August 1975; Brian Pettit must send a 500 word composition he failed to turn in the previous spring to his English instructor to be eligible to compete in the upcoming fall cross country season. Instead he sends a 60,000 word explanation by relating what occurred over the last days of May including the anticipated reconciliation with his former girlfriend, his Conference Track & Field Meet in Eugene and the death of his boyhood idol Steve Prefontaine; and as he explains in an opening letter describing "that tragic and crazy time"-"I am going to tell you a few things about running."