The Miles and Trials of a Marathon Goddess: 52 Weeks, 52 Marathons

By: Julie Weiss, Ali Nolan, John Hanc

Narrated by: Julie Weiss

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Growing up in Santa Monica, California, Julie Weiss would do almost anything for love. She drank, she quit school, she stole - and she ended up a mother in her teens. Years later, overweight and depressed, she put one foot in front of another and found a new road beckoning.

Running gave her the answers she was seeking. Julie's loving, larger-than-life father, her biggest critic during her wayward years, became her biggest fan as his now-fit and healthy daughter began to run marathons. When he died suddenly of pancreatic cancer, she decided to turn her new pursuit into a purpose and, in his memory, embarked on an incredible endeavor to raise money and hope in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

In 2012-13, Julie - aka the Marathon Goddess - ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks. Along the way, she was featured in a major documentary film, Spirit of the Marathon II, appeared on national television, and attracted a passionate social media following, as she logged the miles of each of her 52 marathons in honor of individuals lost to or fighting pancreatic cancer, ultimately raising more than a half-million dollars for the cause.

It's a story of resilience, perseverance, endurance - and romance: Julie's turbulent early life; the rekindling of a father's love extinguished too soon; her epic year travelling to far-flung races and places; not to mention her relationship with coach David Levine. After a rocky road, their underlying love emerged, culminating with a finish-line marriage proposal. It all adds up to make The Miles and Trials of a Marathon Goddess a riveting, humorous, poignant, and ultimately uplifting audiobook for runners and non-runners alike.

©2019 Julie Weiss (P)2019 Julie Weiss

I sided with the old Italian guy and yet...

...I bought this audiobook.
The first half is the author’s backstory. I thought it was essential for the second half account of the 52 in 52.
So many things to admire in the year long accomplishment - 2 examples are keeping the streak alive despite 3 weeks surgery recovery and the way she aces in Boston learning from the SOTM2 old Italian guy episode.
I really appreciated her narration, to listen to the story delivered in her intended tones and inflections.
She is as good of a daughter as she is a marathoner and that made the story.

Excellent Listen

I was lucky enough to have sat next to Julie on a flight from LA to DC. She was flying in to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon. She told me part of her story and told me about this book. I downloaded the book and it was an excellent listen. Julie did a good job of telling her story. It funny at times and very emotional for me at times. I highly recommend this book

A LOVING and PERSONAL voice narration by Julie

I felt the THRILLS, CHILLS, FEARS, TEARS, CHALLENGES and ultimate ARRIVAL by Julie Weiss to "52 Marathon FINISH LINES" with ONE BIG ONE yet to REACH: A cure for pancreatic cancer. Julie narrates her inspiring story with courage, strength, honesty, authenticity, humor, emotion and eloquence. Her descriptions of her family life, relationship with her late father, discovery of running, and subsequent 52 marathon journeys is deeply personal, yet empowering to the listener. You will feel like you are running with Julie every week and experiencing the experiences of LOSS, LOVE, LIFE and FULFILLMENT. Julie's voice narration is real and genuine, I LOVED LISTENING to her voice as she brought her story to life.

My favorite running book

Blown away!
Unapologetic and raw and love the story! I will tell her myself! Hope she keeps writing as her style is amazing

Well....not my favorite

I really love running stories and I think I have read them all. A runner myself, I wanted to like it. In the beginning I found it repetitive. I am impressed by 52 marathons in 52 weeks, who wouldn't be. Overall I found it too self centered, more than selfless as a person who constantly talked about trying to fight Prostate cancer (my brother died of prostate cancer 5 years ago). However, people people who call themselves Goddesses are typically not my cup of tea, so maybe it is just me. Also, if I was running next to her in a marathon and she did the things she mentioned could be annoying to people ....I would have been annoyed. So I just think her and I are to different for me to have enjoyed the book.

Boring

I love running and was looking for something interesting and inspiring. I appreciate her story, but it comes across so flat. Not for me.