Amy Marxkors' The Lola Papers are amazingly insightful and
thought-provoking.--John L. Parker, Jr., author of Once A Runner and
Again to Carthage
A simple request for training advice turned into a year of
high-intensity coaching, unexpected adventure, unlikely friendships, and
the realization that life, like the marathon, isn't about the finish
line. Through the journal of Lola, a nom de plume created to embody the
spirit of all runners, Amy Marxkors chronicles her journey of self
discovery as she decides to find out just how good she could be if she
really tried. Humorous and endearingly candid, The Lola Papers reveals
the universal truths and profound humanity hidden in the miles, showing
that sometimes the greatest gift in life is getting more than what you
bargained for.
Each chapter in The Lola Papers serves a twofold purpose. On the
topmost level, it is the direct account of a specific running
experience--a training run, a blown workout, a solitary trail, or a
grueling race. On a deeper level that reaches beyond running and into
the soul of humanity, Lola's stories are a reflection of the struggles
and emotions of life, the supreme test of endurance. Dedication.
Fatigue. Failure. Victory. Monotony. Adventure. Sorrow. Joy. Redemption.
And the unshakeable determination to keep on going.
The Lola Papers uses the sport of distance running as a lens to
examine self, relationships, and the world around us.
