Hills, Hawgs, and Ho Chi Minh
Hills, Hawgs & Ho Chi Minh, by Don Kardong. $14.95 paperback. 254 pp. Keokee Publishing (800-874-4568).

If "Hills, Hawgs & Ho Chi Minh" isn't an off-the-wall title, nothing is. But Don Kardong, one of my favorite running writers, is an off-the-wall kind of guy.

Although some of these 30 collected articles are out of the ordinary, they are entertaining and even informative at times. They evoke emotions ranging from respect to fondness to outrageous hilarity.

Kardong, a former Olympian and current "wayward runner," takes us through a variety of experiences. "Hills" refers to hills ... or something like them. You'll get the picture when you read about running a marathon up Pike's Peak (all 14,110 feet) or about climbing 1,575 stairs up the Empire State Building.

"Hawgs" refers to people from Arkansas; more specifically, three busloads of Arkansas runners who competed in the '91 Pike's Peak Marathon.

And "Ho Chi Minh" is not a Marxist tract, but the marathon held in the Vietnamese city that once bore the name Saigon. Quite a run it is.

Many runners will recognize these stories from Kardong's work in Runner's World and other magazines. They mostly recount his experiences with races we may have heard about, but haven't run ourselves.

"Le Grizz" tells of the author's first ultra, a 50-miler in Montana. He describes the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard, a 10K in International Falls, Minn., which we recognize from weather reports as the coldest place in the country. It was once held in -78 degrees wind chill conditions because Canadian runners threatened to "lynch" the race director if he canceled.

Kardong also explores some of the oldest and largest races in the US, such as Dipsea and Lilac Bloomsday.

Intriguing is the Medoc Marathon in France, where water stations also serve libations from nearby vineyards. And there's the Bix 7, held in Davenport, Iowa, in conjunction with the jazz festival honoring Bix Biederbecke.

Michiganians will enjoy Kardong's account of the Ultimate Runner, once held in Jackson. It was a complete test of runners' abilities, with racing distances of 100 and 400 meters, one mile, 10K and marathon -- all in the same day!

There are also profiles of Johnny A. Kelley and Steve Prefontaine. Kardong ran the Boston Marathon with Kelley, who was 83 at the time. His account of how they finished is a treat. In "Pre," Kardong does a remarkable job of capturing and explaining the fire that was Prefontaine.

And we meet a librarian who challenges ex-Olympian Kardong to a race at the St. Louis Bud Light Stadium Run 10K. Guess who wins?

Kardong has been there, a world-class runner. He has a vast range of running experiences, and is a very good writer. The combination of the three is a lucky break for us.

Ron Marinucci can be reached by e-mail at RMarin6424@aol.com. MR