Let Your Mind Run
2018 is the Year of the Book in the Kastor Family
I think it’s safe to say that most folks in Mammoth were pleased (and flattered) when Andrew and Deena Kastor decided to settle here.
And while we as a community are proud of their accomplishments and celebrate their athletic achievements, most of us, I imagine, are casual fans.
Which is to say, in Andrew’s case, every year or so, he brings members of his new stable of elite runners from the Mammoth Track Club for introductions to the community at a Mammoth Town Council meeting, and we take down those names mentally for future reference (and bragging rights).
In Deena’s case, we have followed her major running races, wishing the 2004 Olympic Marathon had been 29 miles instead of 26 (she was closing so fast she would have won at 29 miles, right?), and wishing the 2008 Olympic Marathon (in which Deena got injured) had never happened at all.
But generally, we have experienced Andrew and Deena in the now, for the friends and neighbors they are today. Their place in the larger world is sort of … tangential to their place in the community. You sort of forget who they are on the larger stage because they don’t carry themselves that way.
Of course, Meb was the same way. Maybe it’s in a runner’s nature.
But in the coming weeks, you will get the opportunity to know a bit more about them, mostly via Deena’s soon-to-be released autobiography. In fact, both Deena and Andrew will publish books this year.
Andrew’s book, released in January, is a how-to, entitled “Running Your First Marathon: The Complete 20-week Marathon Training Plan.” The book is published by Rockridge Press.
As Andrew explained this week, “The book targets the first-time marathoner, but there are also some nuggets in there for seasoned runners.”
On Amazon, the book has already garnered 32 reviews and averages 4.5/5 stars.
Rick Wood, who long-served as Mammoth’s Mayor and is an accomplished runner in his own right, reviewed the book for The Sheet this week. You’ll find that review on page 25.
Deena’s autobiography, set for national release on April 10, tells a vivid and engaging tale of how the Deena you know came to be. I finished the 283 pages in two days. So it’s a good read. And it’s paced like you’d expect a professional runner to pace things: Fast.
The one-sentence description: Thoughtful woman who is also tough-as-nails learns how to harness her prodigious talent.
If you wanted to make it a run-on sentence description, you’d put something in there about the power of a positive attitude.
Ten things you’ll learn if you read Deena’s book, or Andrew’s book … or sit in their kitchen for an hour.
