They Say
The transatlantic flight to New York was my shortest ever! I was so consumed and profoundly touched by the the journey you’ve endured all these years.
Your writing, your use of the English language, your vocabulary paints a beautiful story full of love, friendships and determination no athlete has ever endured to succeed!
Your bravery, your fight to survive and the manner in which you’ve dealt with adversity is simple AWE INSPIRING.
Consuming “Bend Don’t Break” was like a spiritual encounter for me. As a recovering college track coach, notwithstanding a longtime educator/administrator, who not unlike Frank O’Mara, embodies a deep passion for family & friends, while appreciating utter resilience, unqualified courage, and servant leadership. This book was both seriously life changing and inordinately reaffirming. Simply put, arguably the very best manuscript I have ever devoured!S
Frank’s will and determination is parallel to our small, great nation, which continually punches above its weight … Similar to Frank’s own battle in sport and life.
It takes an exceptional individual coming from a tiny nation on the western periphery of Europe to excel as a world class middle distance runner, as it’s a brutal and hard-fought field.
And if that wasn’t a superhuman effort in itself…Frank’s resilience is tested once again … but
this time it’s personal. He is diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease at just 48 years of age. His truly remarkable and humbling accounts of his struggles with Parkinson’s and his undying will to not let if define him, makes this a compelling read. Frank is a credit to himself, his native Limerick and Ireland.
Frank O’Mara’s story is amazing, and he tells it with candor, humor and nuggets of wisdom we all can use. My admiration for how he tackled our Antarctica expedition rose dramatically, as my understanding of his trials and tribulations grew. And - oh my gosh - the caliber of the friendship he and Marcus have is truly stunning, and was very sweet to watch in action. We should all wish to have a friend like Marcus and a partner like Patty in our life
I truly enjoyed reading this book and what a roller coaster ride it takes you on
The Challenges that Frank faces in his daily life living with Parkinson’s he deals with by calling on every challenge he has faced on the running track and in business and its compelling how such diverse life experiences can call on the same tools to overcome what you are faced with.
If you can rise to a challenge in one area of your life then you have a greater chance of dealing with every other challenge that comes your way and Frank is a leader in facing his challenges head on not always accepting but always finding a way forward.
The term hero is used nowadays far too often and without justification. It can become no more than a label attached to someone who excels at a sport. Someone who has for example a physical gift for simply running in circles fast.
I have been called a hero for this very reason, which I have never accepted.
Heroes do not run in circles, they run towards danger to help others, they put others before themselves even to the extent of their own lives. They keep us safe.
Then there are heroes that fight against what life throws up, time and time again picking themselves up after being knocked down, where most would eventually just give in.
The heroes of sheer will.
This is a book about one such man. An athlete, a family man, a businessman, a friend and a true hero.
