Bear Book Report

It's been ages since I did a book report blog post, the last one was back in the days when my passion was running.  Back then, I shared a few running related favourite books with you.  If you are a follower of mine then you know my life lately revolves around mountain adventures.  I have many books and guides about this topic, some are listed on the left hand side here, others sit on my bookshelf.  This book is one that now sits on my bookshelf, having read it and deciding it's a keeper.  

I first read some rumblings about "Night of the Grizzlies" on a forum that I follow but just brushed it off and forgot about it.  Then when I was in Glacier National Park in Montana in August, Brady the Ranger, mentioned it and went into a little more detail and I was hooked, I had to have it!  I picked it up at the Many Glacier Ranger Station a couple of days later.

Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down!  This true story explains why it is so important that absolutely everyone know and practice proper bear safety procedures when they are out and about in the bears' playground.

NOTE:  The book is sitting on a pillow I made. The light green section I quilted is called "bear claw!"

I am doing what I can to be knowledgeable and prepared for when I am enjoying mountain adventures.  I took a Bear Safety Workshop a couple of weeks back.  I carry bear spray and I know how to use it.  I make lots of noise when I am adventuring solo and even when I am with friends.  I also keep a clean campsite during camping season.

This is Parks Canada's website warning!

Night of the Grizzlies is a suspense filled read!  It is not a read for the faint of heart.   I have not been to the area of Glacier National Park where the book is based on, but hope to explore there one day.  When I do, I know I will be thinking about this book and taking note of locations and remembering what happened where.  The story is an eye opener and has lots of lessons to learn!

My Book Report

Have you heard of Ted Jaleta? I hadn't until my friend D Mo told me about him after attending a speaking engagement put on by her employer. She loaned me her autographed copy of his book "Never Give Up". Ted Jaleta is a runner and this book is about him Running For His Life from an Ethiopian prison where he was tortured and beaten. He shares with us where his hope, determination and wisdom got him to in life.

In his book he writes about running races in Banff in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. These race routes stood out because they reminded him of his homeland, of when he was a child and would run through the hills with his brothers and sisters. At one race in particular, he drifted back for pretty much the whole race and near the end came out of his dream state. This is my favourite part of his whole book and these are his words. "And I was running here, on top of the world, and winning the race. It was just incredible. I was full of mixed emotions."

It's hard for me to imagine anyone having to experience what he had. He has come so far and now that he has reached his dreams he is inspiring others to reach theirs.

Timely Book Report

How fitting to do this book report now! We had a snowfall overnight that makes it look quite Christmasy out! Yikes, but it's March 8th and this is what I see as I look out my front upstairs window. I'm glad I got my long run in yesterday! "The Christmas Blessing" was a book I received as a Christmas gift from J Mo as part of a package of running theme gifts. It's a fluffy, feel-good, quick-read, little story about a runner who overcomes adversity in her life and the role of others who come into her circle.

A Book Report

This was a book I ordered over the Christmas holidays and I just got around to reading it. It's a quick, easy, light read. I chuckled at times because I could relate to some of the author's experiences.

I have two favourite passages to share with you:

The first is "Still, as a fellow long-distance runner who'd encountered them day after day, I felt like we somehow understood each other. Even if the skill level varies, there are things that only runners understand and share." My other favourite is "No matter how long you stand there examining yourself naked before a mirror, you'll never see reflected what's inside."

The context in which the first was written was most unfortunate but the passage itself is what leads me to believe all those runners at the races or out on the pathway on any given Sunday, are my extended family members.

I leave with you to ponder, those two quotes from his book!

About This Book

You are a woman you cannot run!
You are incapable of endurance sports!
You will not be feminine if you run!
You will cause harm to your feminine organs if you run!

A mere 41 years ago these were the words offered to women who possessed a passion for pushing limits and breaking down barriers when it came to the running scene! These were the beliefs in 1967. It was the year nuclear tests were conducted, Elvis and Priscilla married, Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup, the musical "Hair" opened Off-Broadway! These are not events that would be considered taking place in ancient times (at least I don't see it that way.)

In the 60's, women were not competing in long distance races, there were none to compete in, not at universities nor in the Olympic Games. The longest track race for women at the university level was 880 yards. Thanks to Kathrine Switzer, all that changed!

I can say because of her I can run any race I choose to! I have chosen the marathon distance in the past and have proven I am capable of participating in endurance sports! All my body parts, feminine-wise and other-wise, are still in place and functioning! I can have pretty colored finger nails for my races, I can wear colorful, feminine outfits and even wear a swipe of mascara!

This book was a birthday gift a year ago and I couldn't put it down once I started to read it. I pulled it out to read again before the onset of serious training again. I hope this book, along with the movie "Spirit of the Marathon", I will find motivation!

A Little Story Book

This is a book I came upon one day searching through Amazon. It’s small with only 136 pages and at a mere price of $11.64. It’s called "Sole Sisters", "stories of women and running" by Jennifer Lin and Susan Warner. These are two journalists who conducted interviews with runners and came up with 21 very short stories on how running has transformed lives. These are inspirational stories of fighting cancer, recovering from 9/11, running for Kenya, four-legged running partners, and many more motivational short quick reads. A few of the lady runners have been in the news, the names will ring a bell to you, others are just the girls next door who have been transformed by extra-ordinary experiences.

This book is a keeper! "Sole Sisters" would make a great gift for "Soul Sisters" or any running friend for that matter!

My Book Report

This one is called "Jogging", it was published in 1967, was written by William J. Bowerman a track coach and W.E. Harris a heart specialist, both gentleman are from Oregon. The official price on the top right corner says $1.00 although a non-running friend only paid $0.25 for it at a flea market. Oh how times have changed! Running has come a long way since this book was written over 40 years ago. Yet still, much as stayed the same. Parts of this little book were hilarious to read and I imagine as the years go on and I check back, it will be even more so.

The book included many photos and here are just a sample! I look at the outfits from head to toe and can’t imagine the uncomfortableness they must have felt. The sport was certainly not about fashion, but then again, maybe they thought they "were all that"!

The writers talk about "What’s In It For You?" and their points are timeless:

improves the heart and lungs
you look and feel better
helps you loose weight
builds endurance and confidence
jog alone or with others

Other points they discuss shows where times have changed:

no special equipment
it’s free
jogging is thrifty
no food fads
any informal outfit is appropriate
wear a light sweater over a t-shirt

I shared this book with my running friends who got just as many laughs out of it as I did and each one of them returned it to me with their own funny comments written on little yellow sticky notes stuck to the pictures! They made me laugh even more!

My New Book

"I Run Therefore I Am Nuts" was a gift from my running friend D Mo! The back of the book says the author pokes fun at the idiosyncratic personalities of runners and the strange and hilarious situations they encounter! It also says whether you fall in the middle of the pack, up near the front of the pack, or so from any semblance of a pack that you're wondering if everyone went home already, you will find plenty to laugh about in this book. Just flipping through the pages has me laughing already! Each chapter starts with a comic! Here are a couple that I can totally relate to!