Marathon Runner Chapter Summaries

Moreover, he always sets goals and works hard to achieve them. His passion for sports has led him to a professional career. He worked extremely hard and was able to win many marathons, breaking the two-hour time record. Before long, he was able to win many gold, silver, and bronze medals. He also made sure athletes like him with disabilities were not left out in games. As he grew older, he started coaching sports, like wheelchair basketball, wheelchair volleyball, and softball. His determination allowed him to continue setting goals and working hard to achieve

In Always Running, is the memoir of Luis Rodriguez battles an external conflict of having to be threatened by the police because he is involved in a gang. Luis ultimately resolves this conflict by making a huge change and leaving the gang and going back school and becoming an activist person; however, this choice also illustrates his true character as a motivation person. Luis’s decision to stay motivated also reveals the universal theme because it’s never too late to make a change in life and also fight for what is right.

The school board is not quite certain that schools should continue to include fiction in the curriculum. However, if fiction is taught to students it may actually teach life lessons. Fictional literature can change someone's perspective on, what problems we may come across. For instance, a fictional book can help us relate to all the controversial problems that do occur in today's society. I disagree with the school board's thoughts about completely banning it. This type of literature can deepen our knowledge and teach us about things that we don’t experience on a day to day basis.

Javier Sotomayor also known as “Rey de las Alturas” or king of the heights was born on October 13 of 1967 in Limonar, Maranzas, Cuba. Son of a day-care worker and sugar factory maintenance man, Javier’s desire to become an athlete was evident by the makeshift high jump pit he had made from dried sugarcane sticks and two rusty barrels. The opportunity to become a great athlete was not something that happened often in the communist

Louis Zamperini, the main character of Laura Hillenbrand’s biography Unbroken, led a promising running career in his life prior to his military service and captivity. In 1931, Louis was encouraged to join the Torrance High School track team by his older brother, Pete. Running came easily to Louis, and became a force to be reckoned with rapidly in the racing world, dropping his mile time to just under five minutes by 1933. He gave some of the fastest men in the country a scare at the 1936 Olympic Trials when he nearly beat Don Lash, America’s fastest runner of the 5,000 meter race, and proceeded to compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Aside from the resounding fame that his running career provided him, it also instilled discipline, dedication, and astounding willpower that followed him through his life.

The article “Cesar Chavez Saved My Life,” written by Daniel “Nane” Alejandrez reflects on Mr. Alejandraz’s past, covering some very unfortunate events, but with a purpose of pulling emotion from the reader. While reading some parts of the article, I had to reread it over a few times to comprehend the point that the author was trying to make. The most important thing about knowing his past is that it is significantly different, and much more positive in the future because of one person, Cesar Chavez.

His final stage of the hero’s journey was the Return stage. Chavez had to adjust to a new lifestyle because after he went 25 days without food, he lost 35 pounds, and he was too weak to speak for the next 28 years. He mastered the 2 worlds when he won 3 awards for his leadership in the public/community service. He won the Pacem in Terris award in 1992 for public service with spanish cultures, he won the Jefferson award for public service. The Jefferson award is the highest award a civilian can get, so he was very honored to receive this award. Finally, he received the …

One of the most significant battles in antiquity was fought on the narrow, tree strewn plain of Marathon, in September, 490 BC. There, the Athenian army defeated a Persian force more than twice its size, because of superior leadership, training and equipment. The battle of Marathon has provided inspiration to the underdogs throughout history. In 490 BC, the Athenians proved that superior strategy, and technology can claim victory over massive numbers.

In the biography Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, a troubled adolescent boy named Louis Zamperini revolves his life around his running career. Starting at such a young age, running had many impacts on Louie’s life. The high demand of training kept Louie distracted from making unintelligent choices he had previously been making. Running changed the young teenager he was and the man he was going to become.

In the novel Always Running By Luis J. Rodriguez, the author illustrates specific events that caused Grillo, the main character to want to live a better life due to the fact of him abusing drugs, joining a gang and facing family rejection. This story is an Autobiography and transcends from Luis Rodriguez being a young boy to a trouble teenager.

“Hey, what are you doing.” Chloe said as she walked over to Kara on the track behind the school after school was over.

This is Louie Zamperini’s turbulent life. When Louie was a young man, he had a very bad reputation in the community, he would steal, drink, smoke, and fight. But as he got older he realized that he should change, so his brother made him put his fast legs to good use. He made him join the track team, and made him practice hard. Eventually Louie made it to the top, the Olympics. Because of Louie’s accomplishments, especially the Olympics, all of Torrance forgave him for all his wrongs. Louie Zamperini, from Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken, exhibits the characteristic traits of strength, forgiveness, and understanding through his actions.

Cresting the hill, I struggled with my ragged breathing and the pain in my hips. I focused on my rhythm I in order to keep going. My running shoes slapped the pavement as onlookers expressed their encouragement with cowbells and cheers. I wondered again why I put myself into the situation by choice. As I passed mile 13 I remembered. I felt my eyes water and my legs shake as the finish line approached. Marines in uniform stood ready with medals and smiles as they encouraged us in our own hardships to rise above the pain and finish. The announcer spoke my name but I hardly heard him as a medal slipped over my head and I marveled at the weight, not of the medal, but the accomplishment which seemed impossible for the past three hours. I finished in 3 hours, 7 minutes. It was not an Olympic record and I detested running at mile two, but I did it.

I want to accomplish this goal in my twenties before I have a family. I want to backpack around Europe to become closer to nature and appreciate the different cultures. I want to explore beyond small-town Iowa.

“Every serious marathoner should do Boston, to experience the close to a million spectators, the three generations of families out cheering, the little kids handing you water or orange slices. The whole city really appreciates the runners.” -Neil Weygandt. The Boston Marathon. A marathon that is an American tradition and has been ran for the last 119 years. It is one of the major parts of the Boston and American year. It is a part of which makes America great. The strength it takes to finish the marathon is exemplary of the American strength. We are a strong country and it’s going to take a lot to break us. These are all of the major reasons running the Boston Marathon is on my bucket list.