When Alan Corcoran’s father has a stroke that leaves him partially speechless and immobile, he feels compelled to do something extraordinary, something that would make a difference and in which his father could participate with him in some way. Inspired by Terry Fox, an amputee who suffered from bone cancer and ran across Canada for cancer research, Alan decides to run thirty-five marathons in thirty-five days around the perimeter of Ireland to raise money for three organizations: Irish Heart Foundation, National Rehabilitation Hospital, and Football Village of Hope.

While still in college, Corcoran spends eight months training for the event and doesn’t lose his ambition even following a disastrous first practice marathon. After the painstaking task of arranging for hotel rooms, physiotherapy, appropriate clothing/gear, and food and drink along the route, Corcoran, somewhat naively and with his father by his side, sets out on this challenging marathon journey. His recount of his journey, MARATHON MAN: My Life, My Father’s Stroke and Running 35 Marathons in 35 Days, is steeped in emotional detail—the pain he endures, the wrong turns he makes, inclement weather, and the agony of less-than-desired donations. Thirty-five days and many maladies later—strained muscles, a seriously-wrenched knee, severe chafing, blackened toenails, a hay fever flare-up, and extensive aches and pains—he completes his coastal run with a wonderful sense of accomplishment that soon overshadows the intense pain he suffers during the event. He raises €15,317 for his three charities, successfully fulfilling his personal goals and making those around him, especially his family, very proud.

With just the right amount of back story and details, Corcoran’s descriptive, candid writing pulls readers into his life and enables them to visualize each scene. He is not afraid to reveal his vulnerabilities which serve to foster the authenticity of his narration. His story and his transformation will undoubtedly hold meaning for many and are inspirational for runners and non-runners alike.

Alan Corcoran’s MARATHON MAN is an inspirational, well-structured and well-edited memoir written with an admirable level of openness and honesty in which the author astutely codifies thirty-five days of running the streets of Ireland into a touching, meaningful and cautionary tale.

~Florence Osmund for IndieReader