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Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running With My Dog Brought Me Back From the Brink
Run your way to better mental health
It’s never too late to chase your dreams: Before she discovered running, Nita Sweeney was 49-years-old, chronically depressed, occasionally manic, and unable to jog for more than 60 seconds at a time. Using exercise, Nita discovered an inner strength she didn’t know she possessed, and with the help of her canine companion, she found herself on the way to completing her first marathon. In her memoir, Sweeney shares how she overcame emotional and physical challenges to finish the race and come back from the brink.
There’s hope and help on the track: Anyone who has struggled with depression knows the ways the mind can defeat you. However, it is possible to transform yourself with the power of running. You may learn that you can endure more than you think, and that there’s no other therapy quite like pavement beneath your feet.
Depression Hates a Moving Target is a witty and poignant story of rediscovery. Whether you’re born to run or just looking for rebirth, you will:
Be inspired by the powerful story of one woman―and her dog
Cheer on Nita as she endures the challenges of a marathon and a mind in turmoil
And discover the power of running to overcome obstacles
If you loved Let Your Mind Run, you’ll love Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running With My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink.
It’s never too late to chase your dreams: Before she discovered running, Nita Sweeney was 49-years-old, chronically depressed, occasionally manic, and unable to jog for more than 60 seconds at a time. Using exercise, Nita discovered an inner strength she didn’t know she possessed, and with the help of her canine companion, she found herself on the way to completing her first marathon. In her memoir, Sweeney shares how she overcame emotional and physical challenges to finish the race and come back from the brink.
There’s hope and help on the track: Anyone who has struggled with depression knows the ways the mind can defeat you. However, it is possible to transform yourself with the power of running. You may learn that you can endure more than you think, and that there’s no other therapy quite like pavement beneath your feet.
Depression Hates a Moving Target is a witty and poignant story of rediscovery. Whether you’re born to run or just looking for rebirth, you will:
Be inspired by the powerful story of one woman―and her dog
Cheer on Nita as she endures the challenges of a marathon and a mind in turmoil
And discover the power of running to overcome obstacles
If you loved Let Your Mind Run, you’ll love Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running With My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
310 people are currently reading
2787 people want to read
About the author
Nita Sweeney
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Award-winning author Nita Sweeney writes about wellness and consciousness. After a decade of legal practice (and a major depressive episode), Nita turned in her shingle for a fast-writing pen. People still ask legal questions, but she's done her best to forget the answers. Instead of negotiating labor contracts for public agencies, she writes, and shares what she's learned.
Nita's articles, essays, and poems have appeared in Buddhist America, Dog World, Dog Fancy, Men's Health, Writer’s Journal, Country Living, Pitkin Review, Spring Street, WNBA-SF blog, Pencil Storm, It's Not Your Journey, and in several newspapers and newsletters. She blogs and publishes the monthly email, Write Now Columbus.
She and her books have been featured on Health.com, Healthline.com, Livestrong.com, Fupping.com, PsychCentral.com, bpHope.com, Bustle.com, NextAvenue.com, UpJourney.com, Pawstruck.com, Thrive Global, WGRN, Sweatpants & Coffee, Authority Magazine, Intergenerational Inspiration, 2014 and Beyond, Medium.com, and Pretty Progressive, and in bp Magazine and Epoch Times, on the Word Carver, Running Dad, My Brain on Endorphins, and Diz Runs podcasts, and nominated for the Ohio Arts Council Governor’s Award.
Her poem “Memorial” won the Dublin Arts Council’s Poet’s Choice Award and an early draft of her memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink , was short-listed for the 2018 William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition Award. The book is a #1 Amazon New Release in the “mood disorders,” “bipolar disorder,” and “running & jogging” categories.
Nita earned a journalism degree from The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, a law degree from The Ohio State University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College. For ten years, she studied with and assisted best-selling author Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones) at week-long writing workshops teaching the “rules of writing practice” and leading participants in sitting and walking meditation. Goldberg authorized Nita to teach “writing practice” and Nita has taught for nearly twenty years.
When she’s not writing and teaching, Nita runs. She has completed three ultramarathons, three full marathons, thirty-eight half marathons (in twenty-five states), and more than one hundred shorter races.
Nita lives in central Ohio with her husband and biggest fan, Ed, and her yellow Labrador running partner, Scarlet (aka #ninetyninepercentgooddog.)
Sign up for Nita's News here!
Award-winning author Nita Sweeney writes about wellness and consciousness. After a decade of legal practice (and a major depressive episode), Nita turned in her shingle for a fast-writing pen. People still ask legal questions, but she's done her best to forget the answers. Instead of negotiating labor contracts for public agencies, she writes, and shares what she's learned.
Nita's articles, essays, and poems have appeared in Buddhist America, Dog World, Dog Fancy, Men's Health, Writer’s Journal, Country Living, Pitkin Review, Spring Street, WNBA-SF blog, Pencil Storm, It's Not Your Journey, and in several newspapers and newsletters. She blogs and publishes the monthly email, Write Now Columbus.
She and her books have been featured on Health.com, Healthline.com, Livestrong.com, Fupping.com, PsychCentral.com, bpHope.com, Bustle.com, NextAvenue.com, UpJourney.com, Pawstruck.com, Thrive Global, WGRN, Sweatpants & Coffee, Authority Magazine, Intergenerational Inspiration, 2014 and Beyond, Medium.com, and Pretty Progressive, and in bp Magazine and Epoch Times, on the Word Carver, Running Dad, My Brain on Endorphins, and Diz Runs podcasts, and nominated for the Ohio Arts Council Governor’s Award.
Her poem “Memorial” won the Dublin Arts Council’s Poet’s Choice Award and an early draft of her memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink , was short-listed for the 2018 William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition Award. The book is a #1 Amazon New Release in the “mood disorders,” “bipolar disorder,” and “running & jogging” categories.
Nita earned a journalism degree from The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, a law degree from The Ohio State University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College. For ten years, she studied with and assisted best-selling author Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones) at week-long writing workshops teaching the “rules of writing practice” and leading participants in sitting and walking meditation. Goldberg authorized Nita to teach “writing practice” and Nita has taught for nearly twenty years.
When she’s not writing and teaching, Nita runs. She has completed three ultramarathons, three full marathons, thirty-eight half marathons (in twenty-five states), and more than one hundred shorter races.
Nita lives in central Ohio with her husband and biggest fan, Ed, and her yellow Labrador running partner, Scarlet (aka #ninetyninepercentgooddog.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
July 5, 2021
To be honest, this was kind of a slog to get through. I really admire the author for her determination and I'm also very aware of the effects of working out to mental health, so I understand how she felt. But the book is a very detailed description of a marathon training schedule she followed, more like her running log than a story. Also the subtitle is a little misleading, she runs with her dog and mentions it often, but not a lot in depth is written about it. I don't really know what I expected, but it wasn't this. Maybe more on her mental health and how it changed?
I do have respect for her and it's great to read that she has an amazing support circle around her. I think that's one of the main take-aways from the book: you can do a whole lot more if you have people around you that care and help you achieve (even if it are only simple) goals.
I do have respect for her and it's great to read that she has an amazing support circle around her. I think that's one of the main take-aways from the book: you can do a whole lot more if you have people around you that care and help you achieve (even if it are only simple) goals.
August 1, 2019
While this book had its flaws, it was right up my alley. Nita Sweeney, an overweight 50 something from Columbus, Ohio, who struggles with depression, anxiety, mania, and has days, weeks and months when she can't get off the couch, or out of bed, or certainly, out of the house, and struggles even to shower, gets the idea to try running.
She has friends who run and post their achievements and joy in running on Facebook. She wants that joy, but fears starting and fears others seeing her. But one day, she puts on old tennis shoes, leashes her dog, grabs a kitchen timer and heads out to see if she could run, even if only for a little while. As she slowly gains a tiny bit of confidence and sees how much better she feels, she tells her husband, who instead of discouraging her or congratulating her, he simply accepts her activity, giving her exactly the kind of support she needed.
It's never easy for her. The inner voices discourage her at every step, and frequently send her back to bed or to long bouts of sobbing. But Morgan, her dog, is always ready and by her side, so she gets back out, over and over again.
As time passes, she tells more people what she is doing, buys proper shoes, and is encouraged to continue. At last she tells her sister who wants her to run a 5k for a charity that raises money to help find a cure for the cancer that took the life of Nita's beloved niece. After much time, she relents and discovers a new world of races, training, gear, and runners of all types.
This is her story, and it is very human and encouraging.
I recommend this because her struggles are so real, and the information she imparts on training, form, shoes, hydration, and more, quite practical.
She has friends who run and post their achievements and joy in running on Facebook. She wants that joy, but fears starting and fears others seeing her. But one day, she puts on old tennis shoes, leashes her dog, grabs a kitchen timer and heads out to see if she could run, even if only for a little while. As she slowly gains a tiny bit of confidence and sees how much better she feels, she tells her husband, who instead of discouraging her or congratulating her, he simply accepts her activity, giving her exactly the kind of support she needed.
It's never easy for her. The inner voices discourage her at every step, and frequently send her back to bed or to long bouts of sobbing. But Morgan, her dog, is always ready and by her side, so she gets back out, over and over again.
As time passes, she tells more people what she is doing, buys proper shoes, and is encouraged to continue. At last she tells her sister who wants her to run a 5k for a charity that raises money to help find a cure for the cancer that took the life of Nita's beloved niece. After much time, she relents and discovers a new world of races, training, gear, and runners of all types.
This is her story, and it is very human and encouraging.
I recommend this because her struggles are so real, and the information she imparts on training, form, shoes, hydration, and more, quite practical.
April 10, 2022
While I appreciate the message and accomplishments of the author I couldn't help but feeling like the book was just a running account of which streets she ran down, how her ankle, knee, and hip hurt through each and every run, and why her shoes hurt her and that she needed to rotate her 'trainers'.
There could have been so much depth and humour added into this memoir but the book felt very repetitive and just skimmed the surface of her experience with running and mental health issues. And the constant complaining about running over bridges and getting lost was exhausting.
I was also pretty baffled that she referred to Indigenous people as 'Indians' in a book published in 2019 and that people dressing up in traditional headdresses at a turkey trot race was somehow comical or appropriate...
There could have been so much depth and humour added into this memoir but the book felt very repetitive and just skimmed the surface of her experience with running and mental health issues. And the constant complaining about running over bridges and getting lost was exhausting.
I was also pretty baffled that she referred to Indigenous people as 'Indians' in a book published in 2019 and that people dressing up in traditional headdresses at a turkey trot race was somehow comical or appropriate...
January 16, 2019
Personally, I hate running unless I am chasing down a tennis ball on the court. So Nita’s goal of running a marathon is not a goal for me. However, I loved reading about how Nita returned to her love of running and started small with a kitchen timer in her neighborhood before she was able to run a full marathon.
The prologue begins as Nita is running the marathon. Nita’s mind says negative things like “Who do you think you are?” and “You’re old and fat. People will make fun of you and you’ll die of heart failure.” But Nita keeps running. Her niece Jamey died, and she was a runner. Nita’s friend Kim said running was fun, and Fiona bought shoes to start running. Small moments add up to convince Nita to start running again. She runs with her dog Morgan, aka Mr. Dawg, slowly building the momentum to complete her first 5K.
You can return to something you used to enjoy. Start small. Your goal may not be running, but Nita’s story is inspiring as I return to my past loves of art, reading, spending time in the snow, and so on. Enjoy your journey, even the steps that seem like you will never reach the finish line.
The prologue begins as Nita is running the marathon. Nita’s mind says negative things like “Who do you think you are?” and “You’re old and fat. People will make fun of you and you’ll die of heart failure.” But Nita keeps running. Her niece Jamey died, and she was a runner. Nita’s friend Kim said running was fun, and Fiona bought shoes to start running. Small moments add up to convince Nita to start running again. She runs with her dog Morgan, aka Mr. Dawg, slowly building the momentum to complete her first 5K.
You can return to something you used to enjoy. Start small. Your goal may not be running, but Nita’s story is inspiring as I return to my past loves of art, reading, spending time in the snow, and so on. Enjoy your journey, even the steps that seem like you will never reach the finish line.
April 25, 2020
I'm listening to it on audible when running, but i feel like she constantly complains about one ache or pain throughout the entire book. And there isn't much humor in it It seems very dry and sort of dull. Luckily I'm a runner and suffer from depression and needed a change from music while running. I'm vested now but considered giving up on it several times. I thought there would be some good interesting stories about running with her dog (i run with mine) but's it more about oh i ran with minimalist shoes, this hurts that hurts, my chi running form. I need a club to run. It all just seemed whiny and attention seeking. And what a hypochondriac. I'm scared of this and i turned off to run and cried as my husband disappeared out of sight. Constant talk of meditating and chi this and blah blah that. I have depression and anxiety and I was hoping for a more average person's story of depression and running that I could relate more to.
August 8, 2019
I applaud the author’s candidness in discussing her depression and love how much running has helped her. However, I felt she spent too much dwelling on the mundane details of her training (and I’m a runner who likes reading about others’ training.) A lot of that could have been tightened/edited out, IMO.
February 5, 2022
This is a hard book to rate because it's someone's memoir so I don't want to discredit the author's experience, but this was just not the book I was expecting, and while on the shorter side, some of it was a slog to get through. Also, I listened to the audio version and I just really wish author's would narrate their own stories because I feel like it adds so much personalization and connectedness to the reading experience. While this narrator had a perfectly fine voice to listen to, it was just very monotone overall. Anyway, I 100% applaud Sweeney for her running journey and the fact that she was able to use running as a means to help keep her depression at a manageable level! But this book read more like a running log which was tiresome after the first 100 pages. And the constant whining of her aches and pains, and her lack of awareness of her utter privilege to be able to devote so much time and money into the sport of running was very annoying. But even still, her story of being an overweight, inactive woman in her late 40s who somehow finds the determination to start running and one day run a marathon is inspiring and should be applauded. It's just the story telling of this accomplishment that didn't do it for me.
May 29, 2019
I love how the author shares her personal story in dealing with serious depression with candor, hope and humor. Nita's writing style is clear and engaging. Although I am not a runner (nor do I hold any aspirations to becoming one), I was blown-away impressed by both her accomplishments and her infectious enthusiasm to keep herself moving. The most difficult part about this book is sitting still long enough to read it!
May 26, 2019
Nita's husband Ed gave me a card for her book so I looked it up and decided to order it. I'm very glad I did! Thank you, Nita, for sharing your story of inspiration and courage. I battled depression which spiraled into alcoholism. I'm in recovery which allowed me to regain my health. This led to my walking races and joining a walking club. Your story proves we can do anything regardless of age and with support of friends, family and fur babies.
July 26, 2019
I loved this book.
So, the book itself isn't some page turning, life changing memoir. It's simply a woman's story about how and why she got into running - a fight with anxiety and depression being the biggest bit of motivation - and her journey from barely being able to run a full minute to completing her first marathon. In between, she talks about her struggles (both physically and mentally), mistakes she makes (plenty), setbacks she faces, things she thinks about and the progress she makes along the way.
I thought this was a fun story to read. Nita was very honest about her issues and problems. It was casually written, kind of like diary excerpts, but still kept my interest.
What I most love about this book, though, is its existence. I'm a runner, mediocre at best, and we need more books written by average runners. I'm sick to death of book after book being written by runners who think/know that they're bad ass runners, and so they write about it. Elite runners, fast runners, crazy long distance runners, all vying to compete not only in their races but in who's written the most bad ass book and who has the best advice to give on setting PRs, staying injury free, increasing speed, whatever. (I have runner friends who chase all these runners around at book signings and running clinics and guest lectures and, frankly, the Starfuckery makes me nauseous.)
Most of us are average if not mediocre runners (and humans) and many of us are totally okay with that, and Nita's book reminds us that it's being average, but committed, that makes Nita the true bad ass runner (and human). And despite the book's description, this book is not at ALL a self help book... the author does not give advice or offer suggestions. It's just her story, and that's quite enough. So, kudos for a low-key, well written and interesting book about average running!
So, the book itself isn't some page turning, life changing memoir. It's simply a woman's story about how and why she got into running - a fight with anxiety and depression being the biggest bit of motivation - and her journey from barely being able to run a full minute to completing her first marathon. In between, she talks about her struggles (both physically and mentally), mistakes she makes (plenty), setbacks she faces, things she thinks about and the progress she makes along the way.
I thought this was a fun story to read. Nita was very honest about her issues and problems. It was casually written, kind of like diary excerpts, but still kept my interest.
What I most love about this book, though, is its existence. I'm a runner, mediocre at best, and we need more books written by average runners. I'm sick to death of book after book being written by runners who think/know that they're bad ass runners, and so they write about it. Elite runners, fast runners, crazy long distance runners, all vying to compete not only in their races but in who's written the most bad ass book and who has the best advice to give on setting PRs, staying injury free, increasing speed, whatever. (I have runner friends who chase all these runners around at book signings and running clinics and guest lectures and, frankly, the Starfuckery makes me nauseous.)
Most of us are average if not mediocre runners (and humans) and many of us are totally okay with that, and Nita's book reminds us that it's being average, but committed, that makes Nita the true bad ass runner (and human). And despite the book's description, this book is not at ALL a self help book... the author does not give advice or offer suggestions. It's just her story, and that's quite enough. So, kudos for a low-key, well written and interesting book about average running!
May 21, 2019
Love this! Recommended for: runners, writers, and anyone interested in mental health awareness. The author describes her journey from finding the courage to bounce along for 20 minutes in a secluded ravine to running her first 5K and eventually completing a marathon. A fast-paced and effortless read (ease in the reader, craft in the writer). Like any good running book, this makes you want to get up off the couch and go!
I wish I'd had this to read when I began training for my first half-marathon. I read a lot of books by ultra-runners including Born to Run (mentioned here) which were inspiring (hey, I'm only trying to run 13 miles in normal weather not 135 across Death Valley) and enjoyable (whoa, superhuman feats!), but I never found a good book accompanying my own (can I even do this?! I am NOT a runner.) journey.
This book captures this perfectly from feeling goofy and making yourself step out and stick to training plans to becoming obsessed with gear and one day calling 13 miles a short run. In addition, the author describes coping with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and loss. I had to stop at the end of one paragraph and call my mom. All the feels. So relatable.
Also, she captures the beauty of being outdoors and running with her companion dog.
Pairs well with: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall; Always Too Much and Never Enough by Jasmin Singer; Lifelong Running: Overcome the 11 Myths about Running and Live a Healthier Life by Ruth Heidrich
Quotable: the author on life-altering experiences like your first marathon: "What changes your life is the day-to-day stuff leading up to and following the events."
Notable: The book has a nice conclusions and resources section at the end where the author shares some of her favorite tips. This book would be a perfect gift for someone starting out in running or training for their first race at a new length. Or a great gift for yourself, if that's you — you'll feel like you have a friend with you on your journey reading this!
I wish I'd had this to read when I began training for my first half-marathon. I read a lot of books by ultra-runners including Born to Run (mentioned here) which were inspiring (hey, I'm only trying to run 13 miles in normal weather not 135 across Death Valley) and enjoyable (whoa, superhuman feats!), but I never found a good book accompanying my own (can I even do this?! I am NOT a runner.) journey.
This book captures this perfectly from feeling goofy and making yourself step out and stick to training plans to becoming obsessed with gear and one day calling 13 miles a short run. In addition, the author describes coping with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and loss. I had to stop at the end of one paragraph and call my mom. All the feels. So relatable.
Also, she captures the beauty of being outdoors and running with her companion dog.
Pairs well with: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall; Always Too Much and Never Enough by Jasmin Singer; Lifelong Running: Overcome the 11 Myths about Running and Live a Healthier Life by Ruth Heidrich
Quotable: the author on life-altering experiences like your first marathon: "What changes your life is the day-to-day stuff leading up to and following the events."
Notable: The book has a nice conclusions and resources section at the end where the author shares some of her favorite tips. This book would be a perfect gift for someone starting out in running or training for their first race at a new length. Or a great gift for yourself, if that's you — you'll feel like you have a friend with you on your journey reading this!
April 15, 2020
Ahhh so many great things to say about this book. As a runner and someone who struggles with their own mental health, I could really relate to many parts of this book. I found myself not wanting to put this book down because I wanted to see Nita overcome her demons of negative self talk and cross every finish line! This book was so inspiring and shows you that you don't have to be an Olympic athlete to cross the finish line. And you may have your own personal obstacles, but you can still run and even find it to be quite therapeutic. Recently I have been wanting to get back into running. I have run one full marathon and a handful of half marathons. After reading this book and being so inspired, I think I've caught the running bug again. Thank you Nita for sharing your personal experiences and helping others on their journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
June 1, 2019
Depression Hates a Moving Target is too wonderful to describe with one word, but the word “moving” kept floating through my consciousness as I read. “Moving” as a verb, as I literally felt my body wanting to move when reading the author’s description of how she felt after running. And “moving” as an adjective, as I felt my heart swell with recognition, empathy, and joy when reading of her emotional turmoil and victories. Nita Sweeney is a highly educated and successful woman, who reveals her experience of fighting depression in myriad ways: meditation practice, writing, and a variety of fitness fads. But going from a self-proclaimed couch potato to running with her dog was the impetus for this book. Having similar attempts to improve my depression with exercise, I could relate to the physical and psychological exhaustion of daily life when your brain feels like your worst enemy. Nita’s accounts of compulsiveness and crippling depression and anxiety are perfect; her descriptions of living with bipolar disorder are laugh-out-loud funny without making light of the condition. Her anecdotes about grief and the really bad days are poignant without seeming oppressive. And learning about marathons from a beginner’s viewpoint was fascinating. Overall, this story explores Nita’s experienced perspective on subjects that most of us can relate to. The daily struggles of mental health issues and loss. The importance of supportive people in our lives. The special relationship and comfort that only a pet companion can provide. The discipline, pain, and euphoria that exercise entails. And, the confidence and victory that comes with reaching a goal you never imagined possible. Thanks to Nita Sweeney and her inspirational memoir, the phrase “Depression Hates a Moving Target” is a mantra I will keep in my toolbox when my next difficult day comes along.
July 24, 2019
The best memoirs feel like you're chatting with a close friend, and Nita captures that spirit. Her voice is so relatable, the thoughts she shares so familiar, that this didn't feel like reading. It was like my own thoughts were given warm company. I'd look up, and forty pages had passed in the blink of an eye.
We've all had to struggle when confronted with the obstacles of life, and Nita gives us the solace in knowing that we're not alone when we cry, or feel defeated, or argue with ourselves.
Not every struggle is about being the best. Sometimes, the struggle is about being just a little bit better, about keeping the darkness at bay for just a little while. And when it can't be kept at bay, how to find our way out again.
We've all had to struggle when confronted with the obstacles of life, and Nita gives us the solace in knowing that we're not alone when we cry, or feel defeated, or argue with ourselves.
Not every struggle is about being the best. Sometimes, the struggle is about being just a little bit better, about keeping the darkness at bay for just a little while. And when it can't be kept at bay, how to find our way out again.
July 3, 2019
Wow. Who Knew?
I knew Nita in college, but I had no idea about her struggles with depression and anxiety. Her book is an insightful look at the everyday challenges she faces. A real eye opener for me.
I’ve read books on running before (so I knew I’d like that part). It’s always interesting to me to see how someone prepares for something as big as a marathon. The moral of this story, however, is that in spite of the coaching and support groups (both vital), the majority of the prep work was done simply by showing up, by going outside regularly with her dog, and putting one foot in front of the other no matter how slowly. It’s a good lesson for us all.
I knew Nita in college, but I had no idea about her struggles with depression and anxiety. Her book is an insightful look at the everyday challenges she faces. A real eye opener for me.
I’ve read books on running before (so I knew I’d like that part). It’s always interesting to me to see how someone prepares for something as big as a marathon. The moral of this story, however, is that in spite of the coaching and support groups (both vital), the majority of the prep work was done simply by showing up, by going outside regularly with her dog, and putting one foot in front of the other no matter how slowly. It’s a good lesson for us all.
May 31, 2019
Very inspirational and motivating read! Thanks Nita for sharing your story!!!
June 3, 2019
I am so proud of Nita Sweeney for the accomplishment of writing this book as well as the accomplishment of running, not one, but several marathons now! I could not wait to get the book in the mail. Nita's book is bold in its coverage of her mental illness condition and the various ways it expresses itself in her daily life, and yet she makes an amazing commitment to do what it takes to train and achieve the running of a marathon. This books covers the couple of years it takes to start with "jogging for 60 seconds, walking for 90 seconds" to running her first marathon. There is support, friendships, knowledge gained, pain management, mental health management, wit and wisdom throughout. Any yet, it is the individual's will, it is Nita, that made the daily decision to do what was hard, uncomfortable, and often not much fun, to train to run her first marathon. This is an amazing story and will be enjoyed by runners and those looking for mind-health management techniques. Run Nita run!
February 16, 2021
What Nita captures so exceptionally is the mental battle that is fought alongside the physical battle while training for a marathon. I have a deep appreciation for her candidness and vulnerability that Nita shares about her life. From personal struggles, to tragic family moments--she shares more than I could have ever expected. It was a treat to me, as a reader, to get a peek inside her world and have her open up in that way. And as a fellow marathoner, she really nails it when describing the camaraderie around this sport. It simultaneously made me feel good reminiscing about previous races, while reminding me of "what used to be" (pre-COVID) and how much I miss these events! All in all--a great, honest piece of work that I can tell had a lot of love poured into it. Thank you, Nita!
June 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! Nita captured what runners go through to train for a race, and the unexpected benefits that running can bring, including managing depression and anxiety. Thank you Nita for bringing to life your story...it's a wonderful one!
February 1, 2021
Wonderful read
I like the honesty of the writer. I struggle with depression and anxiety and often my brain lies to me, it's nice to hear I am not alone.
I would definitely recommend this book to both my runner friends and non runner friends.
I like the honesty of the writer. I struggle with depression and anxiety and often my brain lies to me, it's nice to hear I am not alone.
I would definitely recommend this book to both my runner friends and non runner friends.
October 6, 2021
A memoir of a woman who felt like an imposter in running. She was overweight, depressed, and older. Lovely journey from her first 60 second run to her completing a Marathon. Running is for everyone. Your Mileage May Vary, but you are a runner.
April 4, 2020
Blah blah blah run run run me me me blah blah blah.
I kept thinking this would get better. It didn’t. What a waste of time and money
I kept thinking this would get better. It didn’t. What a waste of time and money
February 17, 2021
Loved this amazing book from Nita Sweeney! A must read for anyone looking for a better way to beat life’s blues.
February 19, 2021
My new favorite running book! This book motivated me to Sign up for a 10 mile race next month!!
June 15, 2021
Brave author. This is a page turner. Very helpful.
February 20, 2025
Very cute story and all of the first time marathon woes are very relatable to anybody at any age.
July 18, 2025
‘I insisted on riding along so that, when the car crashed , I would perish with him’
her=me , hopefully ( ah yes,thinking about dead family while running )
her=me , hopefully ( ah yes,thinking about dead family while running )
May 7, 2022
This was a great memoir. Nita really captures a lot of the feelings, worries and struggles of a new runner with honesty and candor. I thought of many friends that asked me the same questions and felt the same feelings. If someone in your life wants to run but has hesitations….get this book for them. And if you’re new to running and aspire for more….the half marathon….the marathon….Nita’s story makes it totally clear that YOU CAN DO IT !!!!
August 31, 2021
I applaud this woman for actively trying to do better for her mental health. I can only imagine having BP and struggling with depression is no joke. On top of that, dealing with so much loss in her life is way too much for any person. I really admire her for this!
With that said, the book was 258 pages of wining. The woman complained about everything! It never occurred to her how privileged she is. She had access to medical health specialists (mainly for non-existent issues), regular massages, pool membership, all sorts of equipment, several running trainers, gym trainers (the list goes on and on), and somehow she finds a reason to complain about all of it.
Her hypochondria really got on my nerves. I was sympathetic the first couple of times she mentioned her "wobbly ankle", but come on, get some grip! I was really disappointed that she never considered the struggles of other people. It was only her and her issues. And some of her issues are things that nobody over the age of 4 would be upset about. She is a 50 years old woman and she cried because her husband wasn't running with her, but cheered her from the crowd, and she had only her friends for support? I really can't take that seriously…
I also had a huge problem with her claims she is introverted when in reality she couldn't do anything if there weren’t people around her. Sorry, but that is not how introverted people function.
I really wanted to like this book. Running a marathon, no matter what, is a huge accomplishment, but it is so hard to like it because almost all of her actions are so incredibly immature, and deprived of consideration for others. She thanks a woman for being slower than her?; cheers when seeing somebody who has to stop their race for medical reasons; after finishing the marathon she wears her medal like a 4-year-old, showing it to random people… but most of all, I have never in my life met someone who is so scared of getting lost, despite studying the route, using a map, and a GPS watch…
Maybe my expectations were very high after reading Murakami’s “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running”. “Depression Hates a Moving Target” was definitely not for me.
With that said, the book was 258 pages of wining. The woman complained about everything! It never occurred to her how privileged she is. She had access to medical health specialists (mainly for non-existent issues), regular massages, pool membership, all sorts of equipment, several running trainers, gym trainers (the list goes on and on), and somehow she finds a reason to complain about all of it.
Her hypochondria really got on my nerves. I was sympathetic the first couple of times she mentioned her "wobbly ankle", but come on, get some grip! I was really disappointed that she never considered the struggles of other people. It was only her and her issues. And some of her issues are things that nobody over the age of 4 would be upset about. She is a 50 years old woman and she cried because her husband wasn't running with her, but cheered her from the crowd, and she had only her friends for support? I really can't take that seriously…
I also had a huge problem with her claims she is introverted when in reality she couldn't do anything if there weren’t people around her. Sorry, but that is not how introverted people function.
I really wanted to like this book. Running a marathon, no matter what, is a huge accomplishment, but it is so hard to like it because almost all of her actions are so incredibly immature, and deprived of consideration for others. She thanks a woman for being slower than her?; cheers when seeing somebody who has to stop their race for medical reasons; after finishing the marathon she wears her medal like a 4-year-old, showing it to random people… but most of all, I have never in my life met someone who is so scared of getting lost, despite studying the route, using a map, and a GPS watch…
Maybe my expectations were very high after reading Murakami’s “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running”. “Depression Hates a Moving Target” was definitely not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2021
I loved the book. When I read a paragraph at the beginning of Chapter 1, I was hooked. She sounded just like me during the COVID quarantine. She says, ". . . But depression clung to me like a shroud. It was noon on a weekday. As usual, I’d just gotten up and hadn’t showered in days. The simple act of walking Morgan, our yellow Labrador, around the block often proved too difficult."
–Sweeney, Nita. Depression Hates a Moving Target (p. 13). Mango Media. Kindle Edition.
That was me for about 6 minutes during the COVID quarantine. I had lost about 50 pounds, had bouts of major stress, kidney disease, food tasted like cardboard, and I thought I was going to die. Then I took Natalie Goldberg's writing course because I wanted to write a memoir for my granddaughter because surely I couldn't last much longer. And then Nita came into my life, and I am still alive, and happy to write this review a year later.
I could say she saved my life, but that would be a bit melodramatic. Suffice it to say that doing those writing prompts for the last year, and reading about her depression, gave me energy and hope. So, I will just say that here's a book that speaks from the heart, as authentic as Nita herself, revealing openly about an illness that most people in the public eye would not easily share with strangers. It takes a lot courage, humility and integrity to write a book like this.
–Sweeney, Nita. Depression Hates a Moving Target (p. 13). Mango Media. Kindle Edition.
That was me for about 6 minutes during the COVID quarantine. I had lost about 50 pounds, had bouts of major stress, kidney disease, food tasted like cardboard, and I thought I was going to die. Then I took Natalie Goldberg's writing course because I wanted to write a memoir for my granddaughter because surely I couldn't last much longer. And then Nita came into my life, and I am still alive, and happy to write this review a year later.
I could say she saved my life, but that would be a bit melodramatic. Suffice it to say that doing those writing prompts for the last year, and reading about her depression, gave me energy and hope. So, I will just say that here's a book that speaks from the heart, as authentic as Nita herself, revealing openly about an illness that most people in the public eye would not easily share with strangers. It takes a lot courage, humility and integrity to write a book like this.
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