Spirit Run

A 6000-Mile Marathon Through North America's Stolen Land

By: Noé Álvarez

Narrated by: Ramon de Ocampo

Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

Growing up in Yakima, Washington, Noe Álvarez worked at an apple-packing plant alongside his mother, who “slouched over a conveyor belt of fruit, shoulder to shoulder with mothers conditioned to believe this was all they could do with their lives.” A university scholarship offered escape, but as a first-generation Latino college-goer, Álvarez struggled to fit in. 

At 19, he learned about a Native American/First Nations movement called the Peace and Dignity Journeys, epic marathons meant to renew cultural connections across North America. He dropped out of school and joined a group of Dene, Secwepemc, Gitxsan, Dakelh, Apache, Tohono O'odham, Seri, Purepecha, and Maya runners, all fleeing difficult beginnings. Telling their stories alongside his own, Álvarez writes about a four-month-long journey from Canada to Guatemala that pushed him to his limits. He writes not only of overcoming hunger, thirst, and fear - dangers included stone-throwing motorists and a mountain lion - but also of asserting Indigenous and working-class humanity in a capitalist society where oil extraction, deforestation, and substance abuse wreck communities.

©2020 Noé Álvarez (P)2020 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Good book about a running adventure

It was good, but ended abruptly, felt something was missing. More detail about why he decided to go

Did not like the narrator

I would have like it better I think if the author narrated it. A very interesting story and subject.

Absolutely moving!

Such an incredible read. The intensity of the author’s journey is so vividly described and invokes all the senses. It feels as if you are running with him.

Quien soy? Es una pregunta que muchos no saven..

No importa el pais,nacionalidad, las creencias, religion,cultura,ideas etc. las injusticias siempre a persistido entre Los humanos. es como um virus con sus consecuencias.

Beautiful

This book is not what I expected. I’m not sure what I expected but the story quickly wrapped me in the intertwining stories of love & fear & struggle & connection. I am working in the San Xavier District of the Tohono O'odham land over the next couple weeks and it feels intentional that this book fell into my lap without knowing much about it

Fast read. great book

great book finished it quickly. definitely recommend it, especially to runners. will likely listen to it again

Brilliant

Could not put it down. Finished in one sitting.
One I will listen to again!
Good narration.

Great read

I really enjoyed this story. It was a perfect listen on my daily training runs.

Beautiful story but messy

Not what I expected. The way Alvarez describes labor is beautiful. Ceremony along the run leaves me with messy and uncomfortable thoughts of the peace and dignity runs.

Grit, character & determination...talented writer.

Loved the unique insights into a world I will never know...the experience of a Latino who grew up in my town of Yakima, WA. The author "made it" in life - not because of "special government programs or scholarships", but because of his own grit, character and determination. A griping story of insight and self-examination...and the bonus is, he's a very talented story-teller and writer. Great read (listen) - I started it again 2 weeks after I finished it!