The Bonny Lane Club: A True Story of Fitness, Friendship, & Faith Forged Through Struggle, Suffering, & Strength

The Bonny Lane Club: A True Story of Fitness, Friendship, & Faith Forged Through Struggle, Suffering, & Strength

🏅Runner-Up for Best Christian Non-Fiction Book of the Year - 2024 PenCraft Awards 🏅 “Penned with grace, power, and insight into the power and nature of both faith and discipline over the body, this compact memoir of recovery and mentorship packs a serious punch. …” - Publishers Weekly Booklife (Editor's Pick) "... an uplifting testimony about rehabilitating the mind, body, and soul through the power of God." - CLBC Review (Book Excellence Award-Winner) “… engaging and authentic … comfortably conversational, deeply inspiring, and a true delight to read. Recommended.” - Reader's Favorite (5-Stars) “Father, I want to be the person You desire me to be. For Your glory. Whatever it takes.” When Russ uttered that prayer before heading off to play football in college, he could never have known all that was waiting for him. After a devastating knee injury landed him in the rehab clinic of Dr. Bob Gorinski, Russ quickly found out there was more to the young doctor than meets the eye. An invitation to Bob’s home gym soon morphed into a backyard group called the Bonny Lane Club - where hurdling picnic tables and pushing cars down the street healed more than injured bodies. The Bonny Lane Club narrates the true story of fitness, friendship, and faith forged through struggle, suffering, and strength. Penned with grace, power, and insight into the power and nature of both faith and discipline over the body, this compact memoir of recovery and mentorship packs a serious punch. At its heart is the inspiring figure of Bob Gorinski, the physical therapist whom Allen meets after an ACL tear upends Allen's college football career. At the time, Allen, a sophomore, was a promising Christian athlete who felt out of step with hard-partying students —he recounts the "the usual awkwardness of reading my Bible while [his roommate] played video games"—and some elements of the college's curriculum. Recognizing a kindred spirit, Gorinski sprung a surprising invitation on Allen: "Why don't you come to the house, and I'll show you some exercises?" At Gorinski's house on Bonny Lane, Allen soon found himself challenged to push himself and grow stronger through simple but innovative workouts, including obstacle courses, jumping and agility exercises, weightlifting, and more, all without what Gorinski would call "fancy gym equipment." This proved fruitful not just for recovery, though Allen faced setbacks and fresh injuries that eventually ended his dreams of rejoining the team. Gorinski also guided Allen and other friends and proteges in workouts of mind and heart, through readings and spirited discussions. Gorinski's faith—captured in conversations and excerpts from Gorinski's writing—proved as nourishing as his PT, teaching Allen that faith's essence "isn't the absence of uncertainty—uncertainty is necessary—but rather just the right amount of confidence to act in spite of it." Allen's briskly told account is inviting and moving, written with an open-heartedness and a commitment to caring for the body that will inspire young people. (Even the roommates who leave dirty underpants in his bed are treated, ultimately, with a touching lack of judgment.) The story's end will stir tears, but Allen demonstrates, through his own mentorship and storytelling, that the wisdom and lessons of those who shape us have power as long as we keep them alive. - Publishers Weekly Booklife (Editor's Pick) In his memoir, The Bonny Lane Club, Russ Allen recounts his transition from high school to college, and his football, injuries, and spiritual growth. A severe knee injury necessitated ACL surgery and physical therapy. Bob Gorinski played a crucial role in Allen's recovery through unconventional training and faith discussions. Bob's basement became a key recovery site, and his support extended to both the physical and spiritual, with events like "Plyo Friday" and local touch football games. Despite additional injuries and rehab, Allen found inspiration in Bob's social media and blog, integrating these insights into his mindset. Allen continued to develop his fitness and faith, supported by Bob's evolving training methods, even as Bob faced terminal cancer. Allen's experiences with Bob deepened his understanding of resilience, divine love, and strength, culminating in a special nod at Allen's wedding in honor of their friendship. "I knew that this new injury couldn't be an accident either. Perhaps God had brought me back here for this." Russ Allen takes a unique, non-linear approach as The Bonny Lane Club starts, allowing readers to see how past events continue to influence his present life and the ongoing impact of these experiences on his identity and worldview. Allen's voice is consistent throughout his retelling and marked by a blend of introspection and humor. His tone effectively mirrors the emotional highs and lows, making what he shares engaging and authentic. This might be Allen's memoir, but it is Bob who comes off as the sta