Forever at the Finish Line

Forever at the Finish Line tells the remarkable and inspiring story of Daniel Mitrovich, a runner from San Diego who had a goal of putting a life-size statue of New York Marathon founder Fred Lebow in Central Park. New York’s parks commissioner Henry Stern said “It will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than to put a statue in Central Park.” It would not be easy for someone who lacked financial backing and who wasn’t even a New Yorker to make this happen. But with the faith and blessing of Fred Lebow, the support of his family, and his own personal determination, he knew it would happen. His journey involved crossing the continent many times, securing the support of some of the most famous runners of our time, including Joan Benoit Samuelson, Grete Waitz, Alberto Salazar, Bill Rodgers, and Carl Lewis. He would ultimately gain the endorsements of some of the most powerful political people of our time: presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and William Jefferson Clinton, Governor Andrew Cuomo, US senators Alan K. Simpson and Al D’Amato, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and thirteen members of Congress. Daniel Mitrovich’s personal story will show you that if you pursue a dream with the right intent you will be “Forever at the Finish Line.”

“Fred Lebow was an amazing man, the founding father of the New York City Marathon. It took another amazing man, Dan Mitrovich, to have Fred's statue created and then placed in Central Park. This is the compelling story of these two visionaries.”&&&8212;George A. Hirsch, chairman of the New York Road Runners Club and former worldwide publisher of Runner’s World
"After spending 18 years in the U.S. Senate trying to solve many problems for this fine country of ours, I thought I knew "the ropes" - but after watching my friend Dan Mitrovich try to get a statue in New York's Central Park, my efforts were "kid stuff!" After reading this wonderful book about Dan's courage and persistence, you'll know one thing for sure: there is a statue of Fred Lebow in Central Park! Here you will read what it takes to overcome huge obstacles in a quest to accomplish something of great good." -Alan K. Simpson, United States Senator, Wyoming (retired)
"It is an inspiring story of a man whose remarkable level of determination and ingenuity enabled him to complete a most ambitious undertaking... If you want to be encouraged about your fellow man, this is a good book to read." -Ronald F. Phillips, Senior Vice Chancellor & School of Law Dean Emeritus, Pepperdine University
"A perfect ending to a life well run, and a must-read for any fan of our sport--not just running, but any sport." -Tracy Sundlun, Senior VP of Global Events for the Competitor Group and Co-Founder of the Rock'n'Roll Marathon Series