Ifmiddleschoolwerearace,JosephFriedmanwouldn'tevenbeinlastplace—he'dbeonthesidelines.Withanoveractivemindandphobiasofeverythingfromhard-boiledeggstogargoyles,hestrugglestounderstandhisclasses,letalonehisfellowclassmates.SohespendsmostofhistimeavoidingschoolbullyCharlieKastnerandhidingoutintheResourceRoom,asafeplaceformisfitkidslikehim.Butthen,onthefirstdayofseventhgrade,twoimportantthingshappen.First,hisResourceRoomteacherencourages(i.e.,practicallyforces)himtojointheschooltrackteam,andsecond,hemeetsHeather,acrazy-fastrunnerwhoisn'tgoingtobepushedaroundbyCharlieKastneroranybodyelse.Withanewfriendandanewteam,Josephfindshimselfoffthesidelinesandintherace(quiteliterally)forthefirsttime.Isheagoodrunner?Well,no,he'sterrible.Butthefunnythingaboutrunningis,onceyou'reintherace,anythingcanhappen.