Louie created many of his own problems as a young kid, once he found his love for running, Louie found his identity. Ever since Louie was a young boy he would, drink, smoke, steal, and fight, he was a “one-boy insurgency,” (Hillenbrand 6). Growing up Louie got involved in bad things, he did not have any self-respect or respect for others. “You could beat him to death,” said Sylvia, “and he wouldn’t say ‘ouch’ or cry.” He just put his hands in front of his face and took it,”(Hillenbrand 9). After the problems Louie has caused for himself and the heartache for his family, he decides to get away. His experience was shameful, resulting in a return home and surrender to his brother Pete, agreeing to start a regimen of running. Throughout the training, Louie became a new person. “He didn’t run from something or to something, not for anyone or …show more content…
Without finding the passion for running, Louie would never have discovered his true abilities and his true self, and never would have been able to overcome the torture in the POW camps. Louie’s physical training with running lead him to have strong resilience against the Japanese. Being able to do this allowed Louie to come home to his friends and family and embrace his faith, dedicating the rest of his life to helping troubled youth. In order to get through the hardships of life, a person must find themselves to overcome any obstacle they