Running Against the Odds REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW

📚𝐵𝑂𝑂𝐾 𝑁𝐴𝑀𝐸:- ❞𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒅𝒅𝒔: 𝑨𝒏 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚❞ 👨‍🦱𝐴𝑈𝑇𝐻𝑂𝑅 𝑁𝐴𝑀𝐸:- 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒎 🌌𝑴𝒀 𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺:- 𝟒.𝟗/𝟓 🌟 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾:- The book Running Against the Odds: An Inspirational Journey to Making High School Sports History by Desmond Dunham has been published with all efforts taken to make the material error free after the consent of the Author. The characters, events, incidents, and everything else mentioned in the book are the Author’s imagination. This book is totally dedicated to the Author of thr book for inspiring people all around the world. This book is full of inspiration and suspense. The cover and the title of the book are indeed eye catching. The book contains many characters according to their role and situation. The starting of the book was superb with the inspirational quote “If you want to know the end, look at the beginning”. Then chapter one began “Warm Up” then the author says “Alright boys! This is your time to show me what Cha got. Now, this is cross country, so for those of you who don’t like to run – this ain’t the sport for you!” This book was totally for inspiring people. You totally amazed by the Author simplicity and honesty. You can feel it while reading book. Author has tried lot to connect it with real life. Author is straightforward critic of some existing ideas, with proven realism! At the end of the story Author never seen a gun that close before. Author's palms began sweating and heart pounded. Snicks and Author followed normal routine of apologizing, though we really had no idea what they were apologizing for. Having learned from the previous incidents not to rock the boat by disagreeing with him. They knew to agree, to say yes, and to maintain eye contact. Anything else would risk throwing gasoline on the fire. The book and title are unique and hope you loved the way it’s being presented. The cover and the title are indeed eye catchy and love the Author’s effort put to imagine the situation of such best inspirational book.

ABOUT THIS BOOK ON AMAZON

Life took Desmond “Coach Dez” Dunham down an unpaved path toward both manhood and coaching, testing his spirit, humility, and purpose. Now a nationally recognized high school coach, Running Against The Odds chronicles Dunham’s journey to finding his passion within youth sports, culminating at the 2007 Penn Relays — one of the most defining moments of his illustrious running career.

In this impassioned coming-of-age memoir, Dunham recounts his turbulent childhood, filled with challenges in economically-distressed Gary, Indiana. Despite constant rejection and disappointment from a distant, alcoholic father, Dunham persevered, attended Howard University, and found his passion on the track with key support along the way.

From humble beginnings with the odds stacked against him, Dunham’s story shows that underdogs prevail.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Each chapter is layered on each other with valuable and insightful lessons. Desmond innately gravitates to helping others and through education and coaching creates a positive environment for America's often marginalized youth to survive, grow, and prosper. His meaningful life can be an inspiration to everyone. Yes, Desmond's book includes wonderfully depicted races culminating with the Penn Relays. But, most importantly, you will witness how one individual, through his own personal journey, can make such a profound difference in the lives of others.
—Marcus O'Sullivan, Villanova University Men's Track and Field & Cross Country Head Coach, Four-Time Olympian
"Desmond Dunham turned the traumatic experiences of his youth into a powerful, transformative memoir for activism. Running Against The Odds is a testament to keep running, keep striving, keep grinding, keep believing, keep positive people in your life and, eventually, the odds will turn in your favor."
— Karen Dennis, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Ohio State University. Olympic Head Coach of the 2000 US Women's National Track & Field Team

"Running Against The Odds is a wonderful American story that speaks to all of us in our times of difficulties and hopelessness. It is a story of resiliency and triumph. I thank Coach Dunham for allowing us into his life so that we can find hope and perseverance regardless of the challenges we encounter in life."
— Irasema Salcido, Founder of Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy, Washington, DC

"Sports are special because nothing else provides such an amplification and roller coaster of emotions. Desmond Dunham captures this feeling perfectly, in a very personal way."
— Boo Schexnayder, Former Louisiana State University Field Event Coach and Former US Olympic Coach

"Coach Desmond Dunham understands the deep impact sports can have on a young person's life and, as such, has dedicated his life and career to coaching, inspiring, and advocating for youth. He is a mentor and teacher to all."
— Chris Farley, Owner of Pacers Running

From the Author

As I log my 2,000th mile during our 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic, I reflect on the dynamic relationship I have had with running. Though I enjoyed other sports more than running at times, running undoubtedly has done more for me than all other sports combined. In spite of the sheer agony and pain that comes with running, it has opened doors for me throughout life. Most of all, it opened me up to who I am as a person. It revealed to me my potential and capabilities, and I will always be grateful for that. When my emotions were pulling me into a dark hole, running got me through the tough times at home, the dyslexia in school, the lack of confidence, and the lack of clarity I had in life. Running taught me to persevere, through uncertainty, through depression, through relationship challenges. I am not me without running. This is why I have been so passionate to inspire others through this sport and to push everyone I come into contact with to be the best version of themselves regardless of the odds against them. I will always be appreciative of the 2007 Lady Raiders for allowing me to reach that pinnacle with them. They taught me to be patient, and they taught me to believe in myself as a coach and most of all, as a person.

About the author

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Desmond Dunham

Desmond “Coach Dez” Dunham is a youth sports expert with over two decades of coaching and teaching experience in Washington, DC. With an award-winning career in high school cross-country and track and field, Coach Dez boasts many All-American, national, and international titles.

Dunham is an Under Armour running coach and ambassador, the Founder of Kids Elite Sports, and a DC public school teacher. At the core of his coaching philosophy, he believes that all kids deserve opportunities to excel. He is passionate about helping athletes develop to reach their optimal performance on and off the track. He holds a bachelor's degree from Howard University and a master's degree from Trinity University.