I love to read, always have. I was the kid who couldn’t wait for summer because of the summer reading challenge at my public library. Over the years, my taste in books has changed, but my love of reading hasn’t.
I usually set a goal of 50 books to read in a year and many of them end up being running-related (shocking, right?). So, I thought I would share some of the ones that have meant the most to me over the years.
In no particular order, my favorite running related books:
Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman
An important read. Lauren is a great storyteller and it’s inspiring to learn more about her journey. I have followed her for years, but it’s true you do not know enough of what someone is going through based on social media. Grateful she is sharing her story with the world. Any runner, coach, or really human, should pick this one up.
Bravey by Alexi Pappas
Alexi is a Bravey in every sense of the word and I am so glad she’s here to tell her story. Some tough subjects and unsettling feelings, but Alexi always brought it back to a learning or a form of positivity. Great inspiration not just for running, but for everyday life.
Choosing to Run: A Memoir by Des Linden
My number 1 running related books and one of my all time favorite memoirs. I am biased because so much of this story is about the 2018 Boston Marathon and that was my very first Boston and an incredibly epic day. But I really love Des and how relatable she is, even as an elite runner. She is consistent, she is kind, she is strong. I think anyone would gain something from reading her memoir.
Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness by Scott Jurek
I first read this one in 2016 when my running journey was picking up. I remember taking a photo of the last page of text and making it my Facebook cover photo for the summer while I was marathon training. I remember the impact it had on me and for that it will always remain one of my favorites.
Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor
Deena is one of the most incredible runners and her memoir is all about racing and training mindsets and how you can use your thoughts to your advantage. I recommend this one to all of my 1:1 athletes and we’ve read it for book club in the Good Effort Club, too. I went on a run with Deena in Chicago once and was amazed at how she was exactly like what I had pictured in real life.
Running with the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn
This one was first leant to me by friend Julia and it took me a while to finish, but I loved learning about Finn’s experience with living and training in a place he hadn’t experienced before. Some strong takeaways I could apply to my running and an overall enjoyable read.
Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll
I have been a Rich Roll fan for a long time. I think I first read his book back in 2016 as well and found myself so inspired by his journey. He completely changed his life when he got to his 40s and I love the reminder that it is never too late. If you have a hobby you’ve always wanted to try or a job you’ve yearned to apply for, go for it. We can learn a lot from Rich.
The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team by Kara Goucher
This one is heavy. Kara had a really traumatic time with Nike and I didn’t know much about it before reading her memoir. It was eye opening and brave for her to share this with the world and I am really glad she did.
26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career by Meb Keflezighi
Meb!! Meb is a class act, genuinely so nice (I met him in Boston), and an incredible athlete. The style of this book is a lesson from each of his 26 marathons as a chapter and I love the structure of it. Hard not to feel inspired when you get to the end of this book.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
And last but certainly not least, another book I first read in 2016, but it’s about time for a re-read. This was a look inside a world of running I knew nothing about and I was fascinated. What an amazing story of super human runners who do their own thing. A great reminder that your running journey is just that, yours. No need to compare to anyone else’s, but be inspired by theirs instead. Highly recommend it.
Let me know if any of these are also your favorites or if you have one that didn’t make this list that you think I should read! Comment below or email me. 🙂
Because I love reading running related books so much and talking about them, I added a monthly book club to my membership, the Good Effort Club. Each month we choose a running related book and then come together on Zoom to have a structured chat and space to share what we thought about it. If you love these type of books and chatting with other runners, come join us.
