Martin Parnell Finish the Race Attitude

I was looking for inspiration for this month’s column so I decided to use the mighty Google and see what holiday’s occurred on today, Thursday May 6^th.

Well, I was certainly spoiled for choice. I found the following holidays and observances:  International No Diet Day, National Beverage Day, National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, National Crepes Suzette Day, National Day of Prayer, National Day of Reason, National Nurses Day, National Tourist Appreciation Day, National No Homework Day, and National World Password Day.

However, the one I decided to go with was National Make a Book Day which is part of National Family Reading week.

I started making books as a youngster on my summer holiday travels. Our family had an Aunty Tettler living in the Black Forest in Germany and Mum and Dad and us six kids would head off on a road trip to visit her. Each sibling had a journal and we would write a daily entry about our adventures and stick straws, napkins and ticket stubs into the book.

My book endeavours continued and in 2005 I completed a cycle trip across Africa. Each night in my tent I’d write my blog in a leather bound journal given to me by my daughter Kristina. At the end of the trip I made up a manuscript of the entries plus photos and sent them into Lulu.com. They printed off 25 hard copies of “How do you Eat an Elephant – One piece at a time”. My family all knew what they were going to get for Christmas.

Since then I have had three books published by Rocky Mountain Books: “Marathon Quest”, about running 250 marathons in one year; “Running to the Edge”, about raising 1.3m for the children’s charity Right to Play and “The Secret Marathon”, Empowering women and girls in Afghanistan through sport. My fourth book “The Ageless Athlete – Age is just a Number” is scheduled for release on September 28^th 2021.

Here are three keys to writing a book:

1. Pick a subject you’re passionate about. Write from the heart.
2. Chunk it down. Tell yourself that you only need to write for 10 minutes. Once you get going you’ll be surprised how you can keep going.
3. Write first, edit later. Just get the words down.

So remember: everyone has a story and a book in them.

About the Author

Martin Parnell is the Best-Selling author of MARATHON QUEST and RUNNING TO THE EDGE and his final book in the Marathon Trilogy, THE SECRET MARATHON-Empowering women and girls in Afghanistan through sport, was released on October 30^th 2018. He speaks on having a “Finish the Race Attitude – Set Goals, Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Outstanding Results” and has written for, or been covered by CNN, BBC, CBC, The Huffington Post, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Runners World, Men’s Journal, Canadian Business, and Maclean’s.

In a five year period, from 2010 to 2014, Martin completed 10 extreme endurance “Quests” including running 250 marathons in one year and raising $1.3m for the humanitarian organization Right To Play. In 2016 he ran the Marathon of Afghanistan in support of Afghan women and girls running for equality and his film “The Secret Marathon” was released in late 2019. Find out more about Martin at www.martinparnell.com  and see what he can do for you in the long run.

Read More

Over the years I’ve been asked to write a number of book reviews. Recently, I received the following email:

Hello Martin,

As the global pandemic sees a surge in people taking up running, a new book showcases remarkable stories from people using the sport to overcome adversity and experience positivity in their lives – including battling disease, fighting drug addiction, and coping with domestic violence. There are over eighty fascinating and often moving stories captured in 'Running Stories'.

I wondered if you might like a review copy of our book RUNNING STORIES and be able to share the news with Canadian media and runners? 

Thank you very much

Andrew Roberts

I contacted Andrew and two weeks later the book arrived. The authors are Jerry Lockspeiser and Andrew Roberts and they are members of the Serpentine Running Club in London.

Right off the bat I loved the way the book was laid out. The introduction highlighted the six broad themes: Running got me through, Running Journeys, Racing Tales, The Competitive Spirit, It’s about other People Too and It makes me Feel Good. That was followed by “10 Questions New Runners Ask” and “Running Words and Phrases”.

This is a perfect start to your running journey. Then we entered the heart of the book, 88 stories of runners from all walks of life. People overcoming challenges, people helping each other. All ages, all sizes, all speeds….People who started early, people who started later on. It didn’t matter.

Each individual story gave me inspiration and hope. A number of the contributors had got their running start through the The Running Charity , an organization that is transforming the lives of vulnerable young homeless people through running and 100% of the authors revenue from sales will be donated to this charity. 

I finished the book in two days and was overwhelmed with a “Can Do” feeling. This book opens a doorway and allows people to take that first step and not look back. 

To get a copy of RUNNING STORIES go to www.amazon.com or any reputable book shop. 

I am now looking forward to Running Stories Part 2: The Next 88 extraordinary stories by ordinary people who run.

About the Author

Martin Parnell is the Best-Selling author of MARATHON QUEST and RUNNING TO THE EDGE and THE SECRET MARATHON-Empowering women and girls in Afghanistan through sport. He speaks on having a “Finish the Race Attitude – Set Goals, Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Outstanding Results” and has written for, or been covered by CNN, BBC, CBC, The Huffington Post, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Runners World, Men’s Journal, Canadian Business, and Maclean’s.

In a five year period, from 2010 to 2014, Martin completed 10 extreme endurance “Quests” including running 250 marathons in one year and raising $1.3m for the humanitarian organization Right To Play. In 2016 he ran the Marathon of Afghanistan in support of Afghan women and girls running for equality and his film “The Secret Marathon” was released in late 2019. Martin’s next book THE AGELESS ATHLTE – Age is just a Number will be published on September 28^th 2021. Find out more about Martin at www.martinparnell.com  and see what he can do for you in the long run.

Read More