Book: Marathon Journey, An Achilles Story
Author: Stephen F. Balsamo
Release Date: July 2013
Purchase: Amazon ($7.99)
“Perseverance in times of weakness can lead to strength.”
Generally, when you think about running books, your mind goes to self-help titles on improving your speed, how to run appropriately on different terrains, or different ways to train. There are so many titles out there that are great and extremely helpful.
While I have gone through a couple of these books over the years, mostly when attempting something unfamiliar (such as marathon training), they are not my most “favorite” genre to delve into. While my life can be ruled by mini-OCD, for whatever reason I mostly just run with no clear training goals in mind – and am completely OK with that. So when I stumbled across a book about running, with a fictional twist to it, my interest was piqued.
Marathon Journey: An Achilles Story, while fictional, has many of the same themes that its non-fictional counterparts rely on – just from a different angle. It is motivating, highlights overcoming barriers – both mental and physical – and showcases the positive and uplifting side of running. In fact, the above listed quote comes from the coach of the book’s protagonist, Adamu. The story itself is an account of the Lost Boys of Sudan (link) and follows Adamu, a young adult who was living in Sudan before becoming a refugee in Kenya due to violence in his village. Over time, he forms bonds with engaging characters and ends up residing in Oregon with a middle-aged couple – one of which is a former college track runner.
So why “An Achilles Story”? For those of you who don’t know, Achilles International has a mission to “enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement”. They bring the largest field of athletes with disabilities (AWD) to the New York City Marathon each year. Pick the book up to find out the connection (and donate to AI if you have the desire)!
I found that the book was an easy read, the plot had the pace of Joe Dudman at a 5k (i.e. fast), and I really enjoyed the unique story. It had a good fusing of serious and laughter, and with the story occurring significantly within our local setting, I found it an extremely satisfying read. I recommend Marathon Journey for those looking for something more casual than your typical running book.