This book delves into the running and racing adventures of the author Mark Ryall and his daughter Stephanie. When she was just seven years old, Stephanie shows a keen interest in running. Realizing she cannot be held back, Mark gets off the couch and joins in her workouts. Over the next seventeen years, they both progress as distance runners and pursue shared dreams in competitive age-group racing. They encounter many ups and downs along the way as Stephanie matures into a serious university cross country and ultra trail runner, and Mark transitions into triathlons, representing Canada in three ITU World Championships. As both father and coach, Mark always looks to safeguard Stephanie's health and long-term athletic development, which causes her to push back at times. Using personal stories, humorous situations, training advice, and significant scientific research, the author lends the reader a unique look inside the world of younger and older runners. A great resource for runners of all ages, as well as their coaches and parents!
"Dr. Ryall writes with candor and passion, striking the perfect balance between sharing running history, research, and personal anecdotes that had me laughing out loud. Run Daughter, Run Father is a relatable, informative, and inspiring read!" ~ Heidi Ohrling, Medical Student and Cross Country Runner, Western University
"Mark's book is more than about just running. It's about a father/daughter relationship through the child/teen years and how a shared love of an activity can bring people together as well as create friction at times, ultimately bringing them closer to understanding each other and appreciating the journey along the way. This book is a cool read that can be enjoyed by both generations looking upon either side of the father-daughter relationship and renewed love for a sport through the eyes of a child." ~ Mat Reid, owner and head coach, Fighting Koalas and Hamilton Hammerheads Triathlon Team
"Having coached my own daughter, I couldn't help but laugh as the father/daughter, coach/athlete relationship was described as butting heads at times, though it was always overshadowed by admiration and pride." ~ Tom Spironello, former Athletic Director, St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School
"A thoughtful, entertaining, and relatable read. I enjoyed Mark's insightful anecdotes with background research to cover the challenging, humorous, and heartwarming running journey of a father and a daughter." ~ Dr. Scott Howitt, Chiropractor/Clinical Director Pure Fitness MoveLab, Toronto
Mark Ryall recently retired from teaching economics and mathematics at Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton, Ontario. He represented Canada in the ITU World Triathlon Championships in 2017 Rotterdam and 2019 Lausanne, and also qualified for 2023 Spain.
In March 2021, he published his first novel, the science fiction Age-Decoded. Mark wrote it to educate himself and others about the imminent impact of genetic engineering on humanity. In September 2022, he published the book Run Father, Run Daughter, an autobiographical account of the competitive running journey of him and his daughter Stephanie.
Mark is also an avid snooker player and golfer. His education includes BSc, MBA, and Ph.D. (University of Toronto).
