Quenton's experiences in junior and senior high made him the man he became. He goes through his ups and downs, like any young person. He suffers dispappointment when he thinks his best shot at college sports achievement is taken away. However, as the saying goes "when one door is closed another door is opened" and we know where he ends up so no need to re-hash that here.The character of "Trapper Nelson" who could be seen as the "Bruce Denton" of this book was in fact an actual person and from what I red, quite an interesting character in his own right. The only "quibble" I have is that the murder case in this novel was based on a actual event. The names of those involved are the same but the events actually took place in 1955, ten years before the event in "Racing". However, the incident as described in the book is key to the plot so no worries!Now that I have finished "Racing" I will go back and re-read "Once a Runner" and "Again to Carthage" and then try to get my son to put aside FIFA 16 for a bit and give the three of them a try!

This is the third book in John L. Parker's running series and it is a prequel to "Once A Runner," the first in the series. In the beginning we find 1st grade student Quenton Cassidy running (and losing) his first race. The book follows Quenton's childhood from there through high school and explains his first desire to play basketball and how he eventually found himself a runner. We learn much more about his life away from running, as well, and how he grew up spending much of his time in the water along Florida's Gold Coast. We learn about Quenton's desire to achieve and how hard he is willing to work to reach his goals. This is the heart and soul of every successful distance runner.Parker has done a great job of completing the story of Quenton Cassidy. He writes with an elegant and descriptive style that is pleasant to read.

With Racing the Rain, John L. Parker has completed an addictive trilogy of running novels, all featuring miler Quenton Cassidy. The first, Once a Runner, which takes place during Cassidy's days at Florida's fictitious Southeastern University, amassed a cult following that propelled it from the realm of the self-published to a deal with a major New York publisher. The second installment, Again to Carthage, chronicled Cassidy's return to competitive running after years spent practicing law, fleshing out Cassidy's irreverent character and providing many insights into how training and racing remain central to a world-class athlete's persona, even into middle age.Racing the Rain is an origins tale. Beginning in Cassidy's elementary and middle school years, when he first becomes aware of his speed and endurance in foot races with his classmates, and continuing through his high school years, when Cassidy's running takes a back seat to basketball, the reader comes to appreciate how friends, mentors, rivals, and personal demons all play a role in shaping the personality and drive necessary to become a competitive distance runner. As the father of an eighth grade running prodigy, who is similarly obsessed with basketball, I loved the way in which Cassidy's commitment to running was tested by this powerful distraction.Those looking for a novel dominated by training and racing scenes may be disappointed, particularly during the middle chapters that describe Cassidy's friendship with Trapper Nelson (known as the Tarzan of the Everglades) and his efforts to break into the ranks of varsity basketball. There are also the usual campy conflicts between Cassidy and a member of the school faculty (this time the villain is his middle school track coach who later becomes the varsity basketball coach). But those with the patience to appreciate how these influences kindle Cassidy's competitive fire will be rewarded by his glorious return to running in his senior year of high school and will discover the origins of Cassidy's bond with his future Southeastern teammate, Jerry Mizner.Thank you, Mr. Parker, for showing us once again what it means to be a runner.-Kevin Joseph, author of The Champion Maker

For those who enjoyed “Once a Runner”, it is worth the read. Maybe not as running focused, but great character development for Quenton Cassidy.

These stories are fantastic inspiration during trying times in training and in life. All 3 books in this series I will revisit again and again. Well worth your time .

Great read

The perfect compliment to once a runner.

middle of three books he has written on running.once a runner far better but this is better than back to Carthage.more coming of age than running.Still a decent read.