This week, I picked up James by Everett Percival, the National Book Award Winner and a New York Times bestselling author. It’s a reimagining of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who travels the Mississippi River with Huck. What makes James so remarkable is how it shifts the perspective. In Twain’s original, Jim is portrayed as simple and gullible, a character often laughed at by both children and adults. He speaks in plain, broken dialect and is seen as less capable.

But James turns this portrayal on its head. Through Jim’s eyes, we see a complex, intelligent man navigating a system designed to dehumanize him. His speech and demeanor around white people are intentional, crafted to fit their expectations while masking his true self. One powerful scene shows Jim teaching his children to speak incorrectly in front of white people to avoid suspicion or punishment. Among themselves, however, Jim and others speak naturally, sharing their real thoughts and identities. James is a powerful book covering a deep and sensitive topic, but also carries themes that relate beyond – without trivializing Jim’s story.

Take running for example: On race day, everyone lines up at the same starting line, running the same course. But their journeys to that moment couldn’t be more different. The person you’re racing against might be battling something far greater than just the clock—recovering from an injury, overcoming loss, or finding strength in a struggle you can’t see. Running teaches us to respect these different perspectives, to understand that the surface never tells the whole story.

Jim’s story reminds us not to take things at face value, and the same is true in running. Everyone’s race is unique, shaped by their own challenges, victories, and motivations.

Best wishes as you chase your running goals!