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Running the Course

Embracing Life with Epilepsy, Brain Surgery, and a Positive Mindset

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Running the Course

By: Simon Breeds
Narrated by: deedeeash
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He was told he might never run again. He ran marathons instead.

At age 7, Simon Breeds was diagnosed with epilepsy—a condition that would shape his life through absence seizures, terrifying tonic-clonic episodes, and the ever-present risk of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). Told by teachers he couldn't work with children, dismissed by doctors who only prescribed more pills, and pushed to the brink of despair—Simon even walked toward a railway line ready to end it all… until his daughter's phone call changed everything.

Running the Course is his raw, honest, and deeply human memoir of survival, resilience, and relentless hope. You'll follow his journey from:

  • Collapsing mid-football match in front of teammates
  • Undergoing invasive brain surgery with nine probes implanted in his skull
  • Battling post-surgical depression and stigma in silence
  • To crossing finish lines in the London, Paris, Brighton, and Beachy Head Marathons—often while managing seizures

But this isn't just a story about illness. It's about defying limits: fundraising nearly £10,000 for epilepsy charities, building a career in adult social care, and proving that a "broken" brain can still lead an extraordinary life.

With unflinching vulnerability and British grit, Simon shows how structure, purpose, community, and movement became his true medicine—more powerful than any prescription.

Perfect for fans of When Breath Becomes Air, The Bright Hour, and Born a Crime, this memoir offers hard-won wisdom for anyone facing invisible illness, mental health struggles, or the simple question: Can I still live fully?

If you believe healing isn't just medical—it's emotional, physical, and defiantly hopeful—this book will move you to keep running your own course.

Click "Buy Now" and discover how one man turned pain into purpose, one mile at a time.

©2026 Simon Breeds (P)2026 Simon Breeds
Health Mental Health Resilience Human Brain
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