Running books

[GoogleMe]

Dexy5 mentioned books as a cheaper option for running related gifts, so I thought I'd start a thread and look forward to hearing others' suggestions.

I am currently looking forward to reading Jen Scotney's Running Through the Dark, The Rise and Fall of an Ultrarunner published by Vertebrate Press. (I have a tenuous personal connection)

I love Richard Askwith's writing and can recommend: Today We Die a Little!: The Inimitable Emil Zátopek, the Greatest Olympic Runner of All Time [great for those of us of a certain age who remember him, but fascinating for all kinds of reasons], and a more personal Running Free

Boff Whalley's Run Wild

And a shout out to Sara Paretsky's VI Warshawski crime novels. Not read one for years but something about her detective's regular 3 mile runs sowed that 5K seed for me...

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. He's run a lot of marathons but it's a very thoughtful and non athletic book. As you might guess from the title it's not exclusively about running but I find it completely compelling.

[GoogleMe Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

So glad you mentioned that one - I knew I'd missed something I wanted to recommend! I like What I Talk About... much more than I liked his fiction!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

I think I agree with you, though I may have only read Norwegian Wood. His running writing is superb.

[GoogleMe Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

His fiction is a bit like the tough run that you think may have done you good but which you didn't enjoy.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

I really liked this one. Plus I love his other writing too. Great recommendation!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

.One of my favourites..Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. Christopher McDougall.

Failure is an Option... Matt Whyman..

Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the secrets of the fastest people on earth. Adharanand Finn

and one for my Winterval gift list,

Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind – Sakyong Mipham

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Totally agree on Born to Run!

[Collops]

Jumping on here to say that Sue Grafton crime fiction is what got me considering going out to run. Main character Kinsey Milhone is a frequent 3 mile runner - and they are enjoyable books too, set in 1980s California. Seriously, I credit those books with making running sound appealing for the first time in my life.

From there, via C25K several times over, to here - I love running, go out 4 times a week, have taken part in 60 or so parkruns, run 10k about once a week etc. All very slowly and all very enjoyable (after the run if not always during!)

Here's to inspiring books!

Allison

[GoogleMe Graduate10 in reply to Collops]

It is entirely possible that I was really thinking of Kinsey (although VI definitely runs too)

[Collops in reply to GoogleMe]

Never read Sara Paretsky, will be getting hold of her books!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

I really like “Don’t stop me now” by Vassos Alexander. Lots of great stories about how people got started with running and why they love it. It’s easy reading and very feel good.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Yes I’ve got a couple of his books. It amazes me how someone so disorganised can achieve so much. I think his wife must take a lot of credit. 😂

I also have Running Up That Hill by him.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

As a fellow disorganised runner, it gives me hope!!!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

🤣

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I want to say Run Like a Girl by Danielle Brown, but I can’t see it in the bookcase. Must have leant it to someone. 🤫

Or it could be Running like A Girl - Alexandra Heminsley? Yes, but still missing.