Joey McNeal is a Philly kid through and through. With a wild mop of curly hair and an uncommon thirst for competition, Mac is known to keep his car trunk full of sports equipment, ready for any pickup game. But McNeal's true passion is running. Joey Mac is the fastest guy in town, but a slate of injuries stopped him short of greatness at what would have been the peak of his career. Now, about to turn thirty, McNeal starts to wonder What if? What if he put everything he had into training? What if he had a great coach? What if he could run faster than he ever had before? What if he could silence a lingering unfulfilled dream? But McNeal has two jobs, little time or money, and only the support of his closest friends. Even they don't know that Mac secretly dreams of competing on the highest athletic stage: the Olympics. Phil Reilly's debut faithfully depicts a runner's life in Philadelphia--from Kelly Drive to Pennypack Park to the icy winter streets of the Northeast--as McNeal gives his running career one more shot. This searing pursuit reveals the sacrifices that passions require and the limits that are made to be broken.


Phil Reilly is a life-long runner and writer. A Philadelphia native, Reilly competed for La Salle University and continues to compete today. A high school coach since 2000, Reilly has coached numerous all-state and All-American athletes. Chasing Ghosts is Reilly’s debut novel. He is currently working on several other projects for the near future.