Why Die? The Extraordinary Percy Cerutty, 'Maker of Champions' Kindle Edition

Percy Cerutty was certainly an energetic and entertaining character who took his own near death experiences into an extraordinary fitness life style transferring into a fitness coach, a highly competent masters runner and a successful yet erratic coach. He strikes me as being as Australian version of the late great Yankee coach Casey Stengel who although a competent coach, was also a great entertainer and showman made famous for his wise cracks. Cerutty was as famous for some of as his antics and his often conflicting abrasive style as well as his unique coaching that encompassed capturing an animalistic form of competitive spirit, efficiency of running form and off track running. Sims captures Cerutty with his unique lifestyle set up by his long-term illnesses that almost killed him until he underwent a dietary change and exercise. Once a promising miler, Sims describes Cerutty as an unusually successful over 40s runner who competently ran marathons into his early 50s and remained a physical specimen all his life. The exciting part of the book is Cerutty's coaching of the Australian greats Landy, Macmillan and Les Perry. Of course, the career high point is his protégée Herb Elliot going undefeated in the mile/1500 through the fantastic 1960 Olympic dominating 1500 victory. The fascinating part of the book is Cerutty's personality that could be overly forthright and abrasive such as explaining to Roger Bannister why his form was inefficient and then conducting a demonstration. His low point is bad mouthing Landy after Landy ran one of the fastest miles in the world with a break through run, assuming that Landy was soaking up the glory on his own to reporters, causing a severance that never completely healed. Another unusual moment was accepting a so called expert's theory on the importance of warming up in double sweats that was tried right before an Olympic final probably costing Macmillan a medal. The training is not quite as detailed as one would like but Sims captures the overall program that consisted of weight workouts, dune running to endure beyond the lactate threshold, off track training allowing more physical freedom and living the life of a "stotan". His training compound on the Portsea was Spartan like in its unique seaside location but appears to have been a great get away from standardized training or intervals three times a week that was a 1950's rage promoted by a coaching rival. Often rejected by the Australian Olympic committee, Cerutty was a unique and hard character that emerged with Elliott as his great success. Quite a unique story and person captured well by Sims along with some great detail on the Olympics of that period. As a distance runner, Cerutty makes you appreciate the opportunity to get to a park and enjoy an off road run.

I didn't know what to expect from this book - but I'll be upfront.Percy Cerutty's ideas about training and life have kept coming back to me again and again over the last 15 years.I couldn't help but wonder after reading, 'Be fit or be damned!' - who was this man?His self penned books gave us a brief glimpse into the mind of Percy Cerutty - but 'Why Die?' is a whole new level of discovery about his life - and perhaps what made Percy...well Percy.Whether you agree with how different sources have framed his character - there's one thing that's for sure - there will only be one Percy Cerutty - and boy what a ride!I truly felt Percy's ups and downs as his life journey was retold by the author - I didn't expect it to be such an emotional roller-coaster. Bringing context, perspective and history to Percy made for an amazing read!I'm really grateful this book was written - and for all the people who made it possible, not least the author!At the end of the book I wondered if Percy felt like he'd been successful - in my humble opinion he lived many rich (and challenging) lives in one life time - and spurred on many more great people - to help others to become 'champions'.

This fascinating biography of the legendary Australian track coach Percy Cerutty, based on his cache of personal writings and interviews with his inner circle, portrays a visionary thinker whose fusion of philosophical, biomechanical, naturalistic, nutritional and motivational theories into a "Stotan" approach to athletics and living remains as compelling today as it was during the peak of his popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.While Cerutty's coaching relationships with milers John Landy and Herb Elliot have been examined in a number of other works, this book sheds new light on the turbulent childhood, adolescent and early adult years that forged his volatile temperament and laid the groundwork for his theories. What emerges is a picture of complex man with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and curiosity for his environment, which led to a number of groundbreaking theories that won admiration from many. To its credit, the book's even-handed dissection of Cerutty's character gives equal shrift to his manic-depressive tendencies, self-destructive behavior, and the inflammatory outbursts that soured many friendships and spawned a large contingent of detractors. Graem Sims also captures the tension between Cerutty's strong drive to profit from his theories and his refusal to affiliate himself with individuals or projects that offended his Stotan principles.The book probably won't silence those who view Cerutty as a charlatan who just happened to become associated with talented young men bound for athletic glory with or without his assistance. But it reinforces my conviction that this enigmatic fellow, who ran sand dunes, moved heavy weights and ran six-minute miles well into his sixties, was one of the most important thinkers in the history of athletics. His emphasis on doing things the natural way and disdain for modern trappings and conveniences are particularly meaningful in light of the doping scandals currently rocking the sports world.-Kevin Joseph, author of "The Champion Maker"

What a fascinating character. I couldn’t stop reading since it was so darn interesting. The book was well written and moved along at a nice pace.

Amazing human being. Excellent writer. Inspirational book. Would highly recommend if you are a runner.

I have read 4 or 5 earlier books about Cerruty or by Cerruty and this one which was written after his death and contains for the first time a lot of Cerruty's notes and letters. His wife had kept this material and cooperated with the author. It is a very comprehensive study of Cerruty and his coaching and a vivid picture of the great but very controversial figure in the history of running.