The Long Run

One Man's Attempt to Regain his Athletic Career-and His Life-by Running the New York City Marathon

By: Matthew Long, Charles Butler

Narrated by: Matthew Del Negro

On the morning of December 22, 2005, New York City firefighter Matt Long was cycling to work when he was struck by and sucked under a 20-ton bus making an illegal turn. The injuries he sustained pushed him within inches of death. Miraculously, after five months in the hospital and more than 40 operations, Matt was able to start his recovery.

In addition to his physical injuries, Matt found the psychological consequences of the accident nearly as hard to process. In the 18 months before the accident, he had competed in more than 20 premier athletic events and had qualified for running's most prestigious race, the Boston Marathon. After the accident, one doctor told him he'd be lucky if he could even walk without a cane.

The Long Run is the emotional and incredibly honest story of Matt's determination to fight through fear, despair, loneliness, and intense physical and psychological pain to regain the life he once had. It chronicles Matt's road to recovery as he teaches himself to walk again and, a mere three years later, to run in the 2008 New York City Marathon.

©2010 Matthew Long (P)2010 Random House Audio

Excellent Book, Great Story

This was a great listen. Narrator is good and the story is really good. I didnt' actually find it too inspiring as far as running goes but it was inspiring for getting through any tough and challenging situation in life.
Really good book.

Outstanding and Motivating!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Long Run to be better than the print version?

Excellent book and so inspiring. So great to listen to while out for a bike ride or a run.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, the blackest points in his life and how he managed to crawl back up and keep trying.

Could not stop listening

Where does The Long Run rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Inspiring, shows if you have a dream, desire then nothing can stop you achieving it

What does Matthew Del Negro bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Captured you and just drew you in

Inspiring story

Motivating story that reminds us not to give up in the face of hard times. Very easy leasning.

Wow

Fantasy! Thank you for sharing your amazing story! In the midst of marathon training, I listened to Mattie long share his road to run again! My kids enjoyed it too!

Intense and Inspiring

The Long Run is an amazing story about Matt Long's life -- his athleticism, his values, his courage, and his dogged determination to choose the life he wants to live. It is amazing what the human body and human spirit can overcome when one gives persistent effort and surrenders to the support of loved ones and a team of amazing therapists/coaches.

Beyond Inspirational

This story will make you laugh and cry, but most importantly it will inspire you and give you the perspective and push you need to accomplish whatever challenge you are facing.

Incredible

What made the experience of listening to The Long Run the most enjoyable?

The narration was good, the story incredible!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Long Run?

I like the fact that Mathew Long didn't cover the fact that at times he had a bad attitude about the situation he found himself in but he eventually found his way. We are not all positive thinkers all of the time as the experts like to tell us to be.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried at the marathon. What an achievement.

Not just a book about running.....

Where does The Long Run rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Easily, among the top 3.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Long Run?

There are so many to recall. Probably the final chapters where Matt Long describes his experience running the NY Marathon.

Which character – as performed by Matthew Del Negro – was your favorite?

Matthew Long

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely

Any additional comments?

Being a new runner, this book transformed my outlook toward running. Here I was with my niggling injuries and doubts, and then you had Matt Long, going through what he did, and not just recovering from his accident, but pushing through all obstacles and actually completing the NY marathon and the Ironman. Pure grit !!

This story is going to stay with me for the rest of my life!

Like so many other people, I too found myself struggling with the level of “arrogance” of this book ….

I use quotes because what is said is not arrogance but just visceral honesty!

I fully own that had I read this book it would likely have never been finished!

Primarily it was completed because the author was the one telling the story, his voice that embody this amazing machine that came back from a point in time that was so dire was what made me keep going and listening even though it took me a really long time to finish this book.

There were times where I turned off the Audible because I just couldn’t listen to another chapter at that time!

Everyone has a story, this story is pretty incredible and the real gift you gave yourself is to listen to the epilogue that’s the best part of this entire book in my opinion!

Just hang in there - maybe like myself you have never even completed a 5K let us alone a marathon or qualified for a marathon or even completed an Iron Man!!

The mere verbal articulation of such a feat is enough to send you like myself running to the nearest rock!

That said let me be the first to say my fat ass doesn’t run!

At the most minimal level no one who actually reads this book could ever not just feel overwhelmingly grateful to not have had to take this long run and have mad respect for an athlete who despite under comprehensible odds… Is an Iron Man!