In the Distance: Why we struggle through the demands of running, and how it leads us to peace

Runners feel a connection to one another, a bond formed with mutual respect. And yet, running is deeply personal, reminding us of our earliest days, when we could find simple joy in fresh air, and excitement in the rhythm of our movement. But running isn’t just child’s play. It can be a weapon against our deepest fears, giving us a means to fight our apprehension and doubt. We battle negative voices, and we overcome them.In the process, we learn a lot about ourselves, realizing we’re capable of more than we thought we were.In the Distance is a book about running, but it’s also a book about living. If you run, you’ll find yourself in the stories. You’ll associate with the fear and the struggle, and you’ll acknowledge the important lessons that are learned while running and racing. But this book isn’t just for runners. Every reader will become immersed in the heartwarming stories. You’ll feel a connection to the child, the competitor, the fighter, the learner, the seeker, the father, and the philosopher, all of whom appear within the same person, traversing through life one mile at a time.

About the Author Dave Griffin began running in 1976 as a high school freshman. He ran competitively through 1989 with PRs that include a 25:43 5M, a 32:11 10K and a 1:12:24 half marathon. In 1986, much the medial meniscus was removed during surgery to repair a non-running injury. The doctor advised Dave to stop running, warning that he would get arthritis if he continued. He returned to running and racing after the surgery, running some of his best races in 1987-89. After a 12-year period of casual running when his children were young, he returned to competitive running as a master. The doctor's warning came true in 2005, when Dave developed arthritis in his right knee. The years since have been riddled with injury, including a stress fracture in his right medial condyle while training for the 2012 Boston Marathon. Dave started the Flying Feet Running Programs in 2004 while his daughter, Katie, was running in high school. The program has since grown to provide year-round coaching and support to runners of all experience and talent levels in the Carroll County, Maryland, area. Dave begin writing about running and life in 2006, when his bi-weekly column, Dave Griffin on Running, was introduced. In 2010, Dave published his first book, After the Last PR - The Virtues of Living a Runner's Life. You can find Dave on the internet at www.flyingfeetrunning.com . You can also find pages for his books on Facebook.