Running Shorts: Reading list
This morning I just went for a solo 9 easy miles run. During those runs, I normally listen to music or podcasts or audiobooks to keep me entertained during the many hours I might be out there. If running on a treadmill, normally the go-to is a TV show or movie(s), depending on how long I need to run.
When I listen to audiobooks, I tend to listen to Business, Development, Leadership, and Personal Development books; occasionally, I pick a Running related book to follow me during the runs. Here is a list of the ones that I have listened to thru the years. Hopefully, you can find a running gem or two of possible books to listen to and my take on them, including the most recent one from today’s run, Smile or you are doing it wrong – Andy Glaze
I follow a ❶–❺ rating. Where 1 is a book that I most likely was unable to finish and was not up to my taste. 3 & 4 books that I follow multiple golden nuggets that I could use and finally a rating of 5 for books filled with plenty of useful information that I might have read/listened to multiple times.
❶–❺ rating | Title | Author
❺– Hal Koerner’s field guide to Ultrarunning – Hal Koerner
If you are starting to dabble into ultrarunning or any distance longer than 26.2 miles, this book is for you. Filled with excellent ideas on approaching the miles, challenges, and miles. It covers most of the typical topics and how to tackle most of those general situations that a runner will encounter in their Ultrarunning adventures.
❺– Running for Mortals – John “The Penguin” Bingham and Jenny Hadfield
New to running or struggling with how to come back or start, this book provides excellent and sometimes funny anecdotes while giving plenty of things to consider when tackling those initial steps and miles.
❺– Training Essentials for Ultrarunning – Jason Koop, Jim Rutberg, Corrine Malcolm
Now, if you have already dabbled distances longer than 26.2 or have tackled multiple marathons already, and you are ready to step up your performance, these training essentials will provide you with additional ideas, concepts, and approaches to be able to understand so many aspects of ultrarunning.
❺– Going Long: Legends, Oddballs, Comebacks & Adventures – David Willey
Excellent collection of stories about runners and running that will definitely get you inspired about the runners, their challenges, and the community around us.
❹– The Rise of Ultra Runners – Adharanand Finn
If you have done a 50-mile, 100k, or 100-mile event, you will see yourself immerse in the story and relate with the author as he tells you his story and provides you with so many moments of a reality check and hope. And if you have not, you will still see many aspects of running an ultramarathon and the running community.
❹– 1:59* – Phillip Maffetone, Bill Katovsky
This will take you on a journey to the limitations, efforts, challenges, and possibilities of achieving a faster than 2-hour marathon. Very informative and entertaining.
❹– Running Just for the Health of it– Chuck Petersen
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe I am a little bit biased given that I know the author, I have shared a few miles with Chuck and know a lot of the places he mentions first hand. His five-decade journey that began as a modest effort to stay in shape by running boom and transformed into an astonishing +100,000 lifetime miles. The book reflect Chuck daily interactions with warmth and self-deprecating humor, as he recounts how a simple fitness routine escalated into completing 50 plus marathons, a dozen 100-mile ultramarathons, and navigating the health challenges of the trail world. Rather than spotlighting elite accolades, the narrative focuses on the quirky camaraderie, navigational blunders, and unique subculture of the distance-running community.
❹– Run Like a Pro – Matt Fitzgerald and Ben Rosario
I really liked this one. From the start, it captures the essence of what it will take for a mere mortal to think, act, and run like a pro. The book’s main key aspect, in my opinion, which will make you think, is, “Do you want it? or do you want it?” It is all about the big and small decisions we make every day. Not just the running plan we create but every single action we do; we have to take/make intentional actions. There is got to be a reason for things we do, things we eat, and things we think. Make it count.
❹– Smile or you are doing it wrong – Andy Glaze
I liked the story telling and chronicles style of the book. Learning about his harrowing journey from severe childhood trauma, troubled-teen wilderness camps, and substance addiction to his long-term redemption. Rebuilding his life around family and public service and embracing ultrarunning as a vital outlet for his trauma and anxiety. His trademark “smile” mantra serves not as superficial positivity, but as a hard-won survival tool for choosing gratitude and resilience in the face of intense suffering.
❸– Born to run – Christopher McDougall
Great story that provides you with plenty of anecdotes and stories. It was very entertaining and a book to listen to during those long training runs. Lots of perspective on how many things came about. Also allowing you to appreciate how things are right now.
❸– 26 Marathons – Med Keflezsighi
A breakdown of all of the key marathons that made Med who he is, from the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs. Meb tells his story, providing some insights into his decisions during his career as a professional marathoner. Showing us that he is human, and as a human, he had to deal with many challenges similar to others in the running community. Og course minus the multi-year contracts and sponsorships. But besides that, it shows his determination, strategy, and approach to his successes.
❸– Ultra Marathon Man – Dean Karnazes
Another great story of one of the craziest Ultramarathoners out there. The book provides you with some golden nuggets that you could translate to your running. It will bring a great perspective and opportunity to reflect on your journey, a few parallels, and something that I would not do.
❸– 80/20 Running – Matt Fitzgerald
This is the second book I read by Matt Fitzgerald. This was another book where I had high hopes of golden nuggets dropping on every page or at least every chapter. After a quick intro, the bulk of the book is dedicated to supporting the 80/20, with plenty of data and studies being offered as proof that there is a legit approach to training. I did not need 3/4 of the book to try to convince me about it. I was looking at how to approach it and plan for it. I believe the gem is in the last 1/4 of the book, with more details and a few golden nuggets that will help most runners prepare their training plans. One main thing he wants to make clear is that although 80/20 refers to 80% of the training easy and 20% a faster/aggressive training to rip the benefit, it is not a set-in-stone rule. Each runner is slightly different, and the stage /block of training will also be very important in determining the distribution. But it was clear that the emphasis was on the volume of those easy miles runs.
❸– Runner’s World Big Book of Marathon and Half – Jennifer Van Allen, Bart Yasso, Amby Burfoot, Pamela Nisevich Bede
Plenty of golden nuggets and information for runners at all levels. From basic information on how to get into training for a marathon to some more advanced approaches that you could use during your training planning.
❸– Daniels’ Running Formula – Jack Daniels
The great book of understanding effort, paces, training, and complete energy and adaptation systems. Plenty of golden nuggets and information for runners at all levels. Very instructional and detailed information that you could use.
❸– North – Scott Jurek & Jenny Jurek
It is a fascinating story about the record-breaking Appalachian Trails attempt. What I like about this story is that it also shares the perspective of a crew member (His wife) and pacers (Multiple). This part is sometimes forgotten in many other stories, but for long events, the crew and pacers are key to a successful event and race.
❷– Runner’s High – Josiah Hesse
To be honest, when I started reading this book, I was not expecting to be less about running and more about a justification for cannabinoids, specifically cannabidiol (CBD), in the sports and sports industry. The first few chapters were very entertaining and funny at times. The mid-portion of the book was more of a justification and pluses for the usage of cannabinoids. The last portion of the book provides you with some insights into how to approach this if you desire to pursue it as an alternative. I do not condone the usage and consumption, but other than some medicinal applications to deal with medical uses and pain management. I have always been a little bit more restrained about this.
❷– 26.2 Marathon Stories – Katherine Switzer and Roger Robinson
It was an ok book for me, maybe I should take another look later, but in a nutshell for me was just ok. The authors blend archival history and personal storytelling. The narrative details how the marathon event expanded from an exclusive Olympic contest into the vibrant, mass-participation big-city races that democratized running worldwide. It captures the profound psychological pull of the distance, celebrating why everyday runners willingly embrace the grueling journey to find community and personal transformation at the finish line.
❷– Running to the Edge – Matthew Futterman
In Running to the Edge, Matthew Futterman tells the story of the running club in California under the leadership of coach Bob Larson. It follows a few runners during their journey and different approaches to training. These are very well-balanced stories that will take you to the time of getting the team ready, the challenges in competing, and their training strategy. Very entertaining for those mid to long training easy runs.
❷– What I talk when I talk about Running – Haruki Murakami
It was a decent read and entertaining. It got me thinking about what I think, talk about, and strategize about running. The stories, learning, and approach to running we al have and create in this amazing sport of running.
❶– Run the Mile you’re IN – Ryan Hall
This is the story of olympian Ryan Hall. I started this book with high hopes. I know it was rated and highly recommended by a few running forums as a book to read. I have to be honest; unfortunately, after the 1st three chapters, I could not continue. I really think it was the way it was written that could not grab my attention enough to continue reading. Although his story was interesting, the layout and the way it was written it was hard for me to continue.
❶– The Runner’s Literary Companion – Edited by Garth Battista
Compendium of Poems and stories about running. I read a quarter of the way, and, unfortunately, it did not grab my attention or provide much of the golden nuggets I seek in books. But I know my taste in books is very different, and others might find this book inspirational or at least full of reflections.