Running on Empty: A Novel for Young Athletes About Sleep, Fuel, and Doing Too Much

by Brandon Turner

Six coaches. Two kids. Nobody said no.

Brooke Hayes is the best pitcher in her class. Her twin brother Eli is the fastest kid on the field. Everybody wants travel ball, school teams, showcases every weekend. And nobody, not the coaches, not the parents, not the twins, knows how to say no.

Five hours of sleep. Breakfast from a can. An elbow that is "just a little sore." Seven tournament games in one weekend, then seven more innings on Monday.

Running on Empty is the story of one family's season of too much, and the comeback that starts with the two choices every athlete makes every sleep and fuel.

Every chapter ends with a Coach's Corner, practical, research-based guidance for young athletes, parents, and coaches

Sleep and injury riskFueling for practices and tournament weekendsEnergy drinks, shakes, and supplementsOveruse injuries and growing bodiesBurnout and the social media comparison trapHow to talk to coaches and say noFor athletes ages 12 to 17, their parents, and their coaches. Pair it with Running on The Athlete & Parent Journal.

116 pages, Paperback

Published November 3, 2026

About the author

Brandon Turner is an author, entrepreneur, and active real estate investor with more than 500 rental units and dozens of rehabs under his belt. He is the Vice President of BiggerPockets, co-host of The BiggerPockets Podcast, and author of four books, including The Book on Rental Property Investing and How to Invest in Real Estate. Brandon has also been featured in numerous online and print publications—like Forbes.com, Entrepreneur.com, and Money Magazine—where he enjoys showing others the power and impact of real estate investing and financial freedom. A life-long adventurer, Brandon (along with his wife and daughter) splits his time between his home in Maui, Hawaii and various other destinations around the globe.