Running Tide. Inscribed by Joan Benoit. First Edition, First Printing. Knopf. New York, 1987.

Joan Benoit Samuelson is one of the most celebrated marathon runners in history. In the 1970s and 80s, she consistently finished major marathons in first, second, or third place, including the Boston Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and most notably, the 1984 Summer Olympic marathon where she placed first. For her accomplishments, she has been inducted into numerous track-and-field Hall-of-fames and remains one of long-distance running’s most recognizable figures. In Running Tide, Benoit recounts her upbringing and career. She reveals her strategies for health and longevity and remembers her greatest achievements up to the 1984 Olympics. Co-authored with Sally Baker, it is an honest work told in clear prose. For any long distance runner, it is an essential volume by one of the sport’s most popular athletes from the past century.

This first edition, first printing is inscribed by Benoit on the front free endpaper. It is also inscribed by John Campbell, the New Zealand Olympic marathoner, and Susan Lee, Canadian Olympic marathoner. It is in near-fine condition. In the original quarter cloth, near-fine with only bumping to corners. Text block near-fine, only some soiling to bottom edge and pencil marks to front matter. In the original dust jacket, fine. With a former owner’s note on the inscriptions laid in.

A near-fine inscribed first edition by Joan Benoit.