The Bipolar Runner By Jacqui Louise Swallow 11 October 2024, Pepper Press RRP: $29.99
Jacqui Louise Swallow has spent her life confronting the challenges of living with bipolar disorder.
From overwhelming anxiety to paralysing depression to tumultuous manic episodes, Jacqui’s journey has been anything but easy.
Yet the one thing that has consistently helped her find focus and hope has been running.
What began as a few tentative steps—often through tears and exhaustion—has become a potent tool for managing her mental health and living her best life.
In 2023, Jacqui achieved something extraordinary by completing the Melbourne Marathon, which, at her pace, demanded six hours of continuous running. Completing the race also proved to Jacqui that she could overcome the barriers of mental illness and achieve something exceptional.
“For me, running is more than just physical activity—it’s a lifeline,” says Jacqui. “It has helped me more than medication, practising gratitude, or mindfulness. It is where I find my strength, inner peace, and resilience.”
The Bipolar Runner recounts Jacqui’s journey from embarking on her quest to completing the race and beyond through her contemporary diary notes. It is raw, honest, and ultimately uplifting.
It is also a fly-on-the-wall account of understanding the impact of bipolar disorder on those who have it or those who love and care for someone who has it.
