Between the Lines - 6 Running Books that Motivate & Inspire
I have been a runner all of my life; I guess that makes me a lifelong runner and when put that way, it sounds pretty good. But what I am not anymore and want to be again, is a daily runner. So what stops me from getting out on the road? It occurred to me that what I need is some inspiration, some real motivation, to get out of the house and back onto the trails that lie right outside my door. I don’t know exactly why I let go of running. I have my suspicions or maybe they are poor excuses. I moved away from my women’s running group. All of the gardeners were running partners at one time or another, but now that four of my daughters live in different cities, I miss our regular runs. One gardener is still at home, but she is much faster and stronger than me and already runs 50 miles a week with her high school team. And then there is age, and that is a big one, except I could find countless age group runners who would squash that theory. So let’s be honest, these are all excuses. What I need is a new attitude. I am banking on this list of books I have compiled to do just that. I hope it does the the trick for me, and maybe for you too, should you find yourself in a similar headspace.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by Christopher McDougall. Find it here. This book started with a seemingly simple question. McDougall, a runner plagued by nagging recurrent injuries, wanted to know why his foot hurt. Unsatisfied with the answers he was getting from the medical community, he set off to the find the answer from a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners, the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon. The wild story that unfolds is immensely entertaining. As a side note, this book sparked the barefoot running industry and minimalist shoe movement. Think Nike Free.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami. Find it here. Murakami, a prolific writer, is also an avid runner. While training for the New York City Marathon, Murakami decided to keep a journal of his progress. The result is this lovely memoir that looks at writing and running and the way the two disciplines beautifully intertwine.
Shut Up and Run, by Robin Arzon. Find it here. You may know Robin Arzon as the face of the wildly popular cycling program, Peloton. However, she was a runner first. A type 1 diabetic, she is all about overcoming, no excuses accepted. She is fierce and flamboyant. This book probably plays to the new runner better than the veteran, but honestly I find a lot of her slogans fun and empowering: “Grind now, Shine later” & “Weak is not in the Itinerary.” This Queen is all about the swagger.
Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line - and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity, by Sarah Bowen Shea & Dimity McDowell. Find it here. This book offers training guides for race distances from the 5K to the marathon. It is a follow-up to their popular first book, Run Like a Mother. The women have built-up quite a fan base. Learn more at https://anothermotherrunner.com/
Older, Faster, Stronger: What Women Runners Can Teach Us All About Living Younger, Longer, by Margaret Webb. Find it here. This title was particularly interesting to me as I approach my 60th birthday. I am hoping for some real encouragement in these pages. The author set out on her own journey to discover running greatness after age 50 (insert age 60 ) and to investigate what the women's running boom can teach athletes about becoming fitter, stronger, and faster as they age.
How Bad Do You Want It?: Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle, by Matt Fitzgerald. Find it here. So you’ve got your body in peak shape but still your performances don’t match-up. This book shines a light on the psychobiological model of endurance performance. The most important question in endurance sports may well be “ how bad do you want it?”. Through stories of great athletic achievement, we see that it's often not physiology but psychology that separates the best from the rest. The lessons shared here may well help you uncover your full potential in the battle between mind and muscle.
Mentally, running affords me so much; it helps me organize my thoughts, put worries in perspective, solves problems, and allows me to make peace with myself. Physically, it strengthens the heart, lowers cholesterol, builds stronger bones and tones muscles. What’s not to like? All this reading and writing about running books makes me feel I am already back in the fold. I will keep you posted. Until then…
Happy Reading and Happy Running!
Kathryn