An Accidental Athlete: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Middle Age

by John Bingham

Overview

Known by fans as "The Penguin" for his back-of-the-pack speed, John Bingham is the unlikely hero of the modern running boom. In his new book, the best-selling author and magazine columnist recalls his childhood dreams of athletic glory, sedentary years of unhealthy excess, and a life-changing transformation from couch potato to "adult-onset athlete." Overweight, uninspired, and saddled with a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoking habit, Bingham found himself firmly wedged into a middle-age slump. Then two frightening trips to the emergency room and a conversation with a happy piano tuner led him to discover running--and changed his life for the better. Inspiring, poignant, hilarious, and heartbreaking, An Accidental Athlete is a warm and engaging book for the everyday athlete. Bingham tells stories of the joys of running--the pride of the finisher's medal, a bureau-busting t-shirt collection, intense back-of-the-pack strategizing. An Accidental Athlete is about one man's discovery that middle age was not the finish line after all, but only the beginning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937716004
Publisher:	Ulysses Press
Publication date:	01/11/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	218
Sales rank:	629,170
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

John is one of the running community's most recognizable and popular personalities. He was a featured columnist in Runner's World magazine from 1996-2010. John now writes his monthly column The Penguin Chronicles" in Competitor Magazine.

His break-through first book "The Courage to Start" and his best selling "No Need for Speed", John "the Penguin" Bingham inspired hundreds of thousands of men and women to run for fun, fitness, and self-affirmation. His book, "Marathoning for Mortals", co-authored by Coach Jenny Hadfield, revolutionized long-distance running and walking. With "Running for Mortals" John and Jenny brought the joy of running to everyone.

Once an overweight couch potato with a glut of bad habits, including smoking and drinking, at the age of 43 Bingham looked mid-life in the face—and started running. Since then, he has completed 45 marathons and hundreds of 5K and 10K races—and developed a whole new outlook

John is the National Spokesperson for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program and is the voice of the Competitor Group's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Section One – The Kid Picked Last
Chapter 1 – Sandbox Nonnie
Chapter 2 – Death by Dodgeball
Chapter 3 – Bowled Over
Chapter 4 – Smoke and PT
Section Two – The Adult Onset Athlete
Chapter 5 – Release from Sedentary Confinement
Chapter 6 – Hitting the Road
Chapter 7 – Off to the Races
Chapter 8 – Black Toenails and Chafing
Section Three – The Glory Years
Chapter 9 – Collecting T-shirts
Chapter 10 – Medals and Mettle
Chapter 11 – The Need for Speed
Chapter 12 – Looking for Adventure
Section Four – The Back Nine
Chapter 13 – The Last Best Day
Chapter 14 – The Comeback Kid
Chapter 15 – When Less is More
Chapter 16 - One Day at a Time
Epilogue – Running Into Myself

Interviews

Bingham lives and runs near Chicago, Illinois.

 

Editorial Reviews

"The Penguin does it again! An Accidental Athlete is a charming, witty and relatable tale of John finding himself through running. In this great book he shares his journey with us one stride and two laughs at a time." — Deena Kastor, American marathon record holder, Olympic medalist, and 12-time national champion

"John Bingham is Edward Abbey, Frank Shorter, Brad Pitt, and George Carlin all wrapped in one. John as writer has a lesson or tale in all his adventures." — Bart Yasso, Runner's World magazine

"Looking for some motivation to start running and improve your fitness? You're sure to find some inspiration from John Bingham's new memoir An Accidental Athlete." — ESPN.com

"Most of us can truly identify with John Bingham's story: There are no gold medals, no laurel wreaths, no world records. But John shows us that we have something more important: a chance, if we have the will and believe in ourselves." — Dave McGillivray, Boston Marathon race director

"In An Accidental Athlete, Bingham…describes his journey from a clumsy wannabe-athlete kid to the realization of a dream: that by being a runner, especially a back-of-the-packer, you are truly an athlete…Bingham's witty, engaging prose will [provide] you with a few hours of delightful distraction." — Canadian Running magazine

"John ‘The Penguin' Bingham has touched a nerve with runners worldwide like no one in the last decade. He's funny but serious, informal but inspirational." — Amby Burfoot, Runner's World magazine

"For anyone who might feel overwhelmed or overly fond of couch time, John Bingham's charming memoir can help....[Bingham's] sense of humor...adds to the sweet appeal of the story, providing enough encouragement to anyone looking to exercise more." — ForeWord magazine

"This charming, gently funny autobiography from the big-hearted Bingham is a testament to hangin' in there…If more people were like him, where each event, run, mile, step is a celebration, the world would be a better-and healthier-place." — Library Journal

"Bingham uses a great knack for storytelling, and some really funny examples, in his new book about becoming a middle-aged athlete…Some of the best stories (perhaps because I can relate to them) are those of the real racing done at the back of the pack." — TriMadNess

From the Publisher