A word from "The Rocket" Rick Rodriguez

The Spirit of the Marathon by Gail Kislevitz

By Rick Rodriguez

I'm a runner!  So, it's easy for me to like a book about marathons.  I bought this book some time ago, and read a bit and put it down.  Another book, and another half-hearted attempt at finishing it.  But alas, I did finish it (today), and it provided me what I needed--a boost!  I'm reinvigorated!  Am I ready to challenge the marathon again?  Perhaps, but before I make that awesome commitment let me share with you a few thoughts on this book, briefly.

I recommend it for the 1st time Marathon runner, and those of you that want to learn a bit about why people put themselves through such a grueling experience.  The book offers this by describing the experiences of runners in brief essay format.  The good thing about the book is it provides a broad spectrum of runners retelling their stories, not just elite athletes.  So, much can be gained by learning about the marathon, and deciding whether you are up for the challenge!

Spirit of the Marathon (2003) "People have it too easy in today's world.  They don't know what it's like to work really hard and make sacrifices.  That's why everyone thinks I am so amazing to be running at my age.  Heck, anyone can do it if they want it bad enough.  I was never given anything in this world.  I've had to fight for everything I ever had, including the marathon.  It all boils down to hard work and a bit of luck.  That's what makes the difference.  I plan to keep running marathons until I can't walk.  When I finish a race I am the happiest man in the world."  Abraham Weintraub 92 years of age.  Ran 1st marathon at age 80!

The Spirit of the Marathon is 269 pages.  I read it in August of 2008.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

By Rick Rodriguez

I love books that inspire me!  Three Cups of Tea is just that type of book.  The story is about one man's mission to promote peace...one school at a time.  How Greg Mortenson arrives at the point in his life where he becomes involved in a grander purpose is this story.  It's the tale of rising from the doldrums to the peaks of K2 (one of the world's largest mountains), and engaging in a culture deemed alien and hostile by many, and overcoming a sensational amount of obstacles along the way.  As an American in a foreign country, and aside from the cultural differences, he encounters traditional methods of doing things where the American way is not always welcomed or understood.

The issue I have with this book is the seemingly insurmountable challenge Mortenson confronts in attempting to establish schools at the behest of local warlords in Afghanistan.  Let's face it, in some  respects, the Afghan culture is hell bent on keeping women subservient: old traditions die hard!  This one appears like it will never die!  Of course, it is one that I would like to see fade into the past, but even optimism won't overcome this terrible tradition.  Naturally, education is the answer and Mortenson does well infiltrating villages deprived of this basic benefit us Americans seem to take for granted.

The book emphasizes that relationship building is the key to any human collaboration.  However, in some ways Mortenson must deal with his ethnocentric beliefs and their invalidness in this country.  Nonetheless, the right people show up at mostly the right time to further extend his mission in Afghanistan.

I enjoyed reading this book.  The text is somewhat smaller point, and naming the local venues, cities, towns, and villages gets a bit laborious to read.  Nonetheless, the descriptions provide detail and insight into the terrain, territory, and danger in the region the Author encounters.

 Three Cups of Tea is 331 pages. I read this book in July/August 2008.