Pat Fahy, a longtime masters track honcho in Arizona, ran the Boston Marathon with his daughter Emmie in 2009. Now he’s produced a book on the journey called “Go Father, Go Daughter,” which has been reviewed by Kirkus Indie Reviews. Pat appreciated the review’s reference of his “deft rendering of the Masters track sub-culture.” He wrote me this week: “Although I’m not completely sure exactly what the reference to its ‘obsessive handicappers’ is alluding to.”Pat also notes: “Emmie and I ran Boston qualifying times in January and hope to go back to run Boston next April. We’ve submitted our entries and are awaiting word on whether we will be accepted.” Ten years ago, Pat was an M50 long jump national champ. Now he’s a publishing champ.

In any case, here’s the review:

GO FATHER, GO DAUGHTER
One Family’s Pursuit of the World’s Greatest Foot Race
Fahy, Pat
Xlibris (296 pp.)
$29.99 hardcover, $19.99 paperback, $3.99 e-book
ISBN: 978-1469148427; March 16, 2012

Self-described track rat and first-time author Fahy delivers a candid, scrupulously detailed nonfiction account of athletic ambition and interfamily competition on the road to the Boston Marathon.

Fahy never confused himself with an elite athlete, but shoeboxes full of track-and-field medals collected over a 12-year Masters career proved he could compete—and win—well into his 50s. Then, in 2005, after daughter Emmie took up road racing, Fahy saw the possibilities for a second, long-distance act and joined her.

Overcoming his aversion to “recreational” running and adapting his fast-twitch muscle skills to endurance events would be a challenge, but mustering the competitive juices turned out to be a snap. A quest to qualify for the legendary Boston Marathon soon took shape, with Fahy and Emmie setting out on a multiyear training and racing odyssey that would culminate—they
hoped—with father and daughter running side by side in one of the world’s greatest foot races.

In a refreshing antidote to the wave of self-deprecating, often frivolous amateur-sports memoirs, Fahy writes honestly about his competitive nature and desire to excel—even to the point of challenging Emmie during their races and training runs, just as she challenges him. The egos ebb and flow, the split times rise and fall, and a complex father-daughter psychology emerges.

Equally enlightening is Fahy’s deft rendering of the Masters track subculture, with its friendly rivals, “medal sniffers” and obsessive handicappers. Hardcore runners and stat hounds will appreciate Fahy’s meticulous, comprehensive race analysis—schedules, scores, standings and strategies are sliced every which way—though occasionally the narrative bogs down in these finer data points. Still, anyone who has set a goal of personal accomplishment in sports will recognize the author’s zeal.

For Fahy, it was life-changing to perform in middle age at a level he didn’t think possible.

The only thing better would be sprinting up Boylston Street with his daughter by his side. Engaging play-by-play of the agonies and ecstasies in long-distance running, which will appeal to the athlete in all readers.

Pat sent me a copy of the book months ago, and I skimmed it. But Kirkus is a fair representation of the book, which is self-published. Pat probably paid $425 for the review, which is common for this service. But people should still consider it if they have similar marathon family interests.