In the Long Run: A Father, a Son, and Unintentional Lessons in Happiness

by Jim Axelrod

It€™s 2008. Jim Axelrod€”once among the most watched correspondents on network news and the first television reporter to broadcast from Saddam International Airport in 2003€”is covering the final stages of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. He€™s forty-five years old and thirty pounds overweight. He€™s drinking too much, sleeping too little, and scarcely seeing his family. He€™s just figured out that the industry that pulled him up the corporate ladder is imploding as he€™s reaching for its final rungs. Then, out of the blue, Jim discovers his late father€™s decades-old New York Marathon finish times. At forty-six, Bob Axelrod ran a 3:29:58. With everything else going on in his life, Jim sets himself a defining €œCan I beat him?€ So begins a deeply felt, often hilarious, quixotic effort to run the 2009 New York Marathon. Along the way, Jim confronts his listing marriage, a care

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Sports

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2011

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I still did enjoy it. I came into it not knowing who Jim Axelrod is, so all of the parts about his career weren't exactly what I signed up for when choosing this book. However, there was certainly some interesting material there and perhaps the book wouldn't have been a fully formed story without it. I did prefer the sections about running though, especially hearing his honest retelling of his greatest failings as a runner. It's always encouraging to know that there are other people out there struggling with the same issues. The final chapter was the perfect conclusion to the book and a very inspirational run through the New York Marathon course. One thing I found disconcerting was Axelrod's handling of the 9/11 story. I can understand somebody seeing the story as a chance to better their career, and I can even see somebody forget about the tragedy for a moment and focus on their personal missed opportunity, but in his telling of the story, he shows no compassion for the victims, no respect for the families of the dead, no honor for the heroes. I guess I applaud his honesty for not manufacturing feelings he wasn't having on the day, but he came off as a horrible person in that chapter.

[Susan Boyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was really interesting to read how he trained for the marathon. How much work and effort it took. He made you really feel the challenge of it and also the reward

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book on a personal level. As someone who enjoys running and participating in races but is still very much a novice, I found this book very encouraging. I was glad to know I'm not the only one that's had various mental/physical hurdles to overcome. I also appreciated that Axelrod was able to come to grips with is relationship with his father through running, forge stronger relationships because of running running, and apply running lessons to life in general.

With that said, dude's got a serious ego. This issues he had with his father he repeated with his children for a good amount of time. He sacrificed his family and wife to chase the big television reporter dream. He was so competitive with his dad, his brother, random runners, other correspondents and reporters. There were several times when I really want to scream at him to open his eyes, think about his wife, and put his big boy pants on!

Thank goodness his description of the New York Marathon was so good at the end; it rewarded me for enduring that ego and attitude for 288 pages.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's name was familiar, but since I don't watch network news I had not seen his reports as White House correspondent for CBS. The tedious parts of the book were Jim's training for a marathon, partly in competition with his deceased father's time. They had a strained relationship.
New management at his job meant Jim's career was in trouble. The book was really about "learning to be happy in your own skin." I like the idea of running to gain a sense of control (weight, energy, success that does not depend on others). Perhaps I should take up running. Sign along NY Marathon route: "Today You Are All Kenyans." Best tee shirt: "Giraffes United Against Ceiling Fans." It was interesting to see how competitive TV news really is. There's not a lot of job security.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'd have to be a runner to enjoy this book. I think. It's filled with the minutiae of mileage run, times for a given mile, what particular muscles are feeling at a particular time. To me, that was the most interesting part of the book, but I understand that non- runners will find their eyes glazing over in boredom.
The fact that the details of marathon preparation are coupled with the story of the author's crumbling marriage and career elevates the book above one too narrowly focused. Lawrence Block's recent book on his race walking, "Step by Step'" had this flaw, I think.
So I enjoyed "In the Long Run" very much, but don't bother reading it if you think getting up at 5AM in winter to go running is insane.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 1/2 Stars
FINALLY!!! I am DONE with this book. Blech!
I have to admit, there were moments that were really nice and touching. Those moments usually happened with he was talking about someone else or telling their story. Then *POOF* he was back to talking about himself and it just would evaporate again. I DID *read* the whole book (meaning I skimmed the last few chapters, but I DID read it), which I didn't think I would do. After reading about this online and then reading blurbs about this book, I had high hopes. They were totally and completely dashed.

Jim Axelrod is (in my opinion) a very selfish man, who got a second chance at redemption with his family and his job. THAT is what I got out of this book. He should be grateful every day for his family and loved ones.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. I found myself a little annoyed with the author's frankness about how driven he was to succeed and how he totally ignored his wife's needs. He was completely honest about it when speaking in the present, but he was apologetic about it when examining his life in hindsight. Still, his naked egoism was a little grating for me. I did relate to how running completely brought focus to his life, made him realize his priorities and flaws and how he worked to address them....AFTER he finished his marathon, of course.

[Kevin J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven at times, but otherwise an emotional journey of a man watching his career implode, his marriage erode and trying to live up to his dead father's rules of life. A typical mid life crisis memoir, Mr. Axelrod finds running as a way to explore his life, not escape it. Predictable in an odd way as it is the true story of a man's experiences, but nevertheless satisfying. Recommended for fans of memoirs and runners who don't mind a running book that isn't really about running.

[Matt Heavner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this was a "great book" but in the end I really liked reading it. It made me think alot about my father/son relationships, which was great. And the descriptions of the final run made me want to go out for a run and also try to sign up for the NY marathon someday.. But it wasn't a great running book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and would recommend it to fellow runners. Especially novice runners as it shows that with hard work and dedication, anyone can run a marathon. There are also some good life lessons spun into the book.

As someone who has ran marathons, it was emotional for me to read about his prep and race recap!

[Bryan Mclellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so much a book about running, although it shares a common theme of running as a metaphor for life as Born To Run, the last book I read.

Instead, a book about realizing what is important in your life and shedding inherited, false assumptions about how you should be living and what is important.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for the way journalists write books; just the right combination of description and action for my tastes. Loved how he dovetailed his relationship with his dad, his personal ambitions, and the NY Marathon together. Plus he lives about 3 miles from where I did in my Jersey days. And the peek into what life is like for the CBS chief White House correspondent...wow.

[Ilyssa Wesche · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, this wasn't a bad memoir. I have no idea what compelled me to read it, not being a runner or a news junkie, but I liked it all the same. Except in the beginning of the book Axlerod insinuates that houses in Syracuse cost more than in NJ and that is just a flat out lie.

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave it one star just to remind me to review and relate an awful read. Truly terrible, I suppose the pseudo-famous anchor is how it got published. Can't believe I kept reading it, what a whining baby of a man with an awful father.

[Adam Heiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A struggle with humility, alcohol, and staying on the right track. Jim's idea of living up to his father's New York City Marathon time is much harder than he thinks. Stuggling with family & career make it even harder.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about the personal life of Jim Axelrod and how he measured himself against his dad both professionally and personally. Enjoyed this quick read and feel inspired to think about training for another marathon.

[Louanne Caspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the running part of his story, especially the weeks leading up to the NYC marathon.

[Matt Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and pleasant enough, but a little too heavy on metaphors and descriptions that felt forced. Considering it is a book about a career in journalism and running, I had higher hopes for it.

[Ray Velez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked it, the writing wasn't great, but the passion came through. Thanks to Simon from www.sponsorthefool.com for the recommendation.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chronicles how running helped connect this famous reporter to his dead father and his living family.

[Christopher Kijowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesomely inspiring book.