Earl Fee's recently published opus -- "The Complete Guide to Running" -- costs $29 (plus shipping) on his Web site but is available on Amazon.com for under $14.

BOOK REVIEW

Canada's Fee gets a German boost with revision of his magnum opus

By Ken Stone   

In October 2001, when I reviewed Earl Fee's impressive "How to be a Champion from 9 to 90," I wrote that he should have found a respected "brand-name" publisher instead of putting the book out under his own Feetness Inc. company. "I’m certain (the book) would have a better shot at success under the umbrella of a recognized publishing house," I wrote. "But give Fee credit: He’s not greedy."

Give him extra credit today. Canadian Fee has found a brand-name publisher for Champions2.0 -- German-based Meyer & Meyer Sport.

Renamed as "The Complete Guide to Running: How to be a Champion from 9 to 90," Fee's book joins a stable of 16 other running titles, including "Distance Training for Masters," "Distance Training for Women Athletes," "Distance Training for Young Athletes" and books about the late coaching great Arthur Lydiard and still-kicking distance stud Paul Tergat.

Also obvious in a side-by-side comparison: color! The first edition was exclusively black-and-white, with no photos. The new book, which is 36 pages longer, features spot color and full-color photos and graphics throughout. The 22 chapters alternate color "edge" tabbing -- which appears to be more a marketing gimmick than a search aid, since Chapters 1, 5, 9, 17 and 21 are edged in orange, for example, while Chapters 2, 6, 10 and 22 are edged in green. No pattern at all, except to jazz up the book for attention-grabbing on bookstore shelves. But that's what a publisher is supposed to do -- sell books.

Earl Fee at 2004 USATF indoor nationals in Boston. (National Masters News photo)

The new edition, as did the old, sells itself, however. The information is well-organized and easy to digest -- even though some biochemistry and technical terms are introduced ("The respiratory cycle between oxygen supply and C0² discharge," "Anabolic threshold and V0² max" and stuff like that there). For technogeeks, Fee includes a detailed bibliography of sources at the end of each chapter.

Fee's new Web site promoting the book says he spent six years bringing the first book to life. The impression of the first "Champions" was of a intelligent elite athlete surveying the current state-of-the-art in training, technique and mental preparation and distilling such wisdom for the reader while adding his own $.02 with quirky and unself-conscious sections like "Personal Injuries (his own) and lessons learned" and "Self-assertive statements."

The new book retains that Fee charm, and also ends with a chapter devoted to "Inspirational Sayings" (except the new book has 96 quotes, compared with 135 in the first edition.) Earl Fee supplies 11 pithy sayings to the new book, reduced from 20 in the old one. Less is more.

Fee need not be too humble, however. This year he was named Masters Male Athlete of the Year by the governing council of World Masters Athletics for a season that included world championships at San Sebastian, Spain, and five world records (indoors and outdoors). The man is a beast.

Besides the cosmetic changes, Fee has tweaked the book with substantive new information as well. Meyer & Meyer boasts: "New material includes plyometrics, dynamic warmup, running form vs. age, and more on workouts, weight training, magic supplements, injury prevention, inspiration, etc." Fee also throws in more personal anecdotes, including inspiration derived from his efforts at the Puerto Rico world masters championships in 2003.

Says M&M: "The new title is very appropriate since the book is very complete on running training for sprinters to marathoners." That leaves the impression the first book wasn't a "A Complete Guide." It was. The title change was necessitated by marketing interests, and I can't fault M&M for the change. But don't throw out your first edition. It's still a keeper.

My prime quibble, a minor one, is that Fee could have updated a few more elements of the book, such as a chart (taken from an old research study) on the ratio of aerobic to anaerobic energy contribution. The chart cites running events from 100 to the marathon and shows, for example, that 8% of the energy used in a world-record 100 is aerobic and 92% anaerobic. But the chart lists "1987 world records" -- leaving the reader to wonder: "Would the 2005 world records have made a difference?" Well, maybe not. But the old records (9.83, 19.75, etc.) might give savvy athletes pause, causing them to reconsider purchase based on the fear the book's material is dated.

For masters athletes who religiously follow routines of coaches long dead (or training habits going back decades), this is a moot point. The book has the feel of newness overall, especially with the addition of action photos of runners of all ages, including some geezer friends of our own -- sprinters Ed Gonera and Frank Schiro straining at the finish line of an indoor meet. Earl Fee's own picture-perfect form also is captured in some nice shots. Fee also adds a section on M70 marathonmeister Ed Whitlock, the sub-3-hour man (and fellow Cannuck).

For someone starting out in masters track, or even someone coming to the close of a track career, a little learning always helps. "The Complete Guide" is a complete overview of running in all its facets. Just read it.