Cary Wheeland

Full disclosure, Mike Salsbury and I were college roommates and are long time friends. I received “Running From Tragedy” on Friday evening and finished its 360 pages by Sunday afternoon. Sals has written a masterpiece, sharing the very complex story of his life, that of his incredible wife, Gabriella, and their life journey. The family lost three beautiful daughters before their first birthdays to a mysterious vanishing white matter disease. The story is aptly described on the back cover of the book, “…a poignant journey…that defies every definition of unfathomable odds...” While the story of Stephanie, Jennifer, and Gracie is heartbreaking, the book is about the family’s miraculous, cathartic, and triumphant journey, one that has wholly embraced the world of ultrarunning. This is hands down, a 5-star read!