No Finish Line
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3.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
The courageous autobiography of the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.
Millions watched in awe as Marla Runyan ran the 1500 meter event in Sydney. But few know the real story of the woman who was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at nine years old—and became compelled to achieve what was thought beyond her reach, in the world of athletics as well as in life.
With endearing self-deprecation and surprising wit, Marla Runyan reveals what it’s like to see the world through her eyes, and what it means to compete at the world-class level, despite the fact that—quite literally for her—there is no finish line.
“[Runyan] presents her story with acuity and grace, rising above expectations and prejudice . . . [her] story is well-paced and finishes strong; readers will hope she keeps going and going.”—Publishers Weekly
“An amazingly personal account of how she has dealt with the various highs and lows in her life.”—Ventura County Star
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"My whole life was 'special.' I rode a 'special' bus, went to a school with a 'special' program.... But I wasn't special, I was angry," observes Olympic runner Runyan. Rendered partially blind by Stargardt's disease, Runyan tells the story of her trials en route to the Olympics. Growing up embarrassed by her condition and all the more headstrong for it, Runyan set and achieved high goals to compensate for a lonely and painful childhood, tackling horseback riding and first violin before she turned to track and field. (She obtained her driver's license a bit later.) In 2000, she was the first American to finish the women's 1,500 meter race, coming in eighth the highest U.S. women's placement in the history of the event. But at the heart of her story is an allegory of change: she outgrows coaches, learns patience over perseverance and comes to understand that her greatest stumbling block is her own willful approach. Thankfully, the book never waxes maudlin like the many oft-aired inserts during the 2000 Olympic Games where every athlete competed not only in their event but also for the most-outrageous-life-challenge award. Rather, she presents her story with acuity and grace, rising above expectations and prejudice ("Do you ever fall down?" is a question journalists frequently ask). Written with Sally Jenkins who collaborated on Lance Armstrong's autobiography, It's Not About the Bike, Runyan's story is well-paced and finishes strong; readers will hope she keeps going and going.
