"CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: RUNNERS: 101 Inspirational Stories of Energy, Endurance and Endorphins," by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Amy Newmark and Dean Karnazes, Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, 384 pages (nf) www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Inspirational-Endorphins/dp/1935096494
A man overcoming multiple-sclerosis-like symptoms. A woman going through a divorce. A recovering drug addict. A reporter trying to find out why people get up so early just to run.
These are some of the people who offer their perspective on running in "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners."
The latest installment of the inspirational book series is compiled by the usual suspects: Chicken Soup for the Soul co-founders Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen and publisher Amy Newmark.
But the trio enlisted a running expert for this edition, world-renowned ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes, who, as he does in his races, gets the book off to a solid start. Karnazes shares the experience of his 30th birthday, when he was headed to a bar to let off some steam — and instead started running and didn't stop until he was 30 miles down the road.
What follows is a varied collection of narratives from a diverse group of people on what running means in their lives. Some share how and why they started running; others offer their take on running's therapeutic powers. Some tell moving stories of overcoming tragedy and adversity; still others have humorous anecdotes from their running adventures.
People run for different reasons, and while no one can relate to every single story in "Chicken Soup," any runner — or anyone thinking about running — should find something in the book that resonates with him or her.
It could be 13-year-old Claire Howlett's "Tales of a Former Slowpoke," how she found the fastest person in her class and strove to keep up with her during physical education. Or some will enjoy James S. Fell's "The God of the iPod," where a long run yields many irritating obstacles, but a favorite Metallica song helps him blast through to the end.
And then there are the stories that are awe-inspiring, such as that of Scott Rigsby. He shares his experience of being in a horrible vehicle accident and becoming the first double amputee to complete the Ironman Triathlon.
Whether one is seeking motivation to run, a kindred running spirit or just a good story to read, "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners" will surely have it.
— Robert Trishman