In 1986, George Sheehan, doctor, philosopher, author, and record-setting marathoner, was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. He furiously fought this disease with his body's every fiber - continuing to run and race, defiant, courageous. And he documented his extraordinary battle in a series of essays he wrote until his death in 1993. The result is Going the Distance, a work of surpassing power and honesty, a book that typifies George Sheehan's inspiration to so many millions throughout the world.Sheehan's bestselling books on running were so beloved because of his eloquent and unabashed celebration of the athlete in each of us. Whether a reader was seventeen or seventy-five, Sheehan's insightful, thoughtful advice and commentary - often drawn from such great philosophers as Plato, Nietzsche, Emerson, and William James - pointed the way toward a physiologically and spiritually fuller life. This sensitivity and compassion marks every page of Going the Distance, a fitting remembrance of a man who made so many feel so much wiser about their health - and their souls. In this unforgettable book, we experience Sheehan's fear, anger, and pain, and ultimately the peace that he found at the end of his "examined life." Read Less