Book Review: Run With Me by Jennifer Luitwieler

From the first post I ever read by Jennifer Luitwieler, I have been a fan. It's always a joy to find someone who is able to blend of humor and honesty in their writing and in Run With Me: An Accidental Runner and the Power of Poo, Jen does this with a deft hand.

Despite the title, this is not a book about running. Jen begins running to train The Dog to poop outside rather than in her craft room and is, of course, forced to carry his feces after he has done the deed. But long after she dumps the dog and runs for herself, Jen discovers that she is still carrying poo with her. Crap that clung to her and weighed her down and told her that she was unable to do everything that she wanted to do. That stopped her from doing everything that she could do.

She dives into her struggles with depression, both as a young woman and as an adult. She talks about growing up, the daughter of a pastor, dealing with judgments from church. She writes about overcoming body issues and loving her Lycra running shorts. She shares stories that will make you laugh, will make you gag (I can take poop stories, but draw the line at booger stories!), will make you cry and will make you reflect.

I've become friends with Jen through social media over the past year and a bit, but after reading her memoir, I feel that I know her even better. And I love that in reading Run With Me, I know a bit more about myself as well.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Run With Me: An Accidental Runner and the Power of Poo. Also, connect with Jen at her blog, on Facebook and on Twitter.