Title: Apropos of Running

Author: Charles Moore

Genre: Memoir

 

Apropos of Running by Charles Moore follows the author’s personal journey as he trains for and then participates in several marathons over the course of many years after turning forty. Moore runs in marathons both nationally and internationally, starting with one of the biggest, the New York City marathon. While enduring the physical demands of being a marathoner, Moore also experiences the mental and emotional effects of being one of a few Black men who is a runner and what that entails.

For a memoir to be intriguing, there must be something about the author’s life that stands out, something that makes their life interesting enough to attract readers. Charles Moore certainly has that factor in his memoir, Apropos of Running. Even if a reader is unfamiliar with marathons, races, or running in general, as a sport or competition, everyone is aware of competition being ingrained in the human spirit. The need to prove something, whether to oneself or others, is deeply embedded in the human psyche, whether we like it or not. We can fight it or embrace it. Moore’s candid telling of his struggles along the road to victory, both literal and figurative, speaks to the masses.

A race is more than a physical dash for the finish line. There are sheer mental and emotional, even spiritual, components, not to mention the metaphorical sense of life being like a race. That begs the question: Are we racing against ourselves, others, or some other existential perceived threat? For Moore, when he turned forty, an age many joke as being “over the hill,” that was just the beginning of his running career. His need to prove to himself that he could finish a marathon may have been what ignited his desire to train and compete, but ultimately, his drive to keep going extended far beyond himself.

This is what is truly beautiful about his story. If we aim for a high standard, are we doing it for ourselves or for something greater, something beyond ourselves? Life is more than breathing, than the physical, and is therefore more than merely satisfying our desires. For Moore, he embraced his struggles and fought an invisible battle against a truth that became more and more evident as he ran in more and more races: a severe lack of representation among the Black population. As a Black man, Moore found his race was sorely underrepresented. This fact may prove startling to many readers, as it may not even be something most considered, but as the pages turn, the author presents his thoughts on the subject.

Moore made it his mission to represent not only the Black demographic, but he also wrote a timely and important memoir that serves as a manifesto. Early into the book, concern about his reason for writing the memoir may cross the reader’s mind, for if he merely wanted to put words to paper about his victories, that alone wouldn’t grab the attention of most readers. But when Moore’s mission becomes clear, however, the book’s narrative propels forward like the momentum of running toward the finish line.

Apropos of Running brings attention to a challenge the author has encountered among marathon runners across the world. Moore shares a heartfelt message that will likely resonate with many in his audience. For readers who enjoy a fast-paced journey, Apropos of Running will take them quickly to the finish line and beyond.

 

 

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