Shoutin’ from the Rooftop

I read the funniest book during my trip to Las Vegas. If you are not a runner and never have any intentions of ever ever running then you can tune me out now. If you are a runner or ever have any intentions of running or just would like to read a very funny and informational book, I have just the book for you.  When I posted “I Took the Plunge” , a reader  commented on my post and suggested a book “The non-Runner’s Marathon Guide for Women – Get Off Your Butt and On With Your Training” by Dawn Dais.

I was intrigued by “Applesauce”’s suggestion and ordered it from Amazon. It came and I set it aside to read on our trip. I started the book on the flight out to Vegas. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Dawn gives training schedules for anyone running a full marathon and a half marathon. I would love to meet Dawn. Many times throughout the book I thought to myself “she knows exactly what I am feeling and thinking”. Several parts of the book could have been written by me.

Dawn shares her experiences and journal entries throughout her training. She had never run before getting the idea to run a marathon. I laughed so hard reading this book that my stomach hurt. During the flight, a lady acrossed the isle, kept looking at me because I was laughing so hard. At some points I had tears running down my face.  I would stop and read different passages from the book to Chris. I knew that he would appreciate some of her comments since he is a runner. I easily read the first ten chapters on the flight to Las Vegas.

Dais’ pratical advice is sprinkled with her personal journal entries from her training. She is a great visual writer that made me feel like I was in the heat of her marathon training. In the midst of her training schedule, she makes statements and comments. Reading these had tears running down my face. Maybe it was because I can relate and I can see how I will be reacting in the future. A few of my favorite statements were ” Your body is probably pretty unhappy with you now. It expresses its anger in the form of muscle aches and general immobility”, “Yes, Advil is a major food group.” , “You will actually utter the words ‘I only have to run nine miles this Saturday’ My how things have changed”.

Even during my run today I was using one of her mantra’s “I can, I will, I am able”. I have underlined and marked so much in this book. The pages are dog-eared. I will be reading this book again. I would love to meet Dawn because after reading her book I believe that I can finish my race. As she said she was the slowest runner as indicated in the following portion of her journal entry:

I am one of the slowest runners you will ever see. But I am OK with that. I have found a pace at which I can run eleven miles and not die. That’s a good pace for me. There’s one thing wrong with that though. When you are running a pace similar to that of an eighty-year-old asthmatic woman with a wooden leg, pretty much everyone else who is running or walking or riding a bike will pass you.

I seriously don’t think you will be disappointed if you buy this book. This is the hands-down best non-fiction book I have read in years. Dais did an unbelievable job in writting this book!

I can, I will, I am able!

Don’t be surprised to hear me talk about this book more in the future.

One disclaimer for those that know me personally. Do not be surprised about some of the language in the book. It is no worse than you will hear on TV most days. But if you know me personally, you know that I do not talk like that. That was not the way that I was raised and not the way that I want my girls raised. Just didn’t want anyone shocked. It isn’t bad enough to keep you from buying this book.

Tags: advice, inspirational

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