In The Long Run - A Father, a Son, and Unintentional Lessons in Happiness by Jim Axelrod-Memoir

Axelrod covered Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primary campaign in 2008, which meant long periods away from his wife and three children. He found himself eating poorly, gaining weight; and drinking too much.

During the spring months of Clinton's campaign, Axelrod discovered his father Bob's finishing times for the New York City Marathon, which he ran in 1980 to 1982. His last race time was an impressive 3:29:58 at the age of 46. Axelrod, inspired by his father's marathon achievements, aimed to beat his best time by November 1, 2009 when he too would be 46.

Bob Axelrod died in 2000 after a nine-year battle with prostate cancer, at the age of 63. Despite his shortcomings as a man, Axelrod lovingly remembers his father; and shares life lessons he learned from him even in death. Happy New Year MESSAGES   2020

In 1965, at the age of two and a half, he attended the World's Fair in New York City. There, using his strong hands, his father lifted him to safety from the little boats featured at the Walt Disney exhibit.

At eight years old, his father often arrived home from work and took time to play catch with him outside. By 15, Axelrod was jealous of his track teammates, whose father's regularly attended their meets. Bob Axelrod was nowhere to be found. By then, two mortgages, a law practice, and other responsibilities consumed his days.

Axelrod realized the finality of his father's death; and particularly missed his congratulatory calls on his office phone soon after reporting on the evening news. "All I'd had with my dad was all I'd ever have," he says.

Misguided career aspirations confronted Axelrod before and throughout his training for the NYC Marathon. During the Iraq War, Axelrod volunteered to report events from inside the battlegrounds, against the wishes of his wife. He found himself stranded in a Humvee over the Euphrates River, fearing for his life; and wondering how he'd let his judgments become so maladjusted.

New management at CBS, not familiar with his work, marginalized his contributions. Never one to be excluded from advancement, he accepted assignments that ultimately proved to be a bad fit.

He served as Chief White House correspondent for three years before understanding he needed to relinquish the position. "I'd come to Washington to take my place as a boldfaced name. I'd come looking for a prestige boost, expecting my posting at the White House to get me acknowledged and registered." "I'd let myself lose sight of the things that most immediately grounded me, made me truly happy."

While training for the NYC Marathon, Axelrod consulted with his younger brother, Peter (Petey), an in-shape, San Francisco federal prosecutor. His advice to "slow down you'll go further" became a metaphor for Axelrod's life in general.

A behind-the-scenes account of network news reporting complements Axelrod's narrative. He describes the jostling correspondents engage in to have the President answer their questions during a White House press conference. Poignant details of Dan Rather attending his father's funeral are also included.

On September 8, 2012, Axelrod appeared on behalf of the Westlake Porter Library at the Westlake High School Performing Arts Center, in Westlake, Ohio. He highlighted his near-death experience over the Euphrates River; and White House reporting, as defining, life-changing events. "You learn so much more from your defeats than your victories," he said.

"In The Long Run" is a compelling narrative, especially for mid-life males around Father's Day or their birthday.

Axelrod ran the New York City Marathon on November 1, 2009, as planned. By then he'd learned to stop living in the shadow of his father.

Did Axelrod beat his father's times when he ran the New York City Marathon? Why spoil the suspense? Read his memoir to discover the answer and enjoy his journey to the finish line.