We present a range of training books available to runners that detail different experiences from the world of sport and running in particular. Although many of them focus, not surprisingly, on the sports field, many runners have also written intimate accounts and sometimes funny stories of their lives.
These memoirs describe how rewarding it is to run. We have selected 10 books that we think are worth adding to your library.
10 books for runners
1. Running Away
“Fleeing” is the story of how a decision can alter the course of a life.
Struck by a divorce and inspired by his father, Powell decided to change his mind and circumstances. He moved to Boulder and started serious running for the first time in his life. During the 26 chapters that follow, Powell grapples with his past, gaining insight and discipline that give him hope for the future.
2. Born to Run
This is a fascinating narrative, in a process that takes its readers from Harvard University science labs to the sun-soaked valleys and frozen peaks of North America, where increasing numbers of good runners lead. their bodies to the limit. Finally, it brings us to a race climax in Mexico’s Copper Canyon, pitting America’s best runners against the tribe.
It’s an incredible McDougall story that not only engages your mind, but also inspires your body when you realize that we were, in fact, born to run .
3. Running Like a Girl
Running like a girl tells the story of going beyond, just like Alexandra does in a part of her life. He not only talks about the obvious things, like weight loss and health, but about the gain in self-confidence and the immeasurable daily pleasure of running alongside his father, a marathon runner , and his brother.
4. The horrible and wonderful reasons why you should run long distances
This is not just a book about running races . It is a book about suffering, gluttony, vanity, happiness, and thunderstorms. Talk about all the terrible and wonderful reasons that wake us up each day to propel our bodies through rain, sun, heaven, and hell.
5. What am I talking about when I talk about running?
While simply training for a New York City marathon would be enough for most people, Haruki Murakami decided to write about it as well. The result is a beautiful memoir about his intertwined obsessions of running and writing, filled with vivid memories and reflections, including the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer.
“What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” is a rich and revealing work, both for lovers of this writer and for the growing population of athletes who find satisfaction in this sport.
6. Eat and Run
In “Eat and Run,” Jurek writes about his life and career as a champion showcasing a plant-based diet that inspires runners at all levels.
This story shows the power of an iron will and sets aside some stereotypes about what athletes must do to achieve optimal performance.
The book is full of stories about the competition, as well as the science and advice of the sport. It will also motivate you to broaden your horizons about eating.
7. My life on the run
In this work, Bart Yasso gives an icon to one of the most popular and recreational sports in the United States. Provides a moving and humorous memoir about the rewards and challenges of leading.
Recounting his adventures in places like Antarctica, Africa, and Chitwan National Park in Nepal, Yasso recommends the best marathons in foreign terrain and tells runners what they need to know to navigate an unfamiliar country.
It also offers a practical guide for beginners, intermediate, and advanced runners, such as 5K, half marathon, and marathon training programs, as well as tips on how to become a runner for life .
8. Running on Empty
This book offers a fascinating insight into the mind of a marathon runner and inspiration for his run across America.
Top endurance athlete, Marshall Ulrich has run over 100 foot races averaging over a hundred kilometers each, finished 12 long-duration expedition adventure races , and climbed all seven mountains, including Mount Everest. However, his run from California to New York is equivalent to running two marathons and a 10K every day for almost two months, proving to be his most difficult challenge.
The memoirs of this author are an incredible read with a universal message for athletes and non-athletes, who face the most difficult challenges. It also talks about how to find deep satisfaction in something greater than achievement.
9. Mother run
In this play, runners Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea share not only their own stories of personal success on the asphalt, but also the inspiring stories of many community members.
While the common theme is underway, the variations that occur across the kilometers are as infinite as the distances themselves. Losing weight, gaining confidence, finding yourself, connecting with friends, setting goals, finding a way to train efficiently, and reconnecting with your memories are all part of this work.
10. Male marathon runner (Marathon Man)
A long-distance runner details his historic victory in the 1975 Boston Marathon that started this race’s heyday.
Within a span of two hours and nine minutes, Bill Rodgers went from obscurity to legend. By doing so, he instantly became the champion of the people.
Having won the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon four times each, he remains the only marathon runner to have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice.
37 years later, Bill Rodgers still possesses the same warm, endearing, and whimsical spirit that made him one of America’s most beloved athletes. In this work this historical career and the events that led him there are detailed for the first time.
References
- Casanova, A. 10 Books for Runners’ Reading Lists. For Active. [Revised December 2015].
