Don't call it a comeback : what happened when I stopped chasing PRs, and started chasing happiness / Keira D'Amato with Evelyn Spence.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

D'Amato, Keira, Author.

Spence, Evelyn, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

D'Amato, Keira.

Women runners--United States--Biography.

Women runners.

Marathon running--United States.

Marathon running.

Genre:

Autobiographies.

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xiii, 290 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : St. Martin's Press, 2025.

Summary:

"Don't Call It a Comeback is fireworks in a crowded field of athlete memoirs. With a knack for hilariously vulnerable storytelling, Keira unspools a fascinating tale of her unconventional running career." -Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures A victorious tale of coming back in middle age to topple marathon records, from the running world's most beloved underdog, mom of two, and woman voted "most fun follow" on Strava. Keira D'Amato was an all-American runner who used to chase success. But after being injured in her early twenties, she assumed her running career was over, and settled into life as a military spouse and mother of two young children. In her early thirties, she found herself overweight, out of shape, and battling postpartum depression. She knew that improving her fitness would make her feel better, and told herself to just get out and run ninety seconds, down her street and back. To her dismay, she couldn't do it. But two days later she tried again. And six years after that, she broke the American women's record in the marathon at the age of thirty-seven. Keira has created a buzz in the world of professional athletics by taking the road less traveled. The normal trajectory for an elite female athlete has been to focus on sport first, then get a "real" job, and finally, have a family. Keira upended that: she married her high school sweetheart, had two babies in quick succession, began her career in real estate-and only then returned to running. But it's not just her relatable background that makes Keira so popular amongst fellow runners. We assume that to be successful, one must be serious and humorless, with an all-or-nothing approach to ambition. But what if the opposite were true-that cultivating more fun, and more variety in your life could actually help you reach your biggest goals? At an age when most athletes consider retirement, Keira is just getting started. And she's determined to share the secrets of her success to help readers to start chasing their own happiness, to dream a big, scary dream, and ultimately to find their way back to themselves.-- Provided by publisher.

In this memoir, professional runner Keira D'Amato recounts her unconventional journey back to elite athletics after stepping away from the sport in her twenties. Following personal challenges including injury, postpartum depression, and career shifts, D'Amato returned to running in her thirties and eventually broke the American women's marathon record at age 37. The book explores themes of resilience, personal growth, and redefining success, offering insights into her life as a mother, real estate agent, and athlete. It emphasizes the value of joy, balance, and perseverance in achieving goals.

Contents:

The courage to start

Failure is a superpower

Get over the guilt

Celebrate the small wins

Fun isn't inversely connected to success

Win or learn

Be a bulldozer

Turn setbacks into comebacks

Good enough is good enough

Say yes

The best is yet to come.

ISBN:

9781250344946

1250344948

OCLC:

1525437008