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Run With It: A True Story of Parkinson's, Marathons, the Pandemic, and Love
COVID-19 disrupted the premier road races known as the World Marathon Majors (WMM) that take place annually in Berlin, London, Chicago, Boston, Tokyo, and New York City. Normally spanning the calendar from March to November, the pandemic forced a rescheduling of the 2021 WMM such that all the races would take place during a six week stretch in the fall. At age 60, with only a single previous marathon under his belt and recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Joe Drake decided to run all six of these races on the compressed schedule.
In Run With It, writing in a style that is charmingly humorous and informative, Joe marks his debut as an author. He tells of his transformation into a marathoner, the physical and logistical challenges of running these races amid a world eager to emerge from a global catastrophe, and how this quest with the help of friends, family, and the running community allowed him to devise a strategy for coping with Parkinson's.
In Run With It, writing in a style that is charmingly humorous and informative, Joe marks his debut as an author. He tells of his transformation into a marathoner, the physical and logistical challenges of running these races amid a world eager to emerge from a global catastrophe, and how this quest with the help of friends, family, and the running community allowed him to devise a strategy for coping with Parkinson's.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
178 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2022
2 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Joe Drake
2 books6 followersAward-winning author (Finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2022 and Honorable Mention in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards 2022).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 26, 2022
A diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease is enough to send many patients into a tailspin. However, the author takes it as a challenge. The very idea of healthy man who is not a long-time athlete being able to transform himself into a marathon runner able to run the six major world marathon races over the short stretch of only six weeks seems pretty intimidating. But not to Parkinson's patient Joe Drake.
He arms himself with knowledge on how to train, connects with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, gets the emotional support to “go for it” from family and friends, and hits the ground running.
Mr. Drake provides his reader with interesting insights into the world of a marathon runner. Some of these are personal. Rather than all of the other athletes being simply competitors, we learn that there is a bond between them and that many shared tips to help him along the way. He acknowledges that not all Parkinson’s patients are the same, but teaches us that vigorous aerobic exercise has been found to slow progression of the disease.
While this book is a particularly good choice for anyone with an interest in marathons or Parkinson’s, it is a worthy choice for anyone looking for a good read.
I received my copy from the author via the Early Reviewers at LibraryThing with no guarantee made of a positive review. However, Mr. Drake knows his subject and speaks from his heart.
He arms himself with knowledge on how to train, connects with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, gets the emotional support to “go for it” from family and friends, and hits the ground running.
Mr. Drake provides his reader with interesting insights into the world of a marathon runner. Some of these are personal. Rather than all of the other athletes being simply competitors, we learn that there is a bond between them and that many shared tips to help him along the way. He acknowledges that not all Parkinson’s patients are the same, but teaches us that vigorous aerobic exercise has been found to slow progression of the disease.
While this book is a particularly good choice for anyone with an interest in marathons or Parkinson’s, it is a worthy choice for anyone looking for a good read.
I received my copy from the author via the Early Reviewers at LibraryThing with no guarantee made of a positive review. However, Mr. Drake knows his subject and speaks from his heart.
September 27, 2022
Having completed my one and only marathon 14 years ago (a fact I still bring up all casual-like in conversation probably more often than I should), I know how hard it is to run 26.2 miles. Joe Drake ran six marathons (two on consecutive days). Over the course of six weeks. On two continents. During a pandemic. After a diagnosis of Parkinson's. At age 60, which I should note is significantly older than the age I was when I ran my one and only marathon. (It's true: youth is wasted on the young.)
What I loved most about Joe's memoir is how effortlessly he combines exact and exacting reporting (the physiology and biochemistry of Parkinson's, his reasoning behind selecting running gear and race nutrition and hydration, the logistics of getting from Chicago to Boston within a screamingly tight time frame) with self-deprecating humor and generously detailed descriptions (the sights and sounds of London, Berlin, Chicago, Boston, New York, and Seattle, the extraordinary people he meets along the way, his good-natured rivalry with Shalane Flanagan). But above all, I was blown away by his humility, his gratitude, his unfailingly positive view of the world, his determination to take nothing for granted. And lest you think this is one of those saccharine, inspirational "obstacles overcome" memoirs, it's absolutely not—it's clear-eyed, grounded, smart, and suffused with a recognition that any quest, no matter how ambitious, improbable, or ridiculous, is achievable if you attack it "with cheerful, stubborn resolve."
You'll learn a lot from this book, whether you want to know more about running (Joe is a former engineer who currently works in a running store in Seattle, and I particularly appreciated his focus on efficiency and on avoiding wear-and-tear injuries), about Parkinson's research, or about the World Marathon Majors. But the most valuable thing is learning the minutiae of how someone reaches for—and exceeds—an extraordinary challenge, and does it with extraordinary grace.
What I loved most about Joe's memoir is how effortlessly he combines exact and exacting reporting (the physiology and biochemistry of Parkinson's, his reasoning behind selecting running gear and race nutrition and hydration, the logistics of getting from Chicago to Boston within a screamingly tight time frame) with self-deprecating humor and generously detailed descriptions (the sights and sounds of London, Berlin, Chicago, Boston, New York, and Seattle, the extraordinary people he meets along the way, his good-natured rivalry with Shalane Flanagan). But above all, I was blown away by his humility, his gratitude, his unfailingly positive view of the world, his determination to take nothing for granted. And lest you think this is one of those saccharine, inspirational "obstacles overcome" memoirs, it's absolutely not—it's clear-eyed, grounded, smart, and suffused with a recognition that any quest, no matter how ambitious, improbable, or ridiculous, is achievable if you attack it "with cheerful, stubborn resolve."
You'll learn a lot from this book, whether you want to know more about running (Joe is a former engineer who currently works in a running store in Seattle, and I particularly appreciated his focus on efficiency and on avoiding wear-and-tear injuries), about Parkinson's research, or about the World Marathon Majors. But the most valuable thing is learning the minutiae of how someone reaches for—and exceeds—an extraordinary challenge, and does it with extraordinary grace.
October 21, 2023
I loved this book. Sometimes a book finds you and changes your thinking. I love to run and this book inspired me to dram big with my races.
August 18, 2023
The book was a very motivational read! Congratulations on your achievement in racing the big 6 marathons in a compressed time-frame due to Covid. What an inspiring story of the authors diagnosis of Parkinson's and how he reacts to it by following the doctors orders and start his extreme exercise regimen with the goal of the marathons as his target. I definitely came away from the book more informed. I am now more informed about Parkinson's disease and the effect it can have on the body and the mind, as well as the emotional toll it takes on everyone involved including family and friends. But the theme of the book was more about the hope that there will be a cure in the future, and the authors efforts are going to be contributing to the necessary research to find a treatment, and eventually a cure for Parkinsons. I also learned a lot about what it takes to run a marathon, it's not just tying up your shoe laces and going, you have to train your body and plan effectively on how to make it to the end. There is a lot of information in the book that should give me a head start, should I ever decide to run a marathon. (not so sure about that, but who knows!) The book also talks a lot about the community he encounters in the marathon world, where everyone is supportive of each other, and the friends that the author met along the way. I received this book as part of the early reviewers on LibraryThing, and have also made a donation to the authors charity of choice, the Michael J Fox Foundation.
January 14, 2023
To take up marathon running at the age of sixty would be praiseworthy enough, but Joe Drake also has Parkinson’s Disease to contend with. Then I discover it’s 2021, during the Covid–19 pandemic, and Joe’s target is to complete six World Marathon Majors in six weeks (two of which are on consecutive days), so now my mouth has dropped open, and I’m thinking – Seriously?
It becomes clear why he has chosen to undertake this incredible challenge, apparently vigorous exercise can slow the progression of his neurological condition. Raising money for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is a major aim, and Joe also recognises the benefits to his mental health from focusing on his audacious goal. He champions the benefits of positive thinking, describing how he flips negative emotions to positive ones. He feels envious of the quick race times and fund-raising publicity a fellow marathoner is attracting, knows these negative thoughts are detrimental to his mental and physical health, so decides to flip his resentment to admiration.
Distance runners will no doubt find much to enjoy in the details of this book, from nutrition to the best clothing. I’m more of a walker than a runner (in truth, I only run in an emergency) but the descriptions of the marathons held my attention due to Joe’s great writing style and his sense of humour: he describes how at the end of a race, “my legs seized up and I hit the ground while the crowd’s cheering gave way to a collective gasp. I made up that last part about the gasp, but you get the idea”.
Joe’s attitude to life, his determination in the face of adversity is remarkable. I highly recommend Run With It, am so glad I read this memoir of the inspiring Mr Drake.
It becomes clear why he has chosen to undertake this incredible challenge, apparently vigorous exercise can slow the progression of his neurological condition. Raising money for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is a major aim, and Joe also recognises the benefits to his mental health from focusing on his audacious goal. He champions the benefits of positive thinking, describing how he flips negative emotions to positive ones. He feels envious of the quick race times and fund-raising publicity a fellow marathoner is attracting, knows these negative thoughts are detrimental to his mental and physical health, so decides to flip his resentment to admiration.
Distance runners will no doubt find much to enjoy in the details of this book, from nutrition to the best clothing. I’m more of a walker than a runner (in truth, I only run in an emergency) but the descriptions of the marathons held my attention due to Joe’s great writing style and his sense of humour: he describes how at the end of a race, “my legs seized up and I hit the ground while the crowd’s cheering gave way to a collective gasp. I made up that last part about the gasp, but you get the idea”.
Joe’s attitude to life, his determination in the face of adversity is remarkable. I highly recommend Run With It, am so glad I read this memoir of the inspiring Mr Drake.
June 27, 2023
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Run With It: A True Story of Parkinson's, Marathons, the Pandemic, and Love
Author: Joe Drake
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 4/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
13 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘clarity of message’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“For me, it was the mix of the two subjects, Parkinson’s and running which made this book such a good read. There’s also an underlying humour to this author’s personal story which I very much enjoyed. Sparkling effort!” Female reader, aged 43
“Being a runner myself, I understand the agony of doing so much in such a short space of time. I congratulate the author not just on his book – which is excellent – but also in his ability to take on a challenge.” Male reader, aged 41
“Anybody battling with Parkinson’s should check this book out. It’s well-written and very inspiring. A mix of humour and honesty I loved.” Female reader, aged 67
“Thought-provoking and educational. Fascinating!” Male reader, aged 32
To Sum It Up:
‘A fascinating insight into living with Parkinson’s and being a long distance runner. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Run With It: A True Story of Parkinson's, Marathons, the Pandemic, and Love
Author: Joe Drake
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 4/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
13 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘clarity of message’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“For me, it was the mix of the two subjects, Parkinson’s and running which made this book such a good read. There’s also an underlying humour to this author’s personal story which I very much enjoyed. Sparkling effort!” Female reader, aged 43
“Being a runner myself, I understand the agony of doing so much in such a short space of time. I congratulate the author not just on his book – which is excellent – but also in his ability to take on a challenge.” Male reader, aged 41
“Anybody battling with Parkinson’s should check this book out. It’s well-written and very inspiring. A mix of humour and honesty I loved.” Female reader, aged 67
“Thought-provoking and educational. Fascinating!” Male reader, aged 32
To Sum It Up:
‘A fascinating insight into living with Parkinson’s and being a long distance runner. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
June 3, 2023
After receiving a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, Drake also reads about the benefit of strenuous exercise for helping with symptoms and progression. Drake decides to run 6 marathons in 6 weeks!
Drake shows so much determination, positive attitude and gratitude for his support system. The book is very moving, and informative. It reads like an intimate diary, with detailed information of his race experience, travel and a lot of people he encounters on the way.
When I first saw the premise of the book, at Library Thing Early Reviewers; I was very interested in learning about Joe’s story. I expected a little more insightful and less detail heavy on the marathon experience. I am sure anyone who enjoys running and marathon will enjoy this book, but also anyone who may want to learn more about it.
Thank you Joe Drake for the book and wishing you the best in all your future endeavours! It was an inspiring read.
Drake shows so much determination, positive attitude and gratitude for his support system. The book is very moving, and informative. It reads like an intimate diary, with detailed information of his race experience, travel and a lot of people he encounters on the way.
When I first saw the premise of the book, at Library Thing Early Reviewers; I was very interested in learning about Joe’s story. I expected a little more insightful and less detail heavy on the marathon experience. I am sure anyone who enjoys running and marathon will enjoy this book, but also anyone who may want to learn more about it.
Thank you Joe Drake for the book and wishing you the best in all your future endeavours! It was an inspiring read.
February 10, 2023
4.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on site). I doubt I'd read it again so that's the main reason it doesn't rate a 5.
I find Joe Drake very inspirational. Some people view a diagnosis as a defeat, but others view it as a challenge. I learned a lot about Parkinson's Disease--such as I hadn't realized that exercise was a way to retard the progress.
Years ago, I was on the school track team. One of my friends from that did go on to run at least one marathon and was hoping to qualify for Boston. This was all years before the pandemic. I can't even begin to imagine the changes with international travel plus doing multiple marathons (including 2 in a very short period of time)! The chapters that discussed the marathons were my favorites in the book.
I find Joe Drake very inspirational. Some people view a diagnosis as a defeat, but others view it as a challenge. I learned a lot about Parkinson's Disease--such as I hadn't realized that exercise was a way to retard the progress.
Years ago, I was on the school track team. One of my friends from that did go on to run at least one marathon and was hoping to qualify for Boston. This was all years before the pandemic. I can't even begin to imagine the changes with international travel plus doing multiple marathons (including 2 in a very short period of time)! The chapters that discussed the marathons were my favorites in the book.
December 13, 2022
This book about Joe's PD diagnosis and his incredible achievement to run all these Major Marathons in one season was very uplifting.
I can tell how much I like a book by how fast I read it.... I am usually a "normal" speed reader, but this book was done in 2 evenings. Mr. Drake has a pleasant writing style. My only deduction of 1/2 star was for the "too scientific" explanations of all the nutrition, etc.(I never liked science!)
I am planning on following Mr. Drake's further exploits and hope that he will continue to do well and raise lots of funds for the MJFF!
I can tell how much I like a book by how fast I read it.... I am usually a "normal" speed reader, but this book was done in 2 evenings. Mr. Drake has a pleasant writing style. My only deduction of 1/2 star was for the "too scientific" explanations of all the nutrition, etc.(I never liked science!)
I am planning on following Mr. Drake's further exploits and hope that he will continue to do well and raise lots of funds for the MJFF!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews