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My Year of Running Dangerously: A Dad, a Daughter, and a Ridiculous Plan
CNN correspondent Tom Foreman's remarkable journey from half-hearted couch potato to ultra-marathon runner, with four half-marathons, three marathons, and 2,000 miles of training in between; a poignant and warm-hearted tale of parenting, overcoming the challenges of age, and quiet triumph.
As a journalist whose career spans three decades, CNN correspondent Tom Foreman has reported from the heart of war zones, riots, and natural disasters. He has interviewed serial killers and been in the line of fire. But the most terrifying moment of his life didn't occur on the job--it occurred at home, when his 18-year old daughter asked, "How would you feel about running a marathon with me?"
At the time, Foreman was approaching 51 years old, and his last marathon was almost 30 years behind him. The race was just sixteen weeks away, but Foreman reluctantly agreed. Training with his daughter, who had just started college, would be a great bonding experience, albeit a long and painful one.
My Year of Running Dangerously is Foreman's journey through four half-marathons, three marathons, and one 55-mile race. What started as an innocent request from his daughter quickly turned into a rekindled passion for long-distance running--for the training, the camaraderie, the defeats, and the victories. Told with honesty and humor, Foreman's account captures the universal fears of aging and failure alongside the hard-won moments of triumph, tenacity, and going further than you ever thought possible.
As a journalist whose career spans three decades, CNN correspondent Tom Foreman has reported from the heart of war zones, riots, and natural disasters. He has interviewed serial killers and been in the line of fire. But the most terrifying moment of his life didn't occur on the job--it occurred at home, when his 18-year old daughter asked, "How would you feel about running a marathon with me?"
At the time, Foreman was approaching 51 years old, and his last marathon was almost 30 years behind him. The race was just sixteen weeks away, but Foreman reluctantly agreed. Training with his daughter, who had just started college, would be a great bonding experience, albeit a long and painful one.
My Year of Running Dangerously is Foreman's journey through four half-marathons, three marathons, and one 55-mile race. What started as an innocent request from his daughter quickly turned into a rekindled passion for long-distance running--for the training, the camaraderie, the defeats, and the victories. Told with honesty and humor, Foreman's account captures the universal fears of aging and failure alongside the hard-won moments of triumph, tenacity, and going further than you ever thought possible.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2015
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July 30, 2022
Ultramarathon running is pretty extreme. I tried it once; it nearly killed me. But I went back for another go. Is it addictive? Maybe, but then running is like that.
The story of Tom Foreman’s decent into madness (it’s a fair description, believe me) so seemed to mirror my own that I just had to read this book. A marathon runner at twenty something and then life takes over and before you know it you’re fifty and someone suggests you have another go. Then one thing leads to another.
In truth, Tom’s experience is more extreme than my own – he ran 2000 miles in his first year as a Quinquagenarian which included a bunch of half-marathons, several full marathons and an ultramarathon of over 50 miles. It took me about five years to graduate to an ultramarathon, and mine was much less demanding than the race he entered.
Anyway, there’s a good deal of humour here as Tom relates his story – maybe too much, at times. There is also an underlying tale of him attempting to forge a closer relationship with his daughter, who had suggested he return to marathon running and agreed to join him in this venture. The initial idea and the training for the marathon takes up the first half of the book and it’s a little bit dull, to be honest. It’s the tale of lots of men (and women) who decide to take on a new challenge at a time they are growing tired of the stress of work and a quick look in the mirror suggests they’d better do something to liven up their lives now or it’ll be too late. But then the idea of an ultramarathon run comes up and the whole thing steps up a rung or two.
Tom realises he’ll have to intensify his training significantly – to double the number of miles he runs each week, essentially. This is hard-core and starts to have a significant impact on his life: the number of hours he’s out on the trail means he’s got precious little time for anything else other than sleep and work. This section of the book is fascinating and the accounts of some of his training runs in the early hours of a cold dark morning, battling wind and snow amongst terrain barely fit for a Bear Grylls episode were terrifying. And yet there is worse (or for the reader, better) to come. The description of the ultramarathon run itself is epic stuff and I found myself willing him to succeed, praying he’d get to the finish line.
I’ve read a couple of other books that feature ultramarathon running. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a memoir by author Haruki Murakami, in which he tells of his exploits running massive distances in Japan. In Ultramarathon Man - Confessions of an All-Night Runner, a legend of the sport, Dean Karnazes, recounts how he was introduced to this sport. Both are rather more serious accounts. In this book, Tom uses a good deal of humour to demonstrate the slightly demented path he’s chosen and he paints a lucid picture of how running helped him to draw some balance into his life, even if this was tough to achieve and at times he stepped perilously close to over cooking it. After a slow start, I found it to be an inspiring and thought provoking story.
My thanks to Blue Rider Press and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story of Tom Foreman’s decent into madness (it’s a fair description, believe me) so seemed to mirror my own that I just had to read this book. A marathon runner at twenty something and then life takes over and before you know it you’re fifty and someone suggests you have another go. Then one thing leads to another.
In truth, Tom’s experience is more extreme than my own – he ran 2000 miles in his first year as a Quinquagenarian which included a bunch of half-marathons, several full marathons and an ultramarathon of over 50 miles. It took me about five years to graduate to an ultramarathon, and mine was much less demanding than the race he entered.
Anyway, there’s a good deal of humour here as Tom relates his story – maybe too much, at times. There is also an underlying tale of him attempting to forge a closer relationship with his daughter, who had suggested he return to marathon running and agreed to join him in this venture. The initial idea and the training for the marathon takes up the first half of the book and it’s a little bit dull, to be honest. It’s the tale of lots of men (and women) who decide to take on a new challenge at a time they are growing tired of the stress of work and a quick look in the mirror suggests they’d better do something to liven up their lives now or it’ll be too late. But then the idea of an ultramarathon run comes up and the whole thing steps up a rung or two.
Tom realises he’ll have to intensify his training significantly – to double the number of miles he runs each week, essentially. This is hard-core and starts to have a significant impact on his life: the number of hours he’s out on the trail means he’s got precious little time for anything else other than sleep and work. This section of the book is fascinating and the accounts of some of his training runs in the early hours of a cold dark morning, battling wind and snow amongst terrain barely fit for a Bear Grylls episode were terrifying. And yet there is worse (or for the reader, better) to come. The description of the ultramarathon run itself is epic stuff and I found myself willing him to succeed, praying he’d get to the finish line.
I’ve read a couple of other books that feature ultramarathon running. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a memoir by author Haruki Murakami, in which he tells of his exploits running massive distances in Japan. In Ultramarathon Man - Confessions of an All-Night Runner, a legend of the sport, Dean Karnazes, recounts how he was introduced to this sport. Both are rather more serious accounts. In this book, Tom uses a good deal of humour to demonstrate the slightly demented path he’s chosen and he paints a lucid picture of how running helped him to draw some balance into his life, even if this was tough to achieve and at times he stepped perilously close to over cooking it. After a slow start, I found it to be an inspiring and thought provoking story.
My thanks to Blue Rider Press and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2021
This was a mostly enjoyable memoir about running, even though the narrator got on my nerves at times.
When Tom's daughter asked if he'd train for and run a marathon with her, he reluctantly agreed, worrying about the time commitment and the middle-age aches and pains. But as the training miles progressed, Tom got more addicted to his running schedule, and he continued to train even after completing the marathon. He ended up finishing an ultra-marathon by the end of the book, which this slow-jogging reader can't imagine doing. (Although I do enjoy reading about other people's running adventures.)
I only have a few quibbles with this book. First, I was irritated by Tom's frequent inconsideration of his wife's requests to be more careful, and to at least carry a cell phone with him. Tom would go off on 20-mile training runs, and he sometimes got into jams. But Tom refused to carry a cell phone, saying he would be fine -- which brings me to my real point of irritation about this: his inability to see his white male privilege at play. He assumes everything will be fine and callously dismisses his wife's requests. As a woman, I've always had to be mindful of safety when going on walks or jogs alone, and it's so irritating when men don't even acknowledge their privilege in this respect. For example, one winter night Tom goes on a long run when it's already really dark outside, and he is again dismissive of his wife's concern for his safety. Dude, you're being obtuse and arrogant.
Tom also spent a lot of time griping about going on runs during winter -- either join a gym with an indoor track or get yourself a treadmill, your choice. But please stop griping so much when there are practical solutions to winter-time running.
Lastly, Tom's job as a TV reporter show up in some silly dad-like jokes and references. Some of his descriptions were tied to current events from 2014 and it was a bit distracting.
Overall I really did enjoy this book -- it was moving to read about Tom's loving relationship with both of his daughters, and his pleasure in discovering running again. I would recommend it to those who like inspiring running memoirs.
When Tom's daughter asked if he'd train for and run a marathon with her, he reluctantly agreed, worrying about the time commitment and the middle-age aches and pains. But as the training miles progressed, Tom got more addicted to his running schedule, and he continued to train even after completing the marathon. He ended up finishing an ultra-marathon by the end of the book, which this slow-jogging reader can't imagine doing. (Although I do enjoy reading about other people's running adventures.)
I only have a few quibbles with this book. First, I was irritated by Tom's frequent inconsideration of his wife's requests to be more careful, and to at least carry a cell phone with him. Tom would go off on 20-mile training runs, and he sometimes got into jams. But Tom refused to carry a cell phone, saying he would be fine -- which brings me to my real point of irritation about this: his inability to see his white male privilege at play. He assumes everything will be fine and callously dismisses his wife's requests. As a woman, I've always had to be mindful of safety when going on walks or jogs alone, and it's so irritating when men don't even acknowledge their privilege in this respect. For example, one winter night Tom goes on a long run when it's already really dark outside, and he is again dismissive of his wife's concern for his safety. Dude, you're being obtuse and arrogant.
Tom also spent a lot of time griping about going on runs during winter -- either join a gym with an indoor track or get yourself a treadmill, your choice. But please stop griping so much when there are practical solutions to winter-time running.
Lastly, Tom's job as a TV reporter show up in some silly dad-like jokes and references. Some of his descriptions were tied to current events from 2014 and it was a bit distracting.
Overall I really did enjoy this book -- it was moving to read about Tom's loving relationship with both of his daughters, and his pleasure in discovering running again. I would recommend it to those who like inspiring running memoirs.
October 8, 2015
Author Tom Foreman was leading a typical life for a man nearing the end of his middle-age years – long hours at work, lots of time spent with his family, and no time for the running he once loved. An out-of-the-blue suggestion from his older daughter -- “How would you feel about running a marathon with me?” -- set his life on a new track.
“My Year of Running Dangerously” chronicles Foreman’s months of training leading up to the big run with his daughter, how it changed their relationship, and how it changed him. While others would have been content to check “marathon” off the bucket list and call it a day, the training and race left Tom energized to challenge himself even more. Why stop at a marathon when one could run an ultramarathon?
While Foreman’s training for his 50+mile race was grueling, reading about it is as easy as an untimed family fun run. His accounts are simultaneously comical and inspirational. This book will appeal not only to amateur athletes, but to anyone who has pursued an ambitious goal at a time or an age when others think it impossible.
4 stars.
Thank to you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“My Year of Running Dangerously” chronicles Foreman’s months of training leading up to the big run with his daughter, how it changed their relationship, and how it changed him. While others would have been content to check “marathon” off the bucket list and call it a day, the training and race left Tom energized to challenge himself even more. Why stop at a marathon when one could run an ultramarathon?
While Foreman’s training for his 50+mile race was grueling, reading about it is as easy as an untimed family fun run. His accounts are simultaneously comical and inspirational. This book will appeal not only to amateur athletes, but to anyone who has pursued an ambitious goal at a time or an age when others think it impossible.
4 stars.
Thank to you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2015
An enjoyable read about the author's experiences getting back into running after his daughter asked him to train for a marathon with her. The author describes his experiences running the initial marathon with his daughter, and then how he chose to continue training for an ultra marathon. While I am definitely not a runner (unless something is chasing me), the author's humorous account of the process held my interest.
March 16, 2022
It's been a few years since I've run a half marathon. I'm hoping this will get me inspired to get moving!
November 11, 2015
Listening to this audio was sort of impromptu. I saw it on my library digital download site and thought "Hmmm. I could use some inspiration." I used to run. I trained for a half-marathon, a distance I never dreamed of running. My knees and feet have since fallen apart, but I long to get back at it. Someday.
I found this memoir to be very readable and entertaining. Tom is a journalist so he knows how to tell a story, and this one was a familiar story. Tom's 18 year old daughter challenged her once-fit-once-athletic 51 year old dad to run a marathon with her. So he took her up on it. Obviously training for a 26.2 mile race is going to involve some struggles, but he found his groove after all these years after high school. Not only that, but he got such a fever he went on to run a 55 mile ultra marathon. I cannot even conceive.
I liked hearing about Tom's reconnection with his older daughter, and his wife and younger daughter's eye-rolling and endless patience with his rigorous training schedule. I mean, this is a guy who travels and works 80 to 100 hour weeks, so it's unfathomable to imagine where he found time. And while I found Tom's travails and achievements inspirational, it also made me feel a bit sluggish and self-conscious about killing myself to run 13 miles. It's probably more of a personal issue within my psyche, but it did keep me from enjoying the book a little more.
The author himself narrates the book and he does a wonderful job. Granted the guy is on TV, but he seemed very comfortable behind the microphone.
I found this memoir to be very readable and entertaining. Tom is a journalist so he knows how to tell a story, and this one was a familiar story. Tom's 18 year old daughter challenged her once-fit-once-athletic 51 year old dad to run a marathon with her. So he took her up on it. Obviously training for a 26.2 mile race is going to involve some struggles, but he found his groove after all these years after high school. Not only that, but he got such a fever he went on to run a 55 mile ultra marathon. I cannot even conceive.
I liked hearing about Tom's reconnection with his older daughter, and his wife and younger daughter's eye-rolling and endless patience with his rigorous training schedule. I mean, this is a guy who travels and works 80 to 100 hour weeks, so it's unfathomable to imagine where he found time. And while I found Tom's travails and achievements inspirational, it also made me feel a bit sluggish and self-conscious about killing myself to run 13 miles. It's probably more of a personal issue within my psyche, but it did keep me from enjoying the book a little more.
The author himself narrates the book and he does a wonderful job. Granted the guy is on TV, but he seemed very comfortable behind the microphone.
February 29, 2016
51 year old journalist agrees to a daughter's request to run a marathon with her, and just keeps going all the way through ultras afterwards. The humor in this book, which I found forced and flat, could well appeal to others. The publisher's marketing department is likely more to blame than the author for spinning this book as a couch potato's journey: while increasingly inclined towards middle aged sloth, Foreman writes of being a competitive runner in high school and college and being gifted enough to (usually) win without training or effort. I'll note as a plus the recreated dialogue with the two daughters Foreman has, both of whom regularly display enviable amounts of wisdom that seem unlikely for their years. Whether they truly are that wise, or the author simply hears them that way, speaks well of his character. If you have a Norman Rockwell reproduction hanging over your mantle and enjoy watching Disney movies, this book could be for you.
January 27, 2016
I could have written this book. Not as well and certainly not in the same way. However, all the memories of early morning runs with my girls came swirling back. I can still see and feel the elation of running hand in hand with Amy across the finish line of the Chicago Marathon. And then, two years later, feeling the disappointment of getting the schedule wrong and not getting to finish the same marathon with Jill.
Well written. Filled with anecdote and fact. Encouraging and honest and raw and emotional. The kind of book that makes you want to lace up your shoes and go do it again.
A wonderful gift from my daughter, it is nothing compared to the gift of running mile after mile with each of my three girls or all of them together. What glorious memories...
Well written. Filled with anecdote and fact. Encouraging and honest and raw and emotional. The kind of book that makes you want to lace up your shoes and go do it again.
A wonderful gift from my daughter, it is nothing compared to the gift of running mile after mile with each of my three girls or all of them together. What glorious memories...
September 15, 2015
In chapter one, the author when asked by his daughter to run a marathon with her tries to dissuade her by saying she might become sterile. If I hadn't been reading a copy given to me to review, I might have stopped there. I'm glad I didn't though, because it was a good description of training to run increasingly long distances. He makes be want to lace up my shoes again.
March 8, 2022
Running? Yes. There was running in this book.
Dangerously? No. There was no danger.
Dangerously? No. There was no danger.
February 12, 2023
I like this book for its different perspective on running. Most books (I have read) on this subject, talk only about how to run, the challenges in running and the outcomes. But, Tom Foreman's book gives equal importance to the toll and the sacrifice that his family and friends have to make, for him to succeed, and how easy it is to get sucked into this activity to the detriment of everything else.
October 1, 2020
The dangerous part of this book for me is that it makes me really want to run another marathon. Fun adventure read...
February 24, 2025
A punchy, hilarious tale of a journalists' foray into the world of ultra running. Dripping with sarcasm and vivid descriptions of pain and endurance, the picture of bare-chested and crazed Rambo wading into a jungle of unknown is probably an apt description of the book's persona.
Tom Foreman's self-depricating humor makes this book enjoyable and unlike any other running book you've read. Perhaps it's too much for some readers, but it certainly was not disingenuous. This was his true personality coming through the pages (for better or worse). Many lines/sentences made me laugh out loud, and overall it was an enjoyable read.
I recommend this book for people who want to read a light-hearted recounting of the journey into the world of running and all that comes with it. It's not a tale of an amazing feat in terms of time or beating other runners (think less Scott Jurek, and more your average dad trying to get through a 50 miler).
It was fun, and helped think through why we run and what we do.
Tom Foreman's self-depricating humor makes this book enjoyable and unlike any other running book you've read. Perhaps it's too much for some readers, but it certainly was not disingenuous. This was his true personality coming through the pages (for better or worse). Many lines/sentences made me laugh out loud, and overall it was an enjoyable read.
I recommend this book for people who want to read a light-hearted recounting of the journey into the world of running and all that comes with it. It's not a tale of an amazing feat in terms of time or beating other runners (think less Scott Jurek, and more your average dad trying to get through a 50 miler).
It was fun, and helped think through why we run and what we do.
February 7, 2017
I truly enjoyed this book. I generally like books about running. However, I find that many running stories are interesting/inspiring but not particularly well written. I think that this book goes against that trend. It is a great story that is well crafted and well written.
As the parent approaching something like middle age (?!), I especially appreciated the notion of running as a way to connect with a teenaged child and the notion that even extremely hard challenges are within grasp at any age.
The audio version is terrific!
As the parent approaching something like middle age (?!), I especially appreciated the notion of running as a way to connect with a teenaged child and the notion that even extremely hard challenges are within grasp at any age.
The audio version is terrific!
October 16, 2019
This is an autobiography. I didn't know who the author was before reading this, and I'm still unclear about that. But I do have an understanding of his journey to running 50 mile marathons and his relationship with his daughter and wife. I felt I could relate to his running journey and I admire his dedication to training.
I liked this book. It was probably 3 stars for me, but I'm a little more forgiving when it comes to autobiographies and memoirs. I appreciated the author's attempts at humor. I felt like he thought he was funnier than I thought he was, but that kind of made him come across as endearing.....just not funny.
I liked this book. It was probably 3 stars for me, but I'm a little more forgiving when it comes to autobiographies and memoirs. I appreciated the author's attempts at humor. I felt like he thought he was funnier than I thought he was, but that kind of made him come across as endearing.....just not funny.
September 3, 2019
This is a book filled with lovely, heart-warming stories along with a lot of inspiration from a fellow runner and long-distance colleague. Also, I love the funny lines throughout the book. Great work, Tom! Looking forward to the follow-up and CNN Films documentary ;-)
May 19, 2025
3.5 stars
January 25, 2021
This is my favorite running book! It is so encouraging and motivating to see how the father and daughter run together!
June 15, 2021
Tom has a good sense of humor and a very supportive family. All key elements in order to be able to run.
February 18, 2024
delightful audiobook narrated by the author, perfect for the drive to a bike race in the snow
June 22, 2022
I have zero intention of running for anything, even a bus, but Tom Foreman’s book was terrifically interesting, humorous, and well-paced. (Running joke)
December 18, 2022
Great easy read and definitely great if you need to live vicariously thru someone else for a little bit of time
June 14, 2016
If the phrase "training run" has ever been part of your vocabulary — whether in reference to you or someone near you — you're bound to get a laugh, cringe, and sigh out of My Year of Running Dangerously: A Dad, a Daughter, and a Ridiculous Plan. Combining two of my favorite topics, memoirs and running, acclaimed journalist Tom Foreman puts his storytelling skills to good use as he recounts his return to distance running after his daughter prods him out of a decades-long hiatus with an invitation to run a marathon together.
Foreman's witty narration of his own audiobook had me laughing out loud as I trotted and plodded through training runs of my own. I have a few half marathons under my hydration belt, so in the first section (marathon training) I found myself relating and commiserating with his doubtful-turned-maniacal attitude toward training for distance races. In the latter section (ultra-marathon training) I was simply in awe, as any story about running 30+ miles comes from a place of deep discipline and lunacy. Along the way he shares glimpses of his family reacting with a mix of support, shock, sarcasm, frustration, and pride.
You might glean a few lesson's from Foreman's tale — plenty of humorous "Do as I say, not as I do" advice, just like a typical runner — but the real takeaway actually has little to do with running at all. His marathon-and-beyond pursuit helped him take a step back from the quicksand of an all-consuming work life that left little room for personal endeavors and family. By carving out time for running and bringing his loved ones along for the journey, he reconnected with some of the people most important to him, and they created a support system for each other. It's a great reminder to keep in focus the goals and people most important in our lives.
Foreman's witty narration of his own audiobook had me laughing out loud as I trotted and plodded through training runs of my own. I have a few half marathons under my hydration belt, so in the first section (marathon training) I found myself relating and commiserating with his doubtful-turned-maniacal attitude toward training for distance races. In the latter section (ultra-marathon training) I was simply in awe, as any story about running 30+ miles comes from a place of deep discipline and lunacy. Along the way he shares glimpses of his family reacting with a mix of support, shock, sarcasm, frustration, and pride.
You might glean a few lesson's from Foreman's tale — plenty of humorous "Do as I say, not as I do" advice, just like a typical runner — but the real takeaway actually has little to do with running at all. His marathon-and-beyond pursuit helped him take a step back from the quicksand of an all-consuming work life that left little room for personal endeavors and family. By carving out time for running and bringing his loved ones along for the journey, he reconnected with some of the people most important to him, and they created a support system for each other. It's a great reminder to keep in focus the goals and people most important in our lives.
August 13, 2016
This was a cute, quick book about a CNN correspondent whose 18 yr old daughter asks him to train for and run a marathon with him. He is 50ish at the time.
It's a fun book if you're a runner because you can relate to a lot of the things he's going through. And he's a pretty experienced runner though he had stopped for a long time before his daughter ignited his passion again with this challenge. So I definitely went on a ride with him of consistent training and how easy it is to become obsessed with it once you're running on a schedule, not wanting to miss even one run. And then the desire to take on an even bigger goal once you complete whatever goal was initially in your sights.
The biggest part of the book is his relationship with his daughter and how he helps her to grow through allowing her to coach him at times, to be his voice of reason at times. He gets a lot of support from his family and running helps him become aware of how zombie-ish he had become to himself with the normalcy of everyday life hanging on him.
Wouldn't recommend anyone to rush to read it, but I did enjoy it.
It's a fun book if you're a runner because you can relate to a lot of the things he's going through. And he's a pretty experienced runner though he had stopped for a long time before his daughter ignited his passion again with this challenge. So I definitely went on a ride with him of consistent training and how easy it is to become obsessed with it once you're running on a schedule, not wanting to miss even one run. And then the desire to take on an even bigger goal once you complete whatever goal was initially in your sights.
The biggest part of the book is his relationship with his daughter and how he helps her to grow through allowing her to coach him at times, to be his voice of reason at times. He gets a lot of support from his family and running helps him become aware of how zombie-ish he had become to himself with the normalcy of everyday life hanging on him.
Wouldn't recommend anyone to rush to read it, but I did enjoy it.
April 27, 2016
I am not a runner. If I even think about about putting all my weight on one leg while bouncing, I get shin splits, and then have to shuffle around for three weeks while they heal. Thus, when this book came up on Audible Daily Deal, it wasn't a natural choice for me, but it was really well-reviewed, and as a rule, I enjoy memoirs, so I gave it a go. I wasn't disappointed. Tom Foreman is funny, an excellent narrator, and he knows how to tell a story. The book is comical, honest, grim when necessary, and I grew to love Tom's wife Linda, as her method of dealing with her husband's shenanigans was eerily familiar. The book was interesting, encouraging, and insightful. I feel weird giving a comedy running memoir 5 stars, but this one was well-written, and it has heart. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'm calling it 5 stars within its genre (running memoir), and probably a high 3, low four if you're looking for literature.
June 2, 2016
"Hey Tom, we like you manuscript, but it is rather short. Do you think you can stretch it out a bit?"
"Sure, but how?"
"Well, very got this sack of synonyms here, so shake a few of those in. Jimmy in supplies just got in an order of clichés, so that will pad out for another 50 pages."
"Ok, but we only have 100 pages now."
"Well, we figure that the girls down in Comparisons, Similes and Metaphors should be able to stretch all of your descriptions if you slap one in every three sentences... any other ideas?"
"I'll talk to the folks back at CNN -- I think they have some leftover hyperbole from the War on Terror I could use."
"Great. Now just dollop of sentiment and a long pour of moral and we've got a best-seller on our hands here!"
Maybe too harsh. I listened while I ran and groaned at the style but good on him for getting back into shape -- that was the main take-away for me, as I enter my own middle-age.
"Sure, but how?"
"Well, very got this sack of synonyms here, so shake a few of those in. Jimmy in supplies just got in an order of clichés, so that will pad out for another 50 pages."
"Ok, but we only have 100 pages now."
"Well, we figure that the girls down in Comparisons, Similes and Metaphors should be able to stretch all of your descriptions if you slap one in every three sentences... any other ideas?"
"I'll talk to the folks back at CNN -- I think they have some leftover hyperbole from the War on Terror I could use."
"Great. Now just dollop of sentiment and a long pour of moral and we've got a best-seller on our hands here!"
Maybe too harsh. I listened while I ran and groaned at the style but good on him for getting back into shape -- that was the main take-away for me, as I enter my own middle-age.
April 9, 2016
Middle aged man runs a marathon then goes running mad.
How many times have you read a book by a famous journalist, celebrity, or other "celebutante" only to be disappointed by the story, weak writing, or their lack of anything of substance to say? When you pick up Tom Foreman's fast paced book on running you will be delighted. If Mr. Foreman, of CNN correspondent fame, had stopped the book mid-way through with the completion of his first marathon it would have been a satisfying read. But he breaks through and continues on with the story of his first ultra-marathon which is fascinating.
Ultimately this is a tale of finding one's self again when you didn't even know you were lost. The writing is tight, the pacing is perfect, and even if you cared nothing about running it's damn fine story telling!
How many times have you read a book by a famous journalist, celebrity, or other "celebutante" only to be disappointed by the story, weak writing, or their lack of anything of substance to say? When you pick up Tom Foreman's fast paced book on running you will be delighted. If Mr. Foreman, of CNN correspondent fame, had stopped the book mid-way through with the completion of his first marathon it would have been a satisfying read. But he breaks through and continues on with the story of his first ultra-marathon which is fascinating.
Ultimately this is a tale of finding one's self again when you didn't even know you were lost. The writing is tight, the pacing is perfect, and even if you cared nothing about running it's damn fine story telling!
February 20, 2019
I feel a little like I'm getting loose with my ratings (I've given out 3 or 4 5's lately, and that's usually much more of a spaced out rarity), but I just REALLY enjoyed this book. Tom Foreman has such a good knack for storytelling, a sly and dry sense of humor, and the ecstasies and agonies he endured while re-becoming a runner really spoke to me (I've got a marathon coming up in 4 1/2 months that I really need to start training for). Terrific read! I bought a fitbit last night and jumped on the treadmill for my first run in f o r e v e r. Very inspiring (though no ultras for this runner).
(2-19-19 re-read update)
Still LOVE this book! The perfect re-read as I (again) belatedly prepare for a marathon.
(2-19-19 re-read update)
Still LOVE this book! The perfect re-read as I (again) belatedly prepare for a marathon.
January 21, 2016
As a member of Tom Foreman's "third category" of runner, I read this book b/c I typically read any running book that is recommended to me by a friend or one of the various book websites I frequent. Fully expecting to read the typical "unlikely person becomes serious runner" book (which the author certainly delivered), I was surprised to walk away from the book w/ equal parts running advice and "what to do and not to do while raising a daughter" advice. Foreman provides introspection not often seen in a public figure and that honesty makes this book an excellent read for runners and non runner alike.
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