‘Victory is a life well lived or a day enjoyed.’
Limerick man Frank O’Mara had the athletics career most only dream of, competing for Ireland in three Olympic Games and breaking Irish and world records. After his retirement from running, he settled in the US with his family and made his way to the top of the telecoms industry.
Then at age forty-eight, his life changed forever when he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease. The progression was rapid, causing severe muscle cramps, tremors, and eventually the inability to walk and at times even speak.
In this inspiring memoir, Frank recounts his battle with Parkinson’s. At first in denial, he eventually found the strength that made him successful as an athlete and in business – using determination, and humour to weather the worst phases of the disease. He learned to face each hurdle as he came to it: to bend, but not break.
One man’s life-affirming story of facing adversity with grace and courage.
Table of Contents:
Prologue: Sometimes you have to accept the unbelievable
Come and get your love
Play the role as scripted
Don't Fixate on worst-case scenarios
Don't be discouraged
Keep your word
Great Results require great risk
Block out distractions
Stick with it
Stand for something
Don't look beyond your headlights
Take responsibility
Keep an open mind
Take a Walk in their shoes
Stay current, stay relevant
Surround yourself with positive people
There are no shortcuts
Be prepared to go it alone
One step at a time
Reset Expectations Regularly
Epilogue: Don't Fool Yourself
Acknowledgements
Frank O'Mara: Athletic Achievements 283
Review :
unflinching…challenging…truly inspiring … At almost 300 pages it is a challenging read in parts, and truly inspiring in others, with O’Mara’s initial denial of the violent clutches of this disease soon surrendering to his willingness to battle on with it. It’s not without its humour
Imagine a sports star writing an autobiography and not including a single paragraph about what is, to most, their biggest achievement. Imagine them sitting down across several years, writing out in painstaking detail, at a painstaking, pedestrian pace, the story of their life, only to deem two world titles unworthy of a mention. Frank O’Mara is different. Always has been.
an in-depth and often inspirational picture of a genuinely remarkable man
this memoir, moving and inspiring (a letter written to his seriously sick father, when he was 15, reveals a son's love as well as his desire to win), is a story of achievement, fortitude and belief
not … the normal sporting memoir … an incredible read
what a book this is - Jarlath Regan. I loved it - Sonia O’Sullivan
inspiring … comes highly recommended
really, really inspirational … one for everyone
an enthralling and inspirational read
the former middle-distance runner's story of his fight with Parkinson's disease. Though it's a bracing, uncomfortable read at times, you are left in total admiration for O'Mara in his battle
a very good read
a story that could easily have been weighed down with sadness is, in the end, an uplifting one
