Don't Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing Happiness

by Keira D'Amato

A victorious tale of coming back in middle age to topple marathon records, from the running world's most beloved underdog, mom of two, and woman voted "most fun follow" on Strava.

Keira D’Amato was an all-American runner who used to chase success. But after being injured in her early twenties, she assumed her running career was over, and settled into life as a military spouse and mother of two young children. In her early thirties, she found herself overweight, out of shape, and battling postpartum depression. She knew that improving her fitness would make her feel better, and told herself to just get out and run ninety seconds, down her street and back. To her dismay, she couldn’t do it. But two days later she tried again. And six years after that, she broke the American women’s record in the marathon at the age of thirty-seven.

Keira has created a buzz in the world of professional athletics by taking the road less traveled. The normal trajectory for an elite female athlete has been to focus on sport first, then get a "real" job, and finally, have a family. Keira upended she married her high school sweetheart, had two babies in quick succession, began her career in real estate—and only then returned to running. But it’s not just her relatable background that makes Keira so popular amongst fellow runners. We assume that to be successful, one must be serious and humorless, with an all-or-nothing approach to ambition. But what if the opposite were true—that cultivating more fun, and more variety in your life could actually help you reach your biggest goals?

At an age when most athletes consider retirement, Keira is just getting started. And she’s determined to share the secrets of her success to help readers to start chasing their own happiness, to dream a big, scary dream, and ultimately to find their way back to themselves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir, Sports, Biography, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Keira D'Amato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I’m totally biased—but I read it again this week and was reminded how much I love it. It makes me laugh. It makes me cry. It’s my heartfelt journey of chasing happiness, proving that it was never about a comeback.

In this book, I share the lessons I learned on my path to success—from being a new mom who couldn’t run for three minutes to becoming an American record holder in the marathon. People often ask me: What changed? How did I balance it all? And what do aliens have to do with it?

All that and more—right here in these pages.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Don't Call it a Comeback, by Keira D'Amato, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Keira D'Amato, is a runner, wife, mother, and daughter. When Keira was injured she thought her running days was over so she got married, started a family and a new career, but running was not done with Keira .I like how Keira reminds people to go easy on themselves, whatever life throws at you.

[Brandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t Call It a Comeback is Keira D’Amato’s memoir about her return to running. In addition to being a runner, she’s a former military wife, a mom, a realtor, and a small business owner. What Keira has accomplished is impressive, admirable, and motivating. The lessons she shares are applicable to more than running.

I’m all for confident women, and Keira isn’t short on confidence — As women, we should all be lauding our own accomplishments, now more than ever. I did not care for Keira’s mention of disliking specific popular artists to show how she doesn’t conform with a crowd, or her other references to how “she” doesn’t listen to people’s suggestions — I found the way she presented this deeply annoying coming from a woman in her early 40s.

I do think avid runners and fans of Keira will get the most from hearing her story, though there’s still value and takeaways for everyone, not just runners. Don’t Call It A Comeback is a reminder that in many cases, we often create the biggest barriers ourselves and we can accomplish many things by getting started, then staying committed — 3.5 stars

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know it will appeal to some people but the informal text speak (TBH, OMFG) sprinkled throughout did not appeal to me. It made D’Amato come off as immature and a little lazy. It likewise turned me off early on in the book when D’Amato used not liking Taylor Swift and Beyoncé (notably both stereotypically women’s interests) as examples of how she didn’t follow the pack. It gave the vibe that she’s not like other boring women; she’s a ~cool~ girl.

Overall her story *is* inspiring, and many people will connect to her post-children journey back to competition. The early chapter on that was the best part.

But the book and D’Amato’s alleged sense of humor (I don’t think I found a single one of her “jokes” funny) didn’t really resonate with me.

[Dona's Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐.5

🐈‍⬛Totes's Review
"Being middle aged means I can't reach my butt, but I'm still young enough to wrangle obnoxious kittens. Don't count yourself out yet, girlie."

👑 Bug’s Review
"Middle age? I wouldn’t know. I’m a queen, and queens don’t age—they just nap louder. If life gets hard, try snoring at it until it goes away."

🐾 Moo Cat’s Review
"If 37 is middle-aged, then I’m basically eternal with all the chaos I’ve lived through. But guess what—I still leap on the bed, still demand pets, still wheating bellies. Life isn’t about breaking and coming back, it’s about bouncing."


"I said this isn’t a book about running. I stand by that— because, at its heart, it’s about prioritizing happiness and figuring out how to seek joy. That’s the journey I want to take you on." p5

I'm not the audience for this. D'Amato is writing to young women who prioritize fitness and have families, which doesn't describe me. But she insists that this book and running are for everyone, so don't let my review (Or my Review Squad) stop you.

However, being in your thirties does not make you "middle aged". Life expectancy for a standard woman in the US is 81 years. Few runners have to worry about premature mortality.

Thank you to Kiera D'Amato, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK. All views are mine.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something special about listening to a memoir narrated by the author. The reader feels just a little more connected.

In this runner's memoir, Keira D'Amato shares about her unlikely path to success as a runner. She did so after taking a multi-year break and giving birth to two children. She shared that she was 50 pounds overweight when she decided to return to running. This memoir provided inspiration and belief that whatever ones dreams are, it's possible to achieve at least some degree of success.

In addition to advice about not giving up, it was fascinating to get a peek at some of the details of the life of an elite runner.

Some foul language.

My gratitude to publisher Macmillan Audio for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Non-Fiction book. I read this book by listening to the audiobook while I was walking, and I loved it. This book made me want to keep walking and keep going. My go to type of book is not normally non-fiction, but I have been reading more non fiction books this year because of a reading challenge I am doing. I normally have trouble getting through non-fiction books, but this book I did not want to put down. I love how this book was written, and I felt connected to the author. My daughter is in high school she has been running long distance since middle school, and now my son is following her footsteps. I personally have never been a runner, but when I was told I was in heart failure I started walking. My daughter pushed me to keep going, and now I walk about 5 to 6 miles a day. This book is about so much more than just running. If you are trying to push through something you should pick this book up. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Report: Don’t Call it a Comeback

At First Glance: Another book about a female runner?! Give it to me!!!

The Gist: A victorious tale of coming back in middle age to topple marathon records, from the running world's most beloved underdog, mom of two, and woman voted "most fun follow" on Strava.

My Thoughts: I’m entering my…running for pleasure era at the young age of 40 so this book was immediately added to my TBR. I know nothing about the world of running but eager to learn. I’m glad Keira D’Amato’s story was an introduction to my new found act of self care. Inspiring, funny and at times vulnerable Keira’s voice shines in the world of memoirs. This is one I recommend the audio (read by Keira) but a physical copy wouldn’t be a bad idea for revisiting her encouraging words. Though I’m just finding my own strides on the pavement this book felt relatable to any skill level… running isn’t your thing…but curious about athletes, motherhood and marriage this one has it all!

My Question for Keira: I’ll be a bit selfish with this question since this is a new found passion I found later in life. What advice do you have for someone who just started lacing up and hitting the pavement?

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Thaïs Rolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like it was written was a 13-year-old girl, but nevertheless a great memoir. Keira D'Amato (my hometown hero) is exactly her authentic self; a refreshingly relatable take on professional running.

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keira D'Amato (b. 1984) is an American professional distance runner specializing in half and full marathons. Her 2025 memoir Don't Call It a Comeback, written with Evelyn Spence, tells the story of her athletic career, from running track competitively in high school and college to quitting due to injuries in her early 20s to resuming running after having two kids in her 30s, at first casually and then seriously enough to break into the elite ranks of professional, sponsor-paid runners. It's definitely an unlikely, inspirational story, and reminds me a lot more of memoirs of the ultramarathon set who often discover running later in life through adversity than of the long-term professional runner set whose whole lives have been dominated by the sport and take things extremely seriously (this is a compliment).

I enjoyed and appreciated this memoir and D'Amato's story. As a similarly-aged adult, one of the things I've appreciated about accruing several decades of life experience is that I'm more tolerant of trying and failing at new things, more self-confident and less self-critical, and more appreciative of relationships and experiences even if they don't turn out as I hope. These themes are echoed in this memoir and likely wouldn't have arisen in the same ways had D'Amato hadn't taken her extended sabbatical when she did.

Further reading: similarly themed athletic memoirs
Reborn on the Run: My Journey from Addiction to Ultramarathons by Catra Corbett
Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll
Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out by Gracie Gold

My statistics:
Book 314 for 2025
Book 2240 cumulatively

[Sarah Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for this ARC. When I first got this book I thought it’d be interesting, informative, but unrelatable. I was so wrong (other than Kiera’s paces which are insane). What a great memoir, not only about her journey becoming an elite runner but about life along the way. Her take on being a wife and becoming a mother is so relatable and her sense of humor is top notch. She’s an excellent reminder to never stop having fun and chasing your dreams.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite like Keira, so I hope she won't read this review. Although if she does, maybe she'll decide I'm The Man and find some way to stick it to me.

I really appreciate her many positive shout outs to competitors and her friends and family as well as her calling out dopers, some by name. She has a lot of hilarious stories, and those I could read a lot more of.

The book started out as a strong four star for me. I really liked her perspective, her humor, and her stories.

Then it started getting a bit repetitive bordering on holier-than-though through some segments, and sometimes it feels a bit like she's trying too hard to be/not to be something. For example, I don't think not wearing overalls for 12 years because someone said you looked good in them is a win. Much like only wearing strong nail polish colors because some dumbass said you shouldn't isn't really a win. "The Man" still got to decide what you did even if you did the opposite of what someone commented on.

Another rock in the shoe (heh) is the current drama with her moving her entire family to Utah to join an elite training group, then promptly divorcing her husband which is now very awkwardly playing out in semi-public. Shit happens, but it just goes against the whole vibe she presents in the book and her entire public persona as a "family first"-mom and her success coming through not planning her entire life around running and being a "hobbyjogger"/normal person.

Which leads us to the last thing that bugs me the most. Keira has an ENORMOUS running talent. If her training post partum to get to sub-18 5k was as careless as she puts it in this book, I've talked to hundreds of people who has worked a lot harder and a lot longer for achievements nowhere near that. If that isn't talent, I don't know what is. I would have liked her to acknowledge that, because it really rubs me the wrong way when she doesn't. Does she just think that no one else works hard to get faster? I'm genuinely curious.

[Molly Wynen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiration.

I am completely, one hundred percent the target audience for this book (book loving, marathon running mom in her thirties) but I firmly believe it would hold its own for a reader who doesn’t fit one or all of those categories- though you should probably generally enjoy memoirs and inspirational books.

[Lindsey Hein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun look into Keira’s life as a Professional runner. There is a light heartedness to Keira but we all know to achieve the things she’s achieved in the sport she’s had to be as dedicated as ever and truly go all in. I loved learning more about the times leading up to big events and after them. Highly recommend!

[Janessa Juarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed. I cried. I felt seen. I felt inspired. All the feels. What a story. What a story. What a great reminder to never stop having fun and chasing your dreams.

[Xander Dale]

this was a great memoir! i'm a huge keira d'amato fan and was super invested in her olympic trials run- she does a great job here in emphasizing the great parts of running, not taking life too seriously, and has some really great moments talking about food and body as an athlete. i especially liked the discussions here of aging as an athlete as we see people like her and simone biles and many others becoming even better athletes as they age. i think this is especially interesting considering my dad's focus on ageism in healthcare.

it's hard to imagine clicking off 5:05 miles like her, or setting an american record, or anything in that ballpark, but this memoir was so down to earth it almost makes it feel possible.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keira D'Amato is a name that I have heard but I was totally unfamiliar with her story and her resurgence in the sport of running after completely stepping away due to injury. What a powerful story of both a woman and mom reclaiming her love of running and continuing to pivot rather than give up at any point and even when random strangers and doctors kept telling her to stop.

YOU GO GIRL! Cheering for you in everything and everywhere you go!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copies! Keira read the audiobook herself and she infuses all of her humor and emotion into the reading! I was completely infuriated on her behalf at everyone who tried to shoot her down. Her story as a mom/athlete/military wife is completely relatable and I think even if you're none of those things you can find gems of wisdom and inspiration!

This does make me want to go out and sign up to run a race (not a marathon!) so keep that in mind. You may now be completely motivated to go do something you swore you would never do again. ;)

[Janie Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious, feel-good story about motherhood, running, and chasing joy.

Don’t Call It a Comeback by Keira D’Amato is hands-down the best nonfiction book I’ve ever read. This book had me laughing out loud every single chapter—Keira is genuinely hilarious! At the same time, it’s one of the most motivating, uplifting reads I’ve picked up in ages. Honestly, every time I sat down to read, I wanted to lace up my shoes and head out for a run 😂😂.

Keira’s story is incredible: once an All-American runner, she was sidelined by injuries in her 20s and assumed her racing career was over. She got married, had two kids, and eventually found herself overweight, out of shape, and struggling with postpartum depression. To feel better, she started running again—and six years later, at 37, she broke the American women’s marathon record.

This book is about so much more than running. It’s about finding yourself after motherhood, proving it’s never too late for a second act, breaking records while laughing along the way, and most importantly—choosing joy over perfection.

I’d recommend this book to:
✨ Any mom trying to rediscover who they are or what makes them happy outside of family life (something I personally relate to so much).
✨ Runners of any level (or even non-runners—you don’t need to log miles to love this book).
✨ Moms who run—seriously, YOU NEED TO READ THIS!

It’s equal parts funny, heartfelt, and motivating—a true feel-good book that will leave you inspired to chase your own goals.

Release Date : September 9th 2025

Thank you to the author Keira D'amato and St. Martin's Press for the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this book. I really loved the beginning and end. Her stories about her struggles and how she navigated normal life and life outside her sports and integrating motherhood were great. And I appreciated her perspective at the end too in her loss and then forging a new path. But the middle lost me. It seemed as soon as she dove back into running head on she lost herself to the addiction of it? And it was kind of boring to hear - success after success. And some complaining wah wah only a 5:17 mile. I get that elite athletes are different than the rest but what I loved in the beginning is it wasn’t written as an elite athlete… the most inspiring to me was her first 3 min run postpartum above and beyond all the other marathons.

[Katie Seikel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved loved. Audiobook. Kiera is amazing and it was everything I needed to hear as a runner and now mom.

[Kim W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Arc of this book. I’ve been trying to sprinkle some more non-fiction into my reading and this one sounded intriguing.

I used to be an avid runner with a goal to run a marathon one day but bad genetics (knee issues) caused me to hang it up. Now, I lift and cycle but as I’m approaching 50 have been struggling with various setbacks and have felt pretty down about it. This book definitely made me feel like I needed to pull my big girl pants up and keep working. It also made me secretly miss running because long distance was my jam but I digress. Keira definitely went through her share of stuff led but her outlook was inspiring and her little tidbits at the end of the chapters can be applied to any area of life. As a mom of four who works a full time job while trying to keep a sense of self, reading how Keira balanced her passion of running, working as a real estate agent and being a mom made it very relatable.

Reading her book made me feel like I was sitting with a friend, talking about their passion in life. Despite me taking forever to read it (thank you busy life), it was an easy going writing style to read.

My only negative of the book was as the book went on and I read about more of the races, my mind started to wander a bit. If I had continued running, that may not have been the case but because it’s not something I partake in anymore I couldn’t get into some of that. That is totally on me and not the quality of the book. This is an easy to read memoir with self help tidbit thrown in. Solid 3.5 stars.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great memoir! I’m absolute a hobby runner and a slow runner at that so while I’d never even dream of running a sub 10 miles let alone a sub 6 I thoroughly enjoyed her story. I don’t have kids but I thinks it’s a great story of finding your life and personality and balancing that with having children and I think that’s inspirational for a lot of moms out there. Whether you’re a runner or not this will pull you in!

[Claire Cosentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every second of reading this!! I laughed, got chills, and was inspired by Keira sharing her journey. Excited to read again when the book officially comes out in September when I’ll be a new Mom and will use Keira’s words as motivation to get me back to running (or maybe bog snorkeling)!

[Lucy (LucysLumos) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! I don’t think I’ve ever related so strongly to an elite runner! As a runner, I jumped at the chance to hear Keira D’Amato tell her story. I knew very little of her background but WOW did this inspire me.

Not just as a runner, not just as a mom, but as a human who is doing their best to take care of myself.

D’Amato tells her story of quitting running early due to injury, only to begin again for mental and physical health reasons after having two kids. She found a way to reclaim herself, her sport, and kept it fun while breaking records with her speed.

As a mother runner myself, I related so strongly to her story of running for mental health. It is so inspiring and validating to hear that it’s ok to take time to take care of yourself. That your own wellness is important. That chasing dreams can be fun.

You don’t have to be perfect, you can be perfectly good enough.

Highly, highly recommend! She reads the audiobook herself and it’s a true treat to hear the story. Don’t sleep on this one if you’re looking for inspiration. You don’t have to be a runner or a parent to walk away inspired.

[Booksandchinooks (Laurie)]

I enjoyed this motivating memoir! Keira D’Amato ran for American University in the early to mid 2000’s as a distance runner. In her early twenties after encountering injuries and burnout she felt she had lost her motivation for running and stopped. In Keira’s early thirties and retired from running she got married and had two children. During her second post partum recovery she decided to go out and try to run 90 secs without stopping. She found it too difficult! She took this as a challenge and slowly but surely started to increase her runs and realized she had regained her passion for running. Then her running career really started to take off. Keira has achieved some of her biggest goals and is still running in her early forties. She has broken and still holds some amazing distance running records and results. Her running trajectory has been amazing! Keira subscribes to the theory to set small goals and increase them as long as your happiness is paramount in the equation. Her immediate family and extended family have been supportive and pivotal in helping with her running career. Overall this is an inspiring memoir which I really enjoyed.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is myself a hobby jogger, but also follows the professionals in the sport, this was so fun! Keira has a wonderful personality and attitude. She's so authentic and transparent. I relate to her family values and feelings on parenting and marriage that she shared. I love the encouragement and mindset she shares in this book about - not just running, but life and goals in general. How keeping FUN and flexibility in the equation (along with dedication and toughness), is where the magic is. Just what I needed. I'll revisit this every time I need a mental reboot. Perfect book for me.

[Thomas Everest · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Got this for free from some Strava challenge a while ago. Keira has a very impressive story, and her confidence and drive are empowering. I liked how she read the audiobook.

I wasn't a huge fan of some of her attitudes towards things like family, girls vs. boys, etc. I also know she says this isn't a book about running, but I would've liked to hear more about how some people can run a 2:20 marathon and others can't. It's not just a function of effort.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Listened to the audiobook with Keira narrating. Great for runners and non runners, affirming the path in life isnt linear, it's never too late, and you are good enough.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated how this is just fun and funny storytelling and now a trauma-dump.

[Cassie McIltrot · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love corny runner jokes this book is for you :)
Audiobook is the move. She tells you her story herself. Massively inspiring going into my 26 miles for my 26th birthday! Hehe