Finish Strong: Seven Marathons, Seven Continents, Seven Days

by Feehrer Nancy; Hui Li; McGillivray Dave

Publisher:

Nomad Press

, 2021

Overview

Selected as a “recommended title” by the Kansas National Education Association’s Reading Circle Commission.

A picture book autobiography about Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray’s amazing adventure of running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days!

Finish Strong: Seven Marathons on Seven Continents in Seven Days is the inspiring true story of Dave McGillivray’s epic marathon experience! In 2018, McGillivray formed a team called “Hold the Plane" to enter the World Marathon Challenge. The first stop was a desert. And not the kind of desert that has lots of sand and cacti. No, the first marathon took place in Antarctica! From there, Team Hold the Plane flew to Cape Town, South Africa; Perth, Australia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Lisbon, Portugal; Cartagena, Columbia; and finally, Miami, Florida, United States!

Kids ages 5 to 9 get a front row spot as they watch McGillivray overcome lots of challenges, including cold, heat, sore legs, and sickness to achieve his goal of finishing strong. A tale of determination, Finish Strong inspires readers to work hard at whatever challenge they choose to take on. Perfect as a read aloud or for independent readers.

• Back matter includes a map, an afterword from Dave about overcoming medical issues, and information about the Dream Big Marathon challenge for kids to run 26 miles, read 26 books, and do 26 acts of kindness in 26 weeks, sponsored by the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation.
• This picture book is a follow-up to Dave McGillivray’s two previous books, Dream Big: A True Story of Courage and Determination and Running Across America: A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home.
• Promotes a sense of grit and personal responsibility combined with asking for help when it’s needed
• Uses humor to engage children’s attention
• Perfect for independent readers and as a read aloud nonfiction picture book.

About Nomad Press

Nomad Press books bring real-world figures to life through fun, engaging narratives paired with dynamic, brightly colored illustrations. Elementary-aged children are introduced to the race director of the Boston Marathon through the true tale of Dave McGillivray’s World Marathon Challenge. Nomad’s unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers.

Available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Praise for Finish Strong

Praise for other books by Dave McGillivray and Nancy Feehrer

Dream Big A True Story of Courage and Determination

Publishers Weekly
"McGillivray, the director of the Boston Marathon, tells his story of overcoming obstacles to complete the marathon for the first time. As a small child, McGillivray found strength and confidence through running. At 17, he entered the marathon without adequately training. Though he collapsed during the race, he accepted a challenge from his grandfather ("my favorite person in the whole world") to try again: “If you train and work hard, I promise to wait for you next year and cheer you on." His grandfather’s untimely death served as greater motivation to complete the race. Himler works in spare, pencil-and-wash paintings that bring a quality of intimacy to the page. McGillivray’s sentiments about his grandfather are tender, but in some ways narrow the focus of the story; readers are more likely to grasp the more universal message about setting realistic goals and taking a measured approach to achieving them."

School Library Journal
"Readers will be drawn to McGillivray’s honest perspective, but their attention will be held by the description of running marathons, the drama of counting down the last few miles along with the text. The significance of strong family relationships and the reality of achieving personal goals make this title ideal for character education or a unit about families. The illustrations are colorful and support the story well. VERDICT A delightful true tale about dreaming big, and the effort and commitment required to make those dreams come true."

Kirkus Reviews
"There are many ways to meet a challenge, and they all don’t have to come from inside. Two of the great fruits of McGillivray’s story are that it applies to so many people and it is true. True stories let us know that our dreams really can come true. A salutary, mission-driven tribute to hard work and persistence."

School Library Connection
"This picture book autobiography about accomplished distance runner Dave McGillivray delivers an excellent role model for kids who are on the fringes, empowering them to achieve."

Running Across America A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home

New York Times Runners Blog/newsletter
"[Running Across America] tells the true story of running 3,452 miles across the country as inspiration for finding a path to achieving your goals."

Dennis Eckersley, Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher, 1978 Red Sox Team
"Dave’s can-do attitude is infectious! As a young man, Dave gets the idea to run from coast to coast. Nothing stops—or slows down—this real-life endurance athlete. Dave makes you believe that no goal or dream is too challenging to achieve. His formula? Grit and hard work."

Jerry Remy, All-star 2nd Baseman, 1978 Red Sox Team
"You would think that running 3,452 miles would be enough of a challenge, but surprisingly, Dave encounters much more than sore muscles on his epic run across America! Amazing, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny."

Kirkus

"A veteran marathoner recalls an around-the-world race in 2018.

Still hoofing along after literally Running Across America (2019), McGillivray offers another autobiographical outing. This one sends him over “26.2 cold, crunchy miles" in Antarctica, “26.2 miles of out-and-back loops along the Persian Gulf," and like distances on five other continents in a single week as a participant in the annual World Marathon Challenge. Though his terse accounts of places, faces, and races along the way are more snapshots than a connected narrative, they add up to some vivid memories, and he builds climactic suspense by describing how he powers through an increasingly painful injury to finish the final leg. Every experience, though, leads to an explicit inspirational slogan: “Set goals, not limits"; “Your greatest accomplishment is your next one"; “Never underestimate your own abilities"; “Finish strong…or weak. Just finish!" The lessons continue as he goes on to describe how a later diagnosis of heart disease ("Just because you’re fit, doesn’t mean you’re healthy") led to surgery and—because a “comeback is always stronger than the setback"—a run in the Boston Marathon six months later. If that last bit seems aimed more at adults than kids, he goes for a more general audience with a final page of alternative “marathons," like “Read! 26 Books" and “Reach Out! 26 Acts of Big-Hearted Kindness" modeled on a St. Louis initiative. Staid illustrations place the White author front and center in stylized foreign settings, occasionally with racially diverse groups of onlookers or fellow runners in the background.

The motivational agenda definitely outpaces the storytelling, but readers will be swept along to the finish line. (Picture book/memoir. 7-9)"

Children’s Literature
"In just twenty-nine brief pages, runner and race director McGillivray makes the impossible seem possible. In his autobiographical account of running seven marathons, on seven different continents, in seven consecutive days, McGillivray manages to both share a significant life event and provide readers with a truly inspirational story. Appeals to readers of all ages who are looking to read a true story of encouragement and reminds them to always finish their journeys, no matter what."

Selected as a “recommended title” by the Kansas National Education Association’s Reading Circle Commission.

Product Details

• Title: Finish Strong: Seven Marathons, Seven Continents, Seven Days
• Authors: Feehrer Nancy, Hui Li, McGillivray Dave
• Publisher: Nomad Press
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781647410407, 9781647410391, 9781647410414, 1647410401, 1647410398, 164741041X
• Resource ID: LLS:9781647410407
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-03-01T00:05:03Z

About the Authors

Dave McGillivray is the race director of the iconic B.A.A. Boston Marathon. He is the co-author of Running Across America: A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home and Dream Big: A True Story of Courage and Determination from Nomad Press, and The Last Pick: The Boston Marathon Race Director’s Road to Success. Dave is a world-renowned athlete, entrepreneur, speaker, and philanthropist. He lives in North Andover, Massachusetts, with his wife, Katie, and is the proud dad of Elle, Max, Ryan, Luke, and Chloe.

Nancy Feehrer is a writer, reading teacher, and co-author of Running Across America: A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home and Dream Big: A True Story of Courage and Determination from Nomad Press. In addition, she’s written books on crafts, snacks, and messages for children. She studied English, children’s literature, and writing for children in the Pacific Northwest and has a master’s degree in elementary education. She lives in Westford, Massachusetts, with her husband, John, and is the proud mom of Derek, Nate, Tim, and Izzie.

Shululu (Hui Li) has always been driven by curiosity. She is the illustrator of several nonfiction picture books from Nomad Press. She earned a PhD in computational chemistry from the University of Chicago and her research has been published in the world's most influential science journals, including Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She lives with her family in New York, New York.