Running with the Story: author Penny Mirren on the inspiration behind her delightful new novel, Gracie Jenkins Runs a Marathon.
A reader commented recently, when reviewing my latest novel Gracie Jenkins Runs a Marathon; “Some common themes I’ve seen with this author’s work are older female protagonists finding purpose after retirement, the community coming together to support a good cause, a great supporting cast of characters, and the importance of family bonds.”
Thank you, dear reader, I couldn’t have put it better myself, as this is exactly what I aim to achieve, along with lashings of feel-good warmth. So when I began planning this story about a pensioner training for a marathon, the first crucial questions I asked myself were: Why? What does she hope to achieve? Who will help her do it?
Gracie Jenkins’ Story
Gracie’s story doesn’t start with her decision to run a marathon, it starts with her decision to try something new, by joining a local running club. This is the catalyst not just for the life-changing journey she will later embark upon, but for widening her world with a new community of friends, which is perhaps my favourite theme of all. As humans, we do not operate in isolation; we learn from each other, we’re often inspired by others, and we are certainly impacted by other people’s choices. As writers, we understand there must be obstacles that make it harder for a character to complete their goal, and for conflict to make their journey interesting. Wouldn’t it be a boring story, if we followed a solitary individual and their one-track purpose to run a marathon? Why would we care if that character lost three months of training to rest a sprained ankle? It is in their interaction with others, that fictional characters come alive. And it is in understanding a character’s background, that their motivations are revealed.
Ask any one of the fifty-six thousand participants of the most recent London Marathon, and there will be a unique story that put them there. There is nothing solitary about running a marathon – there were an estimated seven hundred and fifty thousand spectators this year, myself included – and if you’ve never been, trust me, it’s a humbling, euphoric experience! Many runners have charity places, most with personal and moving connections to their chosen charities. Some are ticking off their bucket lists, or fitness goals, applying for coveted places through the public ballot. A determined lady I met recently, made the knee-jerk decision to apply after watching live coverage of the lock-down postponed 2021 London Marathon on TV from her sofa, whilst ill with COVID. She completed her first full marathon this year at the age of sixty-nine, after suffering and recovering from not one but two substantial training-related injuries, and if that isn’t an inspiration to others, I don’t know what is. Ruth couldn’t have done it, she told me, if not for the support of her husband, her family and the time she found in retirement to pursue her ambitious dream.
Ironically, I only met Ruth after I had finished writing Gracie Jenkins Runs a Marathon and it had already gone to print, but so much of her story rang true for me.
Like Ruth, Gracie Jenkins has a husband and a family, and her decision to train for a marathon has implications for each of them. Her actions have knock-on effects and it’s in this chain of events the most interesting (and often humorous parts) of the story are to be found.
Writing from two Points of View
I enjoy writing from two points of view, and this story, it seemed to me, was crying out for a secondary character whose life is impacted by Gracie’s decision, in this case – her estranged sister who has recently come back into her life. I’ve found that once you have two dynamically different main characters, each with their own agenda, back story, shared history and status quo, the conflict that keeps a story moving forward almost begins to write itself. You could say, if you were as partial to a pun as I am, that as Gracie began to train for her marathon, the ideas for how her journey would progress began to run away with me. Again, the question of why was at the forefront of my mind? Why are the sisters estranged? This nugget of information, hidden in their mutual history is crucial to understanding each of them, what motivates them and what holds them back. The fun begins when their two worlds collide, and the scope for a much bigger story than pounding the coastal paths of Frinton-on-Sea, where the story is set, begins to take shape.
There is such joy in bringing together a diverse cast of characters, like Gracie’s running club friends; people who perhaps wouldn’t normally be a part of each other’s lives, and when that cast of characters pull together to achieve something special; that’s when the magic happens. It’s a theme explored in my debut novel The Unretirement and one I will never tire of. I want readers to come away feeling hopeful, that anything is possible and there are always second chances.
There are no spoilers from me here, about what compels seventy-two-year-old Gracie to run the London Marathon, you’ll have to read the book to find out why, and to discover if she achieves her goal. But I will say that writing the book felt like a bit of a marathon of its own. As someone with about as much experience of running long distances as I have in quantum mechanics (which is to say, nil), there was a hefty amount of research involved. But by the time I was writing the closing chapters, a strange thing had happened, I began to feel inspired by the fictional woman I’d created. Now, I’ve no plans to enter a marathon, but I have dusted off my trainers, so watch this space…
(c) Penny Mirren
About Gracie Jenkins Runs a Marathon by Penny Mirren:
The best adventures start with a single step…
‘What a lively and fresh voice Penny has. So funny too and really resonates with someone who never wants to retire or slow down! Sunday Times bestselling author Phillipa Ashley
Gracie Jenkins thought her days of adventure were behind her. Settled into the familiar rhythms of small-town life, aged 72, she never imagined she’d lace up her trainers for anything more than a stroll down memory lane.
But when a long-forgotten postcard sparks a fire within her, Gracie embarks on an extraordinary journey and sets out to conquer the ultimate challenge: training for a marathon.
As Gracie’s steps turn into miles, she discovers strength she never knew she had and a community she never expected to find. But it’s not just about crossing the finish line—it’s about rediscovering herself along the way.
Can Gracie prove to herself, and her loved ones, that age truly is just a number?
The feel-good novel that proves life can begin at any age…all you have to do is get up and go! Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle and Clare Pooley.
‘What a lively and fresh voice Penny has. So funny too and really resonates with someone who never wants to retire or slow down! Sunday Times bestselling author Phillipa Ashley
Order your copy of Gracie Jenkins Runs a Marathon by Penny Mirren online here.
And read more from Penny Mirren on Writing.ie here.
