Frontlist Books

 

 

A Marathon Odyssey

This is the true story of 3 marathons and an odyssey. The Athens marathon is held in November each year. Home of the marathon, home of the legend. It is run on the original marathon course of the 1896 Olympics – from Marathon to Athens, finishing in the Panathinaikon Olympic Stadium in the centre of Athens. Two months later in early January, Walt Disney World hosts the Goofy Challenge – run the half marathon around Disney World on the Saturday and you get a Donald Duck medal. Do the Full marathon on the Sunday and you get a Mickey Mouse medal. Complete both, and you get a Goofy medal. To many people it doesn’t get much better than that.

Unless of course, you decide to head to the Caribbean and run a marathon there. So the author did just that, with the flat and beautiful Cayman Islands marathon at the beginning of December. The Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge epitomizes the transition of ‘the marathon’ from legend and Olympic heroes to worldwide societal mainstream. The book is a personal journey. It is a societal journey. It traces the transformation of marathon running while at the same time being part travel-log, and part training as it details the successes and the dismal failures of training for these three events.

A Marathon Odyssey
by Malcolm Anderson

4.8" X 7.75", trade paper, December 2008, 394 pages

ISBN 13: 978-0-9683158-2-8
ISBN 10:0-9683158-2-8
Price: $19.50 CAD

 

 

 

 



“Malcolm’s enthusiasm for running is infectious and there were several occasions while I was reading the book when I felt compelled to don my running gear and brave the great outdoors even though the weather conditions were appalling. A Marathon Odyssey is a thoroughly good read and should appeal to runners and non-runners alike. It is a book that testifies that everything is possible if one has the ambition and resolution to pursue a dream. I really enjoyed the book. Indeed, I wouldn’t have read it as quickly if I hadn’t found it totally absorbing”
– Jack Brooks
Secretary, 100 Marathon Club, United Kingdom
(The Running Club for runners who have run 100 marathons or more)

“A Marathon Odyssey” will surely inspire runners across the world, from those new to the event to established, experienced marathon enthusiasts. Its blend of well researched history combined with personal accounts of Malcolm’s introduction and progression to experienced marathon runner make this a thoroughly enjoyable book. A must for anyone contemplating the 26.2 miles, those already hooked on the event, and anyone interested in marathons and running in general.”
– Scott Umpleby, Race Director of Brathay Windermere Marathon,
and 10 Marathons in 10 Days Challenge, United Kingdom

“Malcolm Anderson creates for himself a worthy quest and sets about methodically building toward it. In what in less skilled hands could be a dull retelling of workouts run and benchmarks accomplished, A MARATHON ODYSSEY comes alive under Malcolm’s care due in large part to his constant sense of humor and his clean, clear writing style. Coming out the other end of his noble quest, Malcolm is quick to acknowledge that his is far from the only odyssey being completed on the roads to and from Marathon”
– Rich Benyo, Editor of Marathon & Beyond, and author of 18 books on running, health and fitness.

"It is a great idea to weave reflections on the history and culture of running around the motif of a journey to several races, and Malcolm Anderson's writing is always lucid and enjoyable."
- Roger Robinson (author of Running in Literature, and co-author, with Kathrine Switzer, of 26.2 Marathon Stories).

 

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