The Messengers
Malcolm Anderson
ISBN 978-0-9683158-4-2
Price: $17.80 CAD, $17.50 US
Malcolm Anderson’s book is based on interviews with more than 120 runners from around the world, some of whom have run more than one thousand marathons. And they all seem so happy. What’s going on? To most people, running a marathon seems a remarkable and remotely possible achievement, a major lifetime accomplishment. To run 100 or more marathons and ultra-marathons is even harder for people to comprehend, especially when you consider that more people have climbed Mt. Everest than run 100 marathons.
This book starts with the basic question: Why do people choose to run 100 marathons or more? Answering this question unfolds a rich tapestry of responses and details that provide a window into the soul of the long distance runner. The author conducted interviews with over one hundred and twenty of these amazing individuals from around the world, including Canada, United States, South Africa, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries.
We meet these remarkable runners and share in their stories. Stories about transformations in lifestyles, overcoming adversity, the setting and attainment of goals, and the social dimension of long distance running, which to many of these runners is described as ‘one big family’. We meet the men’s and women’s world record holders for the most marathons ever completed (and they are still running strong). We meet the clubs around the world that have been formed specifically for those who aspire to, and those who have completed 100 marathons or more. And we meet the people who make this network of clubs and runners possible. Simply, distance running is as much a social movement as it is a movement of the body. And this family – this distance running ‘tribe’ – even with the transformations, adversities and challenges faced, is full of very happy people.
The Messengers presents amazing stories of people from all walks of life. These are stories of courage, tenacity, resilience, humor, camaraderie and commitment. Learn about their experiences traveling, their training, the social connectedness of running marathons, and how these individuals make distance running an integral part of their lifestyle. They tell us about their favorite distance events, and give their advice to those just starting to run marathons. With well over 20,000 marathons run between them there is much to learn.
Chapter Samples
Samples: Chapter One | Chapter Two
Reviews
The Messengers comes with our highest recommendation… This wonderful book is inspiring in and of itself. It is a breathtaking accomplishment. If you want a book that will not only inspire you to run a marathon, but may inspire you to run 100, then this book is for you”.
i-Run magazine, Canada
“Malcolm Anderson has truly put together a well-written ample book that will make a lasting contribution to distance running, from the non-elite side, and we urge everyone to get a copy”.
NORTHWEST RUNNER, United States
“What drives one to make running such a major part of your life? “The Messengers” is a collection of interviews with those who have run over one hundred marathons and ultra-marathons. Malcolm Anderson delves into the works of these people who he calls Messengers, and offers their stories as a unique study of sorts. “The Messengers” is a fine read with plenty of thought and philosophy to consider, highly recommended.”
Midwest Book Review
“The book aims to inspire and it quickly gets its message across…. This book was written by a runner to inspire others to run long distances. But whether readers are runners or not the book holds a message for each reader. For Anderson running represents goal-setting and self-motivation, confidence and self-esteem, all of which are qualities for necessary for happy and healthy lives.”
Impact Magazine
“This book is full of inspiring stories about how people change their lives for the better through running.”
Jeff Galloway, US Olympian, www.RunInjuryFree.com
“Throughout our lives, we are constantly inspired and motivated by what others have achieved. We witness ordinary people doing extraordinary things. When we hear about their accomplishments, a phenomenon occurs where we begin to believe that we, too, can achieve what one once thought was impossible. Malcolm Anderson’s book, The Messengers, is a collection of so many of these inspirational stories that will leave the reader believing they can accomplish anything want to if they are willing to make the sacrifices involved and if they have the courage and guts to make the commitment.”
Dave McGillivray, B.A.A. Boston Marathon Race Director
“‘The Messengers’ features runners and their inspirational stories from all over the world. Meticulously written, The Messengers contains a collection of stories about runners that is unheralded within the running book genre. The Messengers is not only about running but reveals the heart and soul of each runner.”
Marshall Ulrich, Author of ‘Running on Empty’, Adventure racer and 4-time Winner of the Badwater 146-mile race across Death Valley
“The pulse of life finds its rhythm in running. The joy of life is found in human relationship. Heaven is where running and personal relationships intersect. The MESSENGERS in this book have something to say about life and how they have chosen to live it. They are not talking about the number of miles they have run, but about the people they have met along their journey. Each MESSENGER seems to bear the same message…to live is to run, and to run is to live. It’s not about the miles…it’s about the smiles. I’m honored to be one of the MESSENGERS in this book, and I feel privileged to be a member of this unique tribe.”
Jerry Dunn, America’s Marathon Man
Comments from Marathon runners
- “It’s awesome!!! Very inspiring.”
- Canada
- “This is by far the best running book I have ever read!”
- U.S.
- “You are truly a GENIUS for putting the book together with so many inspired runners stories out there … The Messengers is the perfect title.”
- United States
- “I consider this one of the best books I have ever read. The writing is incredible”
- Canada
- “Have finished the book, couldn’t put it down, many thanks, your new book is a great read … very inspirational with a good mix of facts, figures and funny stories.”
- New Zealand
- “Love it… Good reading”
- United States
- “It’s very entertaining!”
- United States
- “A great read – you have a very sympathetic way of writing”
- United Kingdom
- “The Messengers is the BEST running book that I have ever read in my 16 years of running”
- United States
- “I think it is quite smart how you have woven the story with different runners at different times with quotes and your comments. Really more ascents of Everest that runners who have completed 100 marathons. Quite an elite Club to belong to.”
- Australia
- “I love, love the book … It is really inspiring”
- United States
- “The book is well written and packed with detail. To me it is an excellent reminder of how many great friends I have in the running community and how many great experiences we have all had on our way to achieving our running goals.”
- United Kingdom
- “I did find it tough to put down as the stories were very interesting AND I know many of the people you’ve written about!!”
- United States
- “Fantastic. A great book!”
- United States
- “Thank you again for capturing our crazy mind and putting it into perfect words”
- United States
- “I’ve barely been able to put it down and have just finished it. I’m about to order 3 more copies for friends and family. Many thanks for another great reading experience.”
- United Kingdom
- “I read it almost all in one sitting, it is a page turner for me. I thought that you put what we (repeat marathoners) do into words beautifully… To sum it up, I love, love it!”
- United States
- “Awesome read”
- United States
- “For all of you that may need inspiration or a reason to run or even to have some bed-time reading, click on the link below and pick up the book called “The Messengers”. I am reading it at the moment and I have not put it down. It has interesting & inspirational stories and when reading it you want to get out into the fresh air.”
- United Kingdom
- “The best summary we can give to you is that we have found the book both inspiring and have got to know the runners through your writing and at the same time tried to understand “us”. If you can inspire someone (us) who as you have so eloquently written is “inspired” already, I would accept this as the ultimate compliment.”
- United Kingdom
- “You are a talented writer, very inspiring and you have made the next 4 Marathons within reach.”
- Australia
- “So many interesting stories, and cleverly woven into each other.”
- United Kingdom
- “A great book! Really lots of depth with the runners you covered.”
- United States
