Running Scared

by Jake Maddox, Katie Wood (Illustrator)

Olivia likes running - when she's doing it for fun, that is. But when her friend convinces her to join the track team, Olivia panics. She's convinced she'll come in last place, and people will make fun of her. So Olivia starts dropping out in the middle of her races. When her aunt realizes what she's doing, Olivia has to face her fears and quit running scared.

72 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler–or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps–literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Reviews

[CHLOE PARK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because Olivia tried out for the track team and she thought she would not get in but she did. On her first meet she was scared of crowds but her aunt Naomi trained her at night she was barely scared she was actually having a blast off. At the next meet she went the whole meet and came in third place her friend and her aunt Naomi were so proud of her for coming in third!

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nerves are a major obstacle for many high-level competitors, and Jake Maddox books have taken on the issue multiple times in different sports. This time it's track, and the author's treatment of the subject is evenhanded, realistic, and ultimately uplifting. Olivia and Jessica frequently go out on recreational runs as long as several miles, so it makes sense that Jessica is interested in joining the track team together. Olivia isn't sure she's up to the physical and emotional rigors of competition, but she does have fun running with Jessica. Trying out for the team could be worth it.

At the first competitive meet after making the team, however, Olivia is flooded with anxiety when she sees the other sleek, fit racers take the starting line, the crowd watching their every move. What if she can't measure up to the other girls? What if she finishes last and is ridiculed for it? Olivia's anxiety causes her to tense up and not run normally, making it difficult to keep up with the other runners. She gasps and wheezes to a pitiful finish in her 3,200 meter debut, and already dreads the next meet. The crippling fear seizes her again there, and Olivia so desperately wants to avoid finishing last that she pulls out of the race partway through with a fake injury. She feels badly about lying, but fabricated muscle tweaks and twinges soon become her failsafe for bailing out of races after she's fallen behind, and she can't seem to stop herself from resorting to the tactic.

Olivia's Aunt Naomi has watched her closely, and senses that something besides soft-tissue discomfort is preventing her from completing races. Aunt Naomi promises to help Olivia surmount her debilitating nervousness in the competitive arena. Olivia is a seasoned long-distance runner who should have no problem running 3,200 meters at a brisk pace if she doesn't psych herself out, and Aunt Naomi is prepared to prove it to her. By reassuring Olivia that she has more than enough stamina to cruise through a 3,200 meter event, Aunt Naomi recalibrates her niece's mindset so she's primed for the next meet. Can Olivia go from worst to first and make the statement that she's one of the more impressive runners her age in the area? Win or lose, Olivia certainly won't limp in at the back of the pack if she keeps her focus and runs the race she's capable of. And once Olivia stops thinking of competitive racing as an unfamiliar activity and recognizes it as the pastime she enjoys with Jessica in their free time, she'll be glad she joined the team.

Like all Jake Maddox junior novels, Running Scared is too short to have much depth, but there are essential lessons to be gleaned by runners and athletes in general. Competitive anxiety can ruin the experience of participating in a sport if you take it too seriously, but if you calm down, lower your expectations, and determine to do the best you can without worrying about results, it frees you to perform up to your talent. That goes for any sport or competitive venture, and Running Scared presents this truth admirably. I'd definitely consider giving it two and a half stars, and I hope many more young readers learn from and have a good time with this book. Jake Maddox can be counted on to deliver quality stories.

[Jeremiah Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for those who let the anxiety of competition rule their experience. The main character is good at running long distances, but the fear of losing causes many problems and she ends up performing well below her abilities. Many youth athletes would enjoy reading this as something that relates to them when it comes to competing.

[PSU · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd liked this book because it really entertain me and this book Its about that there was this girl that her name is Olivia she likes running for fun with her friend so her friend Invites her to join a running team and so she panics because she only likes running for fun and she has never been in front of people and so she has to say yes because she doesn't want to dissapoint her best friend [to be continued]

READ IT Abigail chavez

[Berkeley Poder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is amazing because I'm in cross country and it expires me to never give up and to try my best. It is amazing how she gave up but her aunt helped her get back up and push harder to the finish line. She worked harder to try to give up and just walk out of the races but instead she just felt guilty for herself. She loves to run. She runs all the time with Jessica. Jessica helped her by giving her support. To me this book is very inspiring.

LOVELY,
Abony/Princess CAPRILES

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for people who love running!