Detroit native pens book for folks who think they are too fat, old to run
When society thinks of successful runners, Usain Bolt and Carl Lewis typically come to mind, but this Detroit native is changing the way people think about the sport, one book and one marathon at a time.
Martinus Evans, founder of Slow AF Run Club and author of a recently released book, titled “Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone that Wants to Run,” is visiting two Michigan cities to share his story and publication with others. The Detroit native graduated from Edwin C. Denby High School in 2004 and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Evans, who's been involved in the sport for around 11 years and has completed eight marathons, was inspired to write the book as there were few resources available to the average, everyday runner.
“Most running books are written by elite athletes or coaches of elite athletes teaching you how to run the elite way. For a lot of individuals, that information is just not useful for them," he said. Evans continued by saying his book is "written for a perspective that’s not an elite athlete."
The book, around 250 pages and released in June, is written in the format of both a memoir with personal experiences as well as an instruction manual for those who feel like they are "too fat, too old, too fill-in-the-blank to become a runner or just feeling intimidated by the sport of running."
"Every chapter starts off with a cautionary tale, so this is something that has happened to me throughout my years of running whether it’s somebody heckling me to me fainting on a run to me getting injured, I tell this cautionary tale because I want people to learn from my mistakes and then after the cautionary tale, we go into the actual training on how to run from that particular aspect," he said.
The chapter then shifts to a more educational focus. “I cover things such as mindset, form, nutrition, recovery, cross-training, and everything else and above. Readers should be able to get entertaining stories as well as sound running advice for individuals who are looking to get off the couch and start their running journey.”
Beginning his running journey at 360 pounds, Evans has since completed eight marathons, proving his doctors wrong as they told him he had to lose weight or likely die. “I stormed out of the doctor’s office, and I bought running shoes that day and started running, I’ve been running ever since.”
Evans, who completed his first marathon about a year and a half after his doctor's appointment, said it was an amazing feeling.
"It was something that I thought about every living, waking period of my life during that time and it just felt amazing to finally prove somebody wrong but also prove myself right," he said.
Evans said running has completely transformed his life and has allowed him to help others. “Not only did it have a change in my life, but it gave me the confidence and the authority to help change other people’s lives as well.”
His book tour will include two book signings in Michigan. The first begins at 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 22 at Playmakers, 2299 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos. The schedule is as follows:
5:15 p.m.: Pre-event book signing
6:00 p.m.: "Shake Out" run or walk. Both a 5-K and a 2-mile are offered.
7:15 p.m.: Q&A with Evans
7:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Post-event book signing
The second book signing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 23 at Gazelle Sports at 99 W. Maple Road in Birmingham. The schedule is:
8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.: Run/walk with Gazelle Sports Birmingham Run Club. Participants can run up to three and a half miles.
9:30 a.m.: Book talk
10:00 to 10:30 a.m.: Book signing
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Slow AF Run Club founder Martinus Evans pens book for beginner runners
