<div dir="ltr"><div>All, <br></div><div>Please find below and attached William Steele's review of Abdi Abdirahman and Myles Schrag, <i>Abdi's World:The Black Cactus on Life, Running and Sport</i>.</div><div>Thanks</div><div>Duncan</div><div><br></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Abdi
Abdirahman with Myles Schrag. <i>Abdi’s World: The Black Cactus on Life,
Running, and Fun</i>. Flagstaff, AZ: Soulstice Publishing, 2021. 228 pp.
Paperback. $19.95<span></span></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Reviewed
by Willie Steele<span></span></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Even
the most casual fans of men’s American distance running are familiar with the
names of the great athletes who have performed well on the world stage. Billy
Mills, Jim Ryun, Gerry Lindgren, Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Bill Rogers,
and Alberto Salazar, for instance, were the marquee names for the United States
from the 1960s to the 1980s. More serious fans remember the few bright spots of
talent during the lean times of the 1990s, a time when Bob Kennedy and Todd
Williams often battled each other on the track for recognition as America’s top
runner. But none of these athletes was able to accomplish what Abdi Abdirahman
was able to do at the Olympic Trials marathon in 2020: qualify for five Olympic
teams. And while some of the aforementioned athletes placed higher at the
Games, some even winning medals, none ran at such a high level for as long as
Abdirahman has.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span>In his biography, <i>Abdi’s World:
The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun</i>, the acclaimed runner provides
insight into his life as a Somali immigrant who began running seriously at Pima
Community College in 1995 after being encouraged by some friends to try out for
the cross country team. From there, “The Black Cactus” as he’s known to his
friends and fans, competed for the University of Arizona where he finished
second at the 1998 NCAA Cross Country Championships, before later signing a
contract to run for Nike.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span>Unlike many runner’s biographies, Abdirahman
doesn’t lay out his training plan. In fact, in the book’s Preface, he says, “I
don’t always pay attention to my Garmin GPS watch and I’ve never kept a
training log” (ix). Rather than diving into specific details of training and
racing, the Black Cactus divides his story into six parts, all Olympic years,
including 2016 when he missed making the team for the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.
Each part focuses on a lesson Abdi learned through his running: possibilities,
belonging, belief, humility, perseverance, and unity. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span>Although these lessons are rooted in
his running experience, Abdirahman weaves in stories of his family’s escape
from the political turmoil in his native Somalia, the immense pride he has in
his American citizenship, his friendships with runners of all nationalities,
and the fun he’s had training and competing around the world. While casual
runners will never come close to the world class times the Black Cactus has had
for nearly thirty years, they will likely connect with his love for the sport
and the relationships he has formed through it. The most poignant of these
reflections is when he details his relationship with training partner and
housemate, Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died during the marathon trials for the
2008 Beijing Olympics. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span>And while the book is largely Abdi’s
own story, he invites his friends, training partners, fellow competitors, and
coaches to speak about him as well. Two-time Olympian Ryan Hall, legendary
coach Joe Vigil, and coach Mike Smith are just a few of the voices who offer
insight into what makes the Black Cactus unique. Abdirahman also incorporates numerous
interviews from magazines, websites, and podcasts, allowing readers to
understand where he was at various points in his career. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span><span> </span>Beyond running, the book explores the
challenges of being a Muslim in the United States after 9/11. Along with his
own story, Abdi draws from the experiences fellow Olympians Bernard Lagat and
Meb Keflezighi, both of whom are African born American citizens, to explore the
complexities of their lives and what it means for them to “be American.”<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span>In distance running, an elite career
of more than a decade is extraordinary. For a runner like Abdi Adbirahman to
make five Olympic teams is the stuff of legend. <span> </span>Distance running fans will appreciate the
story of someone who has been world class for a long time, has stood on the
podium of prestigious races like the New York City Marathon, and who has had a
lot of fun along the way. <span></span></span></p>
</div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Remember to smell the roses as you recumber past<br><br>Duncan R. Jamieson, Ph. D.<br>Professor of History<br>Book Review Editor<br><i>AETHLON: The Journal of Sport Literature</i><br>Ashland University<br>Ashland, OH 44805<br>USA<br></div></div></div></div>