Zak Parker
Running? You are talking about walking briskly fast? I know how to do that! Do you really? You’ll see walking might be something bipedal organism do by instinct, but science has show repeatedly that we humans SUCK at movement, this includes walking and running.
Since it takes a lot to learn how to properly swim, would you find it hard to believe that running is also a martial art that requires to develop proper form? Never thought about that?
Some people did and here are the books they wrote to show you the techniques of running.
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#1 Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor
Book recommendation by Meghan Stevenson from Your Best Run
Professional runner Deena Kastor offers an intimate view to her ascendant career starting from middle school to the Olympics. Along the way, Kastor offers lessons and advice that any runner can apply to their training and life.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#2 What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Book recommendation by Thomas Watson from Marathon Handbook
In case you haven’t heard of him, Murakami is one of my favourite authors – he writes weird, otherworldly books that are at the same time accessible and have that hard-to-define escapism quality. He’s also a runner, and in this – one of his few non-fiction books – he opens up simply and philosophically on all aspects of his running.
The book very loosely follows his preparation for the 2005 New York Marathon, which leads to him reminiscing about running in different parts of the world – Hawaii, Boston, Tokyo. His humble way of chatting about his approach to marathons – its rare for him to take longer than 3hrs 45mins in a marathon – is engaging and leaves you feeling like you’ve had a great conversation with a fellow runner.
I was chatting to a friend recently who doesn’t run, but she read WITAWITAR after checking out some of his other works, and found it totally engrossing. As well a reflection on a lifetime of running, the book is a glimpse into Murakami’s own life, one that is usually hidden behind his obscure stories.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#3 Eat & Run by Scott Jurek
Book recommendation by Thomas Watson from Marathon Handbook
Here’s a book by a real-life ultra-running hero.
In this, his memoir, Scott Jurek tells the story of how he was an unlikely ultra-runner – growing up in snowy Minnesota, his real passion was for Nordic skiing. However during his college years he started running long distance events, at first just to have a go, but before long he found himself finishing on the podium.
Since then he has conquered the world of ultra-running, setting new course records at the Badwater Ultramaration (160 miles across the hottest place in the USA), winning the Western States seven consecutive times and taking part in a little ultra involving a lost tribe somewhere in the Copper Canyons…
Amongst the tales from the trail is Jurek’s own personal story of switching to a plant-based diet in 1997 after seeing his immediate family’s serious health problems, which he now cites as key to his athletic performance and recovery ability.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#4 Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard
Book recommendation by Thomas Watson from Marathon Handbook
An incredible true story of a long distance runner accidentally befriending a stray dog during a week-long ultramarathon in the Gobi desert. This book has it all.
During the race itself, the runners faced extreme weather and sandstorms and a tough battle for the podium – Dion ended up sacrificing his chances of the no.1 spot to help out fellow competitor Tommy Chen, who was in a bad way on the long day.
But Dion’s life changed during that race for another reason. On the 2nd day, a little dog began running next to him, and ended up following him through most of the race. This book is Dion’s story about the race and meeting Gobi, and his subsequent decision to adopt the dog and the whirlwind of media attention, espionage and surprises that came with it. In the end, Dion moved to China for 4 months to stay with Gobi while she was undergoing the quarantine process. His subsequent re-telling of the story, ‘Finding Gobi’, has become a media hit and its appeal has stretched far beyond distance runners and dog lovers.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#5 Once A Runner by John L. Parker Jr.
Book recommendation by Caleb Backe from Maple Holistics
This book tells the story of a runner’s dream during a difficult time – the Vietnam War. It follows the story of a competitive runner in college who has the dream of being able to run a 4-minute mile. He is only less than a second away from achieving his goal when the turmoil of the War begins. It’s a real page turner and will make you want to run a 4-minute mile.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
#6 Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink by Nita Sweeney
Book recommendation by Nita Sweeney from BumGlue
This “couch to marathon” memoir details how a chronically depressed, over-weight 49-year old used running (beginning 60 seconds at a time) to transform her life and manage the mental illness that threatened to kill her.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)
Search for the audiobook here (Audible)
