Pete Magill

Richard Askwith reveals secrets of masters in ‘The Race Against Time’: Why, how we still run

Maybe the mountains had grown. Maybe the Earth’s gravitational pull was stronger than before. Or perhaps there was something wrong with my legs. My muscles felt not just weak but empty. Richard Askwith is obsessed with hills and mountains — real and metaphorical. (The word “Obsession” even appears in the subtitle of his 2004 book “Feet in the Clouds,” about trail running.) But the Englishman’s fourth tome, “The Race Against Time,” is stunning for his climb through the clouds to seek the wisdom of true-life gurus — elite masters runners, trainers and scientists. Instead of asking the Secret of Life,…


Pete Magill caps book career with ‘Fast 5K’ — finally focusing on own favorite race

Pete Magill is a Masters Hall of Famer whose fame grew out of setting 5K records and leading teams to cross country titles. But for all his talents, I’m more awed by his mastery of writing. Picasso was great at painting and Paul McCartney wrote fantastic songs. But where can you pick up a book by these legends that tells you how to improve your drawing or tunesmithing? Coach Pete, a one-time Hollywood screenwriter, combines his deep athletic/academic understanding of his favorite distance with his conversational and down-to-earth writing style in “Fast 5K.” (Read a preview here.) The only question…


Book review: Pete Magill’s ‘SpeedRunner: 4 Weeks to Your Fastest Leg Speed in Any Sport’

Pete Magill is such a buzz-kill. Our 5K Legend friend’s latest book, “SpeedRunner: 4 Weeks to Your Fastest Leg Speed in Any Sport,” warns against alcohol (it “damages the cells that produce testosterone and inhibits recovery and muscle adaptations”). He notes studies saying Kinesio Tape “was no better than sham taping/placebo.” He says xanax ice baths after workouts reduce long-term gains in muscle and strength. (And don’t get him started on chiropractors. He quotes one critic as saying: “If [spinal manipulative therapy] works, it shouldn’t be taking over a century to prove it.”) So what if I don’t drink, can’t…


Discount on Pete Magill’s ‘Combine’ meets; $50 prize for Trojan Masters mile

Missed your chance at professional track stardom? Not so fast. A series of Southern California meets is offering modest prizes and creative competition this summer. Pete (Mr. 5K) Magill reminds of his SpeedRunner Combine — where age-graded marks will be scored for the best combined efforts in the 40-yard Dash, 20-yard Shuttle, 3-Cone Drill, Vertical Leap, Standing Long Jump and Suicide Run. Details at speedrunnercombine.com. Meets are June 16 in Pasadena, July 14 in Santa Monica and Aug. 5 in Yorba Linda (where I lived as a young teen). Pete writes: “Medals will be awarded in 10 age groups (M/F),…