Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running

More than 11 million women run regularly. Women are changing the face of running. These are their stories.

Running has become a social outlet for women—a chance for busy ladies to step back from their stressful days and join like-minded women. These bonds not only enhance physical condition, but improve mental health as well. Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running (Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, $12.95) is a gripping collection of stories that captures the inspirational heart of the women’s running boom.

Authors Jennifer Lin and Susan Warner interviewed women runners from all parts of the world, with all types of life experiences. They found, however, that all of their subjects have one thing in common: Running has transformed them. As Joan Nesbit Mabe, an Olympic runner, puts it, "I wanted to be a great coach and what I got instead were friends, sisters for life." Consisting of heartrending stories of grief, lighthearted tales of friendship, and everything in between, Sole Sisters includes essays about:

• An overweight, desk-bound smoker in 1978 who became an Olympic hopeful six years later at age 54, becoming the oldest woman to ever qualify for the Olympic trials. Her record still holds today.
• A 9/11 widow who ran her first marathon to honor the memory of her husband.
• A group of Cheyenne children who ran a 400-mile Breakout Run to reconnect with their heritage.
• Sisters who competed in a 5K race to honor a sister who survived breast cancer.

Not just for women who run, Sole Sisters appeals to anyone who knows what it means to share in the trials and triumphs of others. Sometimes touching, sometimes funny, and always inspiring, Sole Sisters has the makings of a runaway hit.

About Jennifer Lin and Susan Warner

Jennifer Lin is a reporter and former China correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. Susan Warner worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer for 15 years before becoming a full-time writer in 2001. She is a regular contributor to the New York Times and the Scientist. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Contact: Christina Martin, (800) 851-8923, ext. 6685, cmartin@amuniversal.com

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