Amazon Welcome to My Books virtualbookworm.com Category:  Sports/Recreation Publisher: VirtualBookworm.com ISBN-10:  9781621376330 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 175 Copyright: Dec. 2014 Price: $9.99 (eBook) Islay, a small island known for its Gaelic-speaking Ileachs and its eight distilleries, serves as the setting for this tale of golf, a marathon (regarded as UK’s most scenic), and Scotch whisky. The story begins with seven people enjoying a single malt tasting. Their challenge is to solve the puzzle, “quid est veritas.” One of the group, Caballo Blanco, having adopted that nickname during a hailstorm on Machrie links, has an idea, a strange one. Three years later, the seven meet again to compete in the Queen of the Hebrides Open and the inaugural Single Malt Marathon. Several run their first marathon. Others can’t run. Some play golf. A few drink whisky. Lives are changed. Secrets are answered. It’s Scotland! Islay, a small Gaelic-speaking community in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, serves as the setting for this tale of golf and running. The island, known for its wind and whisky, is treasured by single malt connoisseurs around the world. The story begins with seven people enjoying a single malt tasting in one of Islay’s distilleries. Their challenge is to solve the puzzle, “quid est veritas.” One of the group, Caballo Blanco, having adopted that nickname during a hailstorm on Machrie links, has an idea that might unearth answers: to stage a golf tournament and marathon on the island. Caballo becomes director of this challenge and meets several seasoned islanders who narrate local history, opening his eyes to the real story behind Islay. He struggles at first but is determined to stage the competitions and highlight this remote, charming island and its incredibly gracious people, the Ileachs. Three years later, the seven meet again on Islay to compete in the Queen of the Hebrides Open and the Single Malt Marathon, events that raise funds for the local high school. Several run their first marathon. Others can’t run. Some play golf. A few drink the whisky. Lives changed. During their adventures in golf – on Scotland’s blindest of the blind, marathon running, and single malt drinking, the seven hear stories of Iron Age cultures, stone circles, standing stones, Celtic crosses, ruined castles, and mansions of medieval lairds. The marathon, praised by runners as Scotland’s most scenic, takes a point-to-point route around Loch Indaal, the same sea inlet that Viking-Scot warriors used when, as Lords of the Isles, they controlled the sea lanes and ruled the western shores of Scotland. A visit to Islay is more than simply a chance to run a marathon or play in a golf tournament or drink their famous spirits. In the end, Caballo and friends find answers and solve the puzzle, thanks to a 95-year-old, a weathered Ileach whose roots trace back four centuries to the Clan MacDonald. Yes, Islay revealed its secrets. The book contains a map and numerous photos of the island, the golf, and the marathon. Half of book proceeds go to the Islay high school student mission trip. To donate, visit www.lordsoftheisles.com. “So my answer to the question of the Lords of the Isles Challenge is simply: why not. Why not step outside the box of normality and do something absolutely out of your comfort zone?” - From the foreword by Alex Miceli, Senior writer, GolfWeek, and contributor, The Golf Channel. “It was also inspiring to read how Dr. Kroeger skillfully weaved the legend of Caballo Blanco into his pages and how the original Caballo set an example for all by helping people who never asked for help. The new Caballo has most certainly followed in his footsteps by bringing the marathon and a golf event to Islay. The legend continues!” - From the preface by Gary Allen, Founder and director of Maine’s MDI marathon and elite marathon runner. “This book explains exactly what a Cincinnati Kid finds so appealing about a remote Hebridean island, something of a second home, and how the plot was hatched for his dream of a long distance race, preceded by 18 holes of golf.” From the Afterword by Donald Steel, International golf course architect and author. Excerpt Islay, a small Gaelic-speaking community in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, serves as the setting for this tale of golf and running. The island, known for its wind and whisky, is treasured by single malt connoisseurs around the world. The story begins with seven people enjoying a single malt tasting in one of Islay’s distilleries. Their challenge is to solve the puzzle, “quid est veritas.” One of the group, Caballo Blanco, having adopted that nickname during a hailstorm on Machrie links, has an idea that might unearth answers: to stage a golf tournament and marathon on the island. Caballo becomes director of this challenge and meets several seasoned islanders who narrate local history, opening his eyes to the real story behind Islay. He struggles at first but is determined to stage the competitions and highlight this remote, charming island and its incredibly gracious people, the Ileachs. Three years later, the seven meet again on Islay to compete in the Queen of the Hebrides Open and the Single Malt Marathon, events that raise funds for the local high school. Several run their first marathon. Others can’t run. Some play golf. A few drink the whisky. Lives changed. During their adventures in golf – on Scotland’s blindest of the blind, marathon running, and single malt drinking, the seven hear stories of Iron Age cultures, stone circles, standing stones, Celtic crosses, ruined castles, and mansions of medieval lairds. The marathon, praised by runners as Scotland’s most scenic, takes a point-to-point route around Loch Indaal, the same sea inlet that Viking-Scot warriors used when, as Lords of the Isles, they controlled the sea lanes and ruled the western shores of Scotland. A visit to Islay is more than simply a chance to run a marathon or play in a golf tournament or drink their famous spirits. In the end, Caballo and friends find answers and solve the puzzle, thanks to a 95-year-old, a weathered Ileach whose roots trace back four centuries to the Clan MacDonald. Yes, Islay revealed its secrets. The book contains a map and numerous photos of the island, the golf, and the marathon. Half of book proceeds go to the Islay high school student mission trip. To donate, visit www.lordsoftheisles.com. “So my answer to the question of the Lords of the Isles Challenge is simply: why not. Why not step outside the box of normality and do something absolutely out of your comfort zone?” - From the foreword by Alex Miceli, Senior writer, GolfWeek, and contributor, The Golf Channel. “It was also inspiring to read how Dr. Kroeger skillfully weaved the legend of Caballo Blanco into his pages and how the original Caballo set an example for all by helping people who never asked for help. The new Caballo has most certainly followed in his footsteps by bringing the marathon and a golf event to Islay. The legend continues!” - From the preface by Gary Allen, Founder and director of Maine’s MDI marathon and elite marathon runner. “This book explains exactly what a Cincinnati Kid finds so appealing about a remote Hebridean island, something of a second home, and how the plot was hatched for his dream of a long distance race, preceded by 18 holes of golf.” From the Afterword by Donald Steel, International golf course architect and author.

This book is a treasure
“Though reading a book is always a blind shot, the usual pleasant uncertainty is rewarded this time. The book starts as a travelogue; it ends as a quest for truth, and, to my surprise, does give a convincing answer. The spirit of Islay shines throughout the pages. It is an inspiration.
It is also a master class in malt whisky, which was the reason I wanted to read it. It tells a beautiful tale. The best is that it goes beyond the technicalities and the stories, and convinces you of why you should drink malt whisky. This gives you more than most drinks books.
The author is also convincing about why you should run the marathon, and play golf. Easier read than done; but do start this book - you will not stop; it’s a happy experience. And the proceeds go to charity.”
Thank you, Dr. Kroeger.
Edouard Cointreau, President, The Gourmand Awards, Madrid, Spain


From Golfweek magazine
“So my answer to the question of the Lords of the Isles Challenge is simply: why not. Why not step outside the box of normality and do something absolutely out of your comfort zone?” - From the foreword by Alex Miceli, Senior writer, GolfWeek, and contributor, The Golf Channel.

Marathoner comment
“It was also inspiring to read how Dr. Kroeger skillfully weaved the legend of Caballo Blanco into his pages and how the original Caballo set an example for all by helping people who never asked for help. The new Caballo has most certainly followed in his footsteps by bringing the marathon and a golf event to Islay. The legend continues!” - From the preface by Gary Allen, Founder and director of Maine’s MDI marathon and elite marathon runner.