Sherman is unlike other animals from "summary" of Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall
Sherman isn't like other animals. He's not a dog who'll fetch a stick or a horse who'll canter along a trail. He's a donkey, which means he's got his own way of doing things. Running simply isn't in his vocabulary. And why would it be? Donkeys weren't born to run; they were born to carry. That's their job, their purpose, their reason for being. But then along comes Christopher McDougall, a man on a mission to help Sherman rediscover himself. McDougall isn't your typical donkey owner. He's not content to let Sherman live out his days in a pasture, munching on grass and braying at passing cars. No, McDougall has bigger plans for Sherman. He wants to turn him into a runner, a competitor, a champion.
It's an audacious goal, to be sure. After all, donkeys and running don't exactly go hand in hand. But McDougall is undeterred. He sees something in Sherman that others don't. He sees potential, untapped and unexplored. He sees a donkey who's capable of more than anyone ever imagined. And so he sets out to prove it, one hoofbeat at a time.
The journey is long and arduous, filled with setbacks and challenges. Sherman isn't a natural runner; he's clumsy and awkward, unsure of himself and his abilities. But McDougall doesn't give up on him. He's patient and persistent, pushing Sherman to be the best he can be. And slowly, almost imperceptibly, Sherman starts to change.
He grows stronger and faster, more confident and sure-footed. He learns to trust himself and his instincts, to push through the pain and the doubt. And as he does, something remarkable happens. Sherman begins to believe in himself, in his own potential and power. He starts to see himself not as a donkey, but as a runner, a competitor, a champion.
And in the end, that's what sets Sherman apart from other animals. It's not just his physical abilities or his training regimen. It's his spirit, his heart, his sheer determination to be the best he can be. Sherman may be unlike other animals, but in the end, that's what makes him truly extraordinary.
