The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner, by Alan Sillitoe deals with an athlete facing conformity. Smith, Sillitoe's character is a young "rebel," who is in a borstal for stealing money from a neighborhood bakery. Smith is a long-distance runner, who runs every morning while in the borstal. The borstal governor keeps on top of Smith to keep running and win the "Borstal Blue Ribbon Prize Cup for Long Distance …showed first 75 words of 976 total…

…showed last 75 words of 976 total…him for being able to face conformity, and stand up for what he believes. Athletes today do things for other reasons, which I do not admire, like gambling, or cheating. These athletes are being paid millions of dollars to play a game, and they feel the need that they need to cheat to win, which should not be accepted, especially for the youth of today. Smith lost the race to ultimately win in his heart.