Meet the Author

President & CEO of United Way of Southwest Oklahoma, former Chairman of the Comanche Nation and Retired Lt. Col. Mark Woommavovah has run across Indian Country and all over the world: from the beaches of Hawaii to Minnesota’s frozen streets, from Korea and Malaysia to Iraq’s green zone (in full Kevlar and flak vest).

But it all started in the southern plains of Oklahoma, delivering messages for his Comanche grandma Vida Woommavovah.

Mark was raised by his grandparents Nat & Vida, surrounded by “aunties” and other members of the tribe. Entertainment options were slim for an impatient grade-schooler in Cache, Okla., so he regularly joined his aunties on walks. He’d sprint a block ahead, wait for them to catch up, and run the pattern again.

Grandma Vida put those eager legs to work, sending him first across the pasture with news for Great Grandpa Pete Coffey, then from Indian house to Indian house, gathering small-town gossip and sharing stories.

Mark was a diverse athlete, playing football, baseball and basketball at Cache High School. But track took his heart and passion -- which led him down a path to success.

He nabbed a scholarship to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. After earning an associate’s degree there, he joined the Army and soon started at OU on a ROTC scholarship. He left with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a commission as a military police officer.

He’d found his  career, spending 31 years in the Army, one of only 12 Comanche Indians to earn the rank of lieutenant colonel. But those Native American roots ran deep. He returned to Cache for holidays -- and pow-wows, Indian services at Pete Coffey Church and Native food. He brought those traditions to him, too, as he was often in charge of observances for National American Indian Heritage Month at his bases. His deep well of friends, family and connections includes national talents, and they brought their songs, dances and rituals to perform wherever Mark was stationed.

The seeds for The Little Indian Runner were planted at a bookstore in Oahu, Hawaii. Mark overheard the laughter and excitement during story time in the children’s section, and he knew that was the right format for HIS story. He’d been thinking about writing since dreaming of his grandma, who’d often read to him. He knew he wanted to share his life -- and his passion for running -- with the world.

So he started taking 3x5 index cards on his runs, jotting words and phrases along the way. He’d return home and transcribe all the ideas into his journal. About a year -- and 500 miles -- later, he had the pieces for his book.