Night Runner

by Brian P. Wallace

Cliff Walker graduated from Boston Latin School as a two time All American in both baseball and basketball. College coaches and Major League baseball teams were clamoring for his services. What happened in the ensuing ten years to the athlete the Boston Globe dubbed “The Can’t Miss Kid’? What happened to the great Cliff Walker that left him lying on a psychiatrist couch in Westwood Mass, after attempting his second suicide? After his first conversation with Cliff, his doctor knew that there was something special about the handsome young man. After talking to Cliff’s parents, coaches and some sports reporters in Boston, it was clear that the tremendous pressure placed upon Cliff, at such a young age, had almost destroyed him.Doctor Singer began to unravel the layers that Cliff Walker lived in his entire life. His father, who almost made it to Fenway Park, as a Boston Red Sox pitcher, before being injured on the mound, was determined to see that his only son completed his journey. The dad drove Cliff every day to pitch harder, run faster until he could run no more. The College scouts started showing up at Cliff’s door when he was only fourteen years old. Each promised more than the other. When he was fifteen every Major League baseball scout made at least one trip to South Boston to see the pitching sensation that everyone was talking about. Some made as many as six trips and they, like the College scouts, promised the young teenagers riches and a bright future. But his future only brought pain, mental anguish and thoughts of death.Cliff told his doctor that he would stay in his small project apartment, with his parents, for periods of a year without ever going outside. As part of his treatment Doctor Singer made sure Cliff went outside every day and walked around the grounds of Westwood Psychiatric Hospital. Those walks soon turned into runs and Cliff Walker began to feel better and to run further and further each day. Doctor Singer, after almost a month, told Cliff that he suffered from agoraphobia and depression. “Does anything make you feel better?” the Doctor asked Cliff. “Running,” Cliff answered.When Cliff returned home he continued running at in Moakley Park in South Boston. Feeling better but still suffering from signs of agoraphobia, he only ran at night with his dark glasses, head set and stocking cap. He soon began running twelve, then fifteen miles and his times kept coming down. He told some of his old friends about his “Night Runs” and they were blown away. One of his friends, Jumbo, told him that if he kept at that pace he could win the Boston Marathon. Cliff laughed. “If they ran the Boston Marathon at night with no spectators I might have a chance, but they don’t.” Soon a plan was put into place by his friends, and coaches they hired, to find a way to get Cliff to the starting line of the 2013 Boston Marathon.How that happens is a story of loyalty, tragedy and laughter, But even if all their hard work paid off there was no guarantee that he could even run in the day? Could he run with a million spectators screaming and yelling? Could he beat the Kenyans? Could anybody beat the Kenyans? The race is coming up and you won’t want to miss it.

453 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2012

Reviews

[Alma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cliff Walker had everything going for him. He was an all around athlete, especially excelling at baseball. His father had been a top prospect for the Red Sox, and it looked like Cliff was on his way to greatness. Suddenly he disappeared off the face of the sports world.

Read the rest of my review on my blog: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.c...

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night Runner is a fantastic story. I could not put this book down!
This is definitely a book most everyone would enjoy.
Highly recommend.