Carmel Resident Published Memoir The Eleventh Kilometer

Local runner J.R. Sandadi explores personal grief and family history in a newly released book.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Running

Carmel Resident Published Memoir The Eleventh Kilometer

Live Poll

Do you feel that prioritizing family over career advancement leads to a more fulfilling life?

Carmel resident J.R. Sandadi has published a memoir titled The Eleventh Kilometer. The book explores themes of immigration, grief, and community service through the lens of his own life and his father's experiences.

Why it matters

The memoir serves as a vehicle for Sandadi to process significant personal loss, including the death of his parents and the miscarriage of his son. By documenting his journey, he aims to explore the meaning of life through episodic storytelling.

Sandadi completed all 6 World Marathon Majors after taking up the sport in 2014. The book title references a 6.8-mile distance, or 11 kilometers, which his father walked to school.

The players

J.R. Sandadi

He is a Carmel resident and runner who has completed all six World Marathon Majors.

The details

Sandadi spent 22 years in a corporate travel career before leaving in 2017 to focus on his life outside the office. The narrative bridges his own athletic accomplishments with the history of his father, who left his job at age 45.

Sandadi attended Louisiana Tech University for his master's degree in 1991.
His son was miscarried in 2001.
He realized he had missed his children's lives in the early 2010s.
He began his running career in 2014.
He will discuss his memoir at the Carmel Clay Public Library on October 17, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This memoir highlights the intersection of personal endurance and marathon culture, reflecting a broader trend where participants in the World Marathon Majors use their training milestones as backdrops for personal growth narratives. It positions Sandadi within the niche of amateur athletes who find deeper meaning through the global competitive circuit.

Readers interested in the logistics of marathon training may find parallels in Sandadi's transition from corporate professional to a finisher of all six World Marathon Majors. The author will share insights from this journey during his public appearance at the local library.

The takeaway

Writing can serve as a powerful tool for processing grief, especially when connected to physical challenges like marathons. Aspiring authors may find inspiration in Sandadi's pivot from a decades-long corporate career to creative storytelling.