Paske to Read from Breaking Stride Saturday

Stephen Paske, whom faithful DtB readers will remember as the author of the two-part article about Minnesota's high school distance running renaissance -- found HERE and HERE -- will read from his 2006 novel Breaking Stride at the Maple Grove Library at 1:30 p.m. this Saturday.

Breaking Stride is a short, dramatic tale about high school distance running set in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. The story follows two runners: Rod Dillery, who gave up a state title when he stopped late in the race to aid a fallen competitor, and Jeremy Sylas, who will learn his coach's secret if he wins state.

True to the book's breathless style, Paske's narrator depicts a summer night, training run encounter between two rivals with the following:

"Their eyes dueled. Searing with hatred, their retinas boiled from the whites. Obsessed with victory, each combatant sized up his opponent, supremely confident in his own superiority. Both runners accelerated recklessly. Neither was intimidated. I was the only one who was scared."

Paske, a former Osseo High School and Marquette University distance runner, currently resides in the Milwaukee area. More information on Breaking Stride and Paske's newest book, The Immortal, can be found HERE.