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  • Life Is a Marathon

  • A Memoir of Love and Endurance
  • Written by: Matt Fitzgerald
  • Narrated by: Jamie Renell
  • Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

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Life Is a Marathon

Written by: Matt Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Jamie Renell
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Publisher's Summary

An endurance athlete and coach reveals how the marathon transforms the lives of everyone who attempts it - and how it has helped his own family cope with serious adversity.

Step after step for 26.2 miles, hundreds of thousands of people run marathons. But why - what compels people past pain, lost toenails, 5:30 a.m. start times, "The Wall"? Sportswriter Matt Fitzgerald set out to run eight marathons in eight weeks across the country to answer that question. At each race, he meets an array of runners, from first-timers, to dad-daughter teams and spouses, to people who'd been running for decades, and asks them what keeps them running. But there is another deeply personal part to Matt's journey: his own relationship to the sport - and how it helped him overcome his own struggles and cope with his wife Nataki's severe bipolar disorder.

A combination of Matt's own How Bad Do You Want It? and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Life Is a Marathon captures the magic of those 26.2 miles. At the end of the day - and at the end of the race - the pursuit of a marathon finish line is not unlike the pursuit of happiness. You will pick up the audiobook for a powerful personal story about what running does for the people for whom it does the most. You will put it down with a greater understanding of what it means to be alive in this world.

©2019 Matt Fitzgerald (P)2019 Hachette Audio

What the critics say

"Life is a Marathon is a powerful inspiration for the body, mind, and heart: after reading the book, I want to run longer, better understand myself as an athlete, and most importantly, love with more patience and generosity." —Mark Lukach, author of the international bestseller My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward

"Matt Fitzgerald reveals how perseverance and authentic love (whether it be for a partner, a sport, or anything that's close to one's heart) can transform a life into one that's worth living. Life is a Marathon is nothing short of remarkable."—Dyane Harwood, author of Birth of a New Brain: Healing from Postpartum Bipolar Disorder

"Life is a Marathon is a running book, of course, but it's also about love, family, passion, and what it means to find your true self. It's a must-read for anyone who has run a marathon—or wants to."—Jen Miller, author of Running: A Love Story

What listeners say about Life Is a Marathon

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Quite enjoyable

It was interesting to hear his struggles in life and in racing. Quite well written

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Fitzgerald is a jerk but a good storyteller

Fitzgerald uses his own life story to weave together the stories of the people he encounters during his journey. More and more my wife and I thought he was a c
self centered egotist but enjoyed the stories he told of the people he encountered.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Nice Surprise!

I've read a few Matt Fitzgerald books. They are good but this book is a must read. Of all the books I've read, this is a new favourite. I'll probably read it again at least once.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

More so much more then I expected!

I really enjoyed this book having read many other books by Matt Fitzgerald I expected a good book. Tis was so much more then what I expected. From great running stories to heart wrenching stories about real life problems. This book delivers on it's title!

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