Rob Murphy

December 21, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Salt Lake City,

Member Since:

Feb 11, 2010

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

I had some success in high school and college. Winner 1985 Rod Dixon Run

Had a fair amount of success as a Masters runner for most of my 40s.

Short-Term Running Goals:

Have fun with running, explore more trails, stay healthy.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep running and racing consistently for as long as I can. Find what is sustainable for me over the long run.

Personal:

I teach AP European History and other courses at Alta High School. I coached the track and cross country teams at Alta for 16 years.

Married, two kids - Abby and Andy

My Twitter @murphy_rob

Click to donate

to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	26.00	Month:	81.25	Year:	1690.95

Sat, Dec 12, 2015

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
8.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	8.00

8 halfway decent miles around Liberty Park with Abby. Chilly, but beautiful, morning.

PM: Went for a 3 mile walk. Started out with Andy but we got to the end of Glenmare St. and he ran into a bunch of boys playing basketball in the street and decided to stay and play.

Semi-annual booknotes post...

So I've been making a serious effort to actually read books lately. Whole books from beginning to end. I used to do this a lot before the internet destroyed my attention span. I've been working to re-build it. So here's what I've been reading.

City of Thieves by David Benioff - a novel about the seige of Leningrad during World War II.

Petty by Warren Zanes - the bio of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, maybe my favorite band. Great book, perfect author.

The Animal Keepers by legendary Wisconsin cross country coach Donn Behnke. Loved the book but it made me feel inadequate.

438 Days by Jonathan Franklin - a riveting true story of a Mexican fisherman who survived 438 days drifting in the Pacific after being caught in a storm and having his motor fail.

Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson - A non-fiction account of the seige of Leningrad focusing on composer Dmitri Shostakovich and the "Leningrad Symphony" he composed in 1942. Just started this one.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00	Weight: 0.00	Calories: 0.00

Comments

From Steve on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 11:44:46 from 66.87.127.162

I've read City of Thieves and 438. I'll check out the others on your list. Always looking for a new read.

From Jason D on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 11:54:10 from 68.80.27.222

That's a good mix of books.

I can't recall the last time I finished a complete book, though I guess I read all the time. We read differently today and although it doesn't feel like reading, it is. But I am with you; I still feel like I should be reading actual books. I have plenty (many hundreds) that sit and mock me from my shelves. I'll try to take your list as motivation to get some in over break.

From Jason D on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 11:55:12 from 68.80.27.222

It now strikes me that in response to your semiannual list I make my semiannual comment about how reading has changed :-)

From Jon on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 12:03:36 from 96.33.87.148

I saw the coaching one, wondered if you had read it. 438 days sounds interesting, as does the City of Thieves. Which of all do you most highly recommend?

From Vis on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 12:16:29 from 199.201.102.37

Nice. I love your booklists, Rob. It was a recommendation on your blog that made me pick up Boys in the Boat. I'm forever grateful.

I'm currently searching out anything I can find about confidence/self-belief--anecdotal or scholarly. If anything seems to fit the mold, I would greatly appreciate your input. Happy reading.

From Rob Murphy on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 13:01:16 from 24.10.247.181

I'd appreciate a list from all of you.

Vis - Boys in the Boat was one of the rare books I read twice! Have you picked up Matt Fitzgerald's new book? It's called "How Bad Do You Want It: Mastering the Psychology of Mind Over Muscle". Has Prefontaine on the cover. Might be just what you're looking for.

Jon - I'm not sure.Probably 438 Days. If there ever was a book about pure endurance, it's this. Endurance, survival, pretty much what running's about.

From Cody on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 14:25:52 from 76.27.105.198

I just requested Logan Library buy 438 Days. Thanks for the tip.

From Bret on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 14:54:54 from 99.1.220.106

Here's the last few books from memory in the last 3-4 months: Matterhorn -Karl Marlantis, The Auschwitz Escape - Joel Rosenberg, Ready Player One - Ernest Kline, Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakuer, Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace.

From Rob Murphy on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 14:56:15 from 24.10.247.181

That's what I do Cody. I request my school library buy any book I want and then I check it out indefinitely. Teenagers in Utah just read fantasy novels.

From Rob Murphy on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 16:44:25 from 24.10.247.181

Bret - How did you feel about Infinite Jest?

From Tom K on Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 17:44:45 from 174.58.54.215

Your book list makes me feel inadequate. Real, actual, non-audio, paper books, huh? Might be worth looking into.

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