“The Spirit of the Marathon: What to Expect in Your First Marathon, and How to Run Them for the Rest of Your Life” by Gail Waesche Kislevitz is the companion volume to ”First Marathons”. It will inform, inspire, and educate any runner who wants to try the marathon, or wants to run several marathons a year. “Gail's stories bring the marathon to life!” says Grete Waitz. The author picks up where his previous fast-selling book left off: it follows up with the thirty-seven people profiled there, to see how their marathoning life has progressed since their first race. And it includes twenty-seven new first-marathon stories, as well as the stories of runners tackling their second or third marathon, and making the marathon an integral part of their lives. Plus, it includes tales of the marathon experience from immortals of the sport; and excellent advice and support for runners of all levels. These stories are lively first-person essays, oral history on the subject of running marathons. Far more valuable than dry how-to books, this is powerful, heartfelt human experience.