Running Away

Journalist Robert Andrew Powell sobbed in his father's arms after crossing the finish line of his first marathon. Runners will recognize the feeling behind those tears, though many people will never grasp what would push anyone to cover 26.2 miles on foot. For Powell, the moment was less about the race itself than about the relief of pulling himself back up after a low point in his life.

After a painful divorce, Powell looked to his father for inspiration and resolved to reshape both his outlook and his surroundings. He relocated to Boulder, Colorado, and took up serious running for the first time in his life. Each of the book's 26 point 2 chapters follows him as he works through his earlier relationships and gradually develops self-discipline and a clearer understanding of himself, which leave him hopeful about what comes next.