I can't remember the name of this one book I read in high

File: Halp[1].jpg (72KB, 347x364px) Image search: [Google]

72KB, 347x364px

I can't remember the name of this one book I read in high school, and I alsoforgot most of the plot. I remember it being a good book, I just didn't have the appreciation for literature back in those days and now I'd like to re-read it again. I'll try to summarize the plot from what I remember:

It's a story about teen/young adult who doesn't know what to do with his life/down on his luck. For some reason or another events lead up to him doing 4(?) unselfish actions to 4 different people. I remember one of the people he helped was a woman who was a dedicated runner, but was never able to come in first place. A new contest is coming up so he gives her a shoe box that has no shoes symbolizing that she should run in the contest barefoot. She comes in second place.
Also I think that these events are tracked via poker cards (diamond,hearts etc.)