Peter helps Joe get his children's book (about a squirrel who doesn't let being handicapped overcome him) published, but Peter ends up being the face of the book.
Tropes:
- Author Avatar: The handicapped squirrel in Joe's book is obviously based on himself.
- Body Horror: When Brian loses too much weight, the sight horrifies Stewie. It gets worse when he enters the marathon, snaps his leg almost immediately, and is Trampled Underfoot by the other contestants.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Joe says that his book "The Hopeful Squirrel" (a book about a handicapped squirrel) is meaningful to him, Peter ask Joe if he was once a squirrel.
- Fitness Nut: Brian becomes this after getting hooked on jogging. He exercises non-stop and becomes so obsessed with keeping fit that he looks down on Stewie for eating bread.
- Obsessive Hobby Episode: The B-plot of this episode involves Brian dating a woman who's really into running, and subsequently getting obsessed with running and working out.
- Stealing the Credit: When Peter becomes the new face of Joe's book, he takes full responsibility for the book's creation, causing Joe to quit.
- Twisted Ankle: A brutal example; Brian's ankle doesn't just twist, it snaps.
