Running with Sherman: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero

In this tenderhearted memoir, McDougall (Born to Run) tells of his adoption and rehabilitation of Sherman, an ailing rescue donkey. Neglected by an animal hoarder near McDougall’s farm in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Sherman is nursed back to health by Tanya, a local veterinary technician: “You need to give this animal a purpose. You need to find him a job,” Tanya tells McDougall. So McDougall, an accomplished runner, sets his sights on the annual World Championship Leadville Burro Race in Colorado, an eight-decade-long tradition that includes an uphill run half the height of Mt. Everest. McDougall is a charming, enthusiastic storyteller as he describes how, with less than a year to train, he enlists Tanya; his wife, Mika; and Zeke, a troubled Penn State student who draws strength and purpose from training Sherman. The team, which also includes donkeys Flower and Matilda, wends its way through wooded mazes, creeks, and other obstacles in preparation for the high-altitude race. As the event draws closer, several setbacks challenge the team, including Tanya’s horse-training accident, Zeke’s broken foot, and McDougall’s shattered finger. Despite these setbacks, they arrive in Leadville in 2016 ready to race, and complete the 15-mile “short course,” with Sherman finishing 29th out of 52. Runners and animal lovers alike can find inspiration in this story of the ways in which humans and animals connect. (Oct.)