Magical Running by Bobby McGee. 2000. 237 pages, paperback. $17.95. Bobbysez Publishing.
To most people, runners and nonrunners alike, running is, at least at first glance, a physical activity, pure and simple. Runners know and appreciate the physical efforts required for their sport. Even more sedentary folks recognize the nature of running; they often ask: "How can you run three miles without stopping?" or "You've run a marathon? How far is that? You're crazy." and so forth.

And there are dozens of training books out there_you can learn how to take your first running steps or how to "run your best marathon."

A relatively recent addition to running/training picture is the mental aspect of it. "Runner's high," stress release, among other things, have been around for a while. But there's a new practice, one of building a positive mental base, one that trains the mind as well as the body.

This is the subject of Magical Running. It is written by Bobby McGee, a South African who has worked with Olympic medal winners (Josia Thugwane, Gold in the 1996 marathon; Lorraine Moeller, Bronze in the 1992 marathon) and other world champions (Colleen DeReuck).

"Unleash the best runner you can be," writes McGee. And he proceeds to demonstrate the "unique path" to "the runs of your life." He focuses on helping runners to "lace up your mental running shoes" to maximize training and racing.

OK, count me among the skeptics of much of sports psychology. I confess that I always run a 24-miler in preparation for a marathon, more for getting over the mental block of being able to complete the distance than for the physiological benefits. But much of the "mental approach" to running (and other sports) has seemed like just so much hocus-pocus, even making it more complicated than I want it to be.

For me, some of what McGee writes falls into that category. "If we tell ourselves not to go out too fast, we access a well-practiced program in our minds that ensures that we do go out too fast!" And when he starts in on that left brain/right brain stuff, well, I'm lost. He writes, "Always be passionate." Running excellence is doomed to failure without passion." Even if he had defined "passion," that's a bit heavy for me.

Of course, this will appeal to a good many reading runners. That's fine. One of the great things about running is that there are so many different approaches for so many different runners.

That said, McGee does include stuff that even I, the skeptic, find right on the money. "The running itself is what you seek." Amen! "The purpose of the journey is the quest itself." It's not necessarily the target. (He does define these terms.) Sure, I run races, even marathons, to try to meet certain time goals. But the more I run, (I guess that means the older I get), I find as much satisfaction, maybe more, in the training as I do in posting that desired time. When he writes like this, McGee seems to be directing his words right to me.

He outlines a program to maximize running performance and enjoyment, employing mental techniques. There is specific information, complete with rationales and examples of how to add these to our own "unique path to running fulfillment." Workbook-like pages help to encourage runners to start and continue. It cannot be denied: McGee is "passionate" about "magical running."

On a purely technical note, some tighter editing of the text is needed. The great miler, now a Congressman from Kansas, is Jim Ryun, not "Ryan." Tense muscles are not "taught muscles." And I don't know what this means: "By clearing you prioritize and action issues that are confusing you."

Whether or not Magical Running is up your alley, it is interesting reading. And McGee has a pretty impressive resume; his successes are evident.

Actually, one line near the end of the book made it all worth reading. "There is no other place I'd rather be nor any other activity I'd rather be doing right now than this running." I think that most runners would agree much of the time.

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