Mud Happens

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Harvard,
Massachusetts.

Matt Thompson runs track and cross-country for his middle-school team
but dreams of running with the elite Durham Riders Track Club team. In
Mud Happens, Matt practises hard to realize this goal, but when he
finally has the opportunity to join the Riders he has second thoughts.
He realizes the sacrifice required to train at that level and decides to
train with a club that is less intense and more fun.

Road Rage continues to follow Matt and the track team. After learning
that his friends Ashley and Ryan joined the Riders, Matt has a moment of
regret that he chose otherwise. A week before the Alfie Shrubb 8
Kilometre Museum Fun Run that all the teams have agreed to enter, Matt
finds out that his track club will be hosting the event and that he must
work as a marshall instead of competing. Initially, Matt feels very
disappointed at not being able to run. Through his experience as a
marshall, however, he learns important lessons about community service,
sportsmanship, and the real value of a running career.

These Sports Stories deal with serious topics for serious runners. An
ongoing theme is how to manage training so that the athlete doesn’t do
too much too soon and risk injury or re-injury. The author also explores
the psychology of running at a level appropriate for the middle-school
reader. There are mental pitfalls and traps in competing and also
benefits of participating in a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone at
any age and level. Recommended.