Racing Shadows

In May of 1984, the summer Olympic Games will return to America. Jeff Dillon prepares to run in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Buffalo, New York. He will face the deepest field ever assembled. It is the pinnacle of his professional running career. Unfortunately, the marathon goddess does not smile on Jeff as he crosses the finish line last, exhausted and depressed. His misery is interrupted by Bill Atlee, an Olympian who won the 1928 marathon trials. Bill offers to coach the struggling runner, an unexpected silver lining on the day.

Jeff returns to graduate school to be coached by Bill and the prospect of a fall come-back race. Through the many miles of training, a secret is revealed and an agreement struck. Everything points to Jeff's next marathon. There are questions to be answered and redemption sought by both athlete and coach. The race will provide a second chance to compete, to strive for the podium, and face everything that lies beyond the finish.

Racing Shadows is Jim's debut novel, a book that took many miles and years to complete. A competitive runner since high school, Jim ran track and cross country for East Carolina University, earning a BS degree. After college, Jim moved up to the marathon while earning a MA and MBA from Wake Forest University. Jim competed in the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials. After graduate school, Jim had a long career in banking and currently works in nonprofit management. Taking up writing after his competitive running days were over, Jim resides in Richmond, Virginia with his wife.