Available June 24, 2024
Click on book cover to pre-order.
Please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads if you enjoyed the book! Thank you!
Running in Borrowed Shoes
Catherine Baker Nicholson JD
Author and Olympic Historian
Author and Olympic Historian
Available June 24, 2024
Click on book cover to pre-order.
Please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads if you enjoyed the book! Thank you!
"K V"
Hello. This is “K V” (aka Chuck’s former coworker at Strat). I rediscovered your card announcing the book about your father. I was inspired by “The Dream:…” video and thought I’d send you a note. Looking forward to the book’s release later this month! Have a blessed day.
Catherine Nicholson
K.V.
I hope you enjoy the book.
May God bless you.
Catherine
Carol R Swenson
I had the privilege of visiting a couple of times with Thane at his and Sally’s home in Pecan Plantation, near Granbury, Texas, while I was working on a history of the KSHSAA State Track & Field Championships for its centennial running in 2010. I had heard stories about K-State’s famous Thane Baker, having grown up a fan of track & field from an early age (but never a very good athlete at Alta Vista HS) and a “purple bleeding” K-State Wildcat fan, and later graduate of Kansas State University, where I took a course in Track Techniques under then head coach DeLoss Dodds and served as a track and field official for the first time (a past time that continues to this day, having served as an announcer for the KSHSAA State Meet for almost 50 years and continuing to do so for KSU meets to this day). But, during my research for the state championships history I was never able to find Thane’s name in any of the results. How could that be?
What followed was an on-line search for him which finally resulted in a connection through the Masters track club he competed for in Texas. That kind individual passed along my phone number to Thane and later that day he called, curious why I was looking for him. During that first conversation I told him about my state meet history project and I found out they lived about 40 minutes from our daughter in Fort Worth. I asked if he would be agreeable to spending 15 to 20 minutes visiting about his career when we made one of our trips south to Fort Worth! “Sure, just let me know when you’re coming down!”
That asked for15-minute visit turned into a fantastic two-hour conversation and a friendship I’ll always cherish! Stories of seeing Glenn Cunningham run down the main street of Elkhart and dreaming of becoming an Olympian at an early age, the accident with the nail head, finishing last in the state meet finals (the reason his name never showed up), seeing mementos including his medals from Helsinki and Melbourne, enjoying some of Sally’s fabulous chocolate chip cookies, and being told as I left that evening, “Bring Donna along next time! We’ll give you a tour of the Plantation!” which we did!
During those visits I suggested to Thane that we needed to get his story into book form! While I wasn’t the one to do this and with Sally’s health failing and their making the move to Nebraska, I am so glad that the two of you were able to! That makes it even more special! These histories are so important to record. This book will occupy a special place in my library! Thank you, both!
Wayne Bennett
Knew Thane for many years. Found the book very enjoyable and easy to read. Having run masters track for many years it was easy to relate to what happens at meets. I have recommended it to several track people.
Catherine Nicholson
Dear Mr. Bennett,
Thanks for recommending the book. Dad and I are talking about working on a book about the 1956 Olympics.
May God bless you.
Catherine
Ben Clark
I love your article in the DTD Rainbow, “From Kitchen Boy to Olympic Gold Medalist.” A reminder that tenacity and grace in the face of challenging circumstances are the highest virtues. Thank you.
Catherine Nicholson
Dear Mr. Clark,
Thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my father’s story.
May God bless you.
Catherine Nicholson