Dear Friends, Readers, and Runners,
For me running has a lot in common with reading. It too brings me joy, excitement, and calm. It too has bred new and strengthened existing friendships. And it too has led me to new places and experiences. Just this past week, a short two mile run calmed my giddiness before our wedding and conveniently led me to my favorite juice stand at Viktualienmarkt. I also ran one of my old routes in Munich’s Englischer Garten, where I had trained for my first marathon ten years ago, while another run in the Bavarian Alps let me explore an area I have never been to before.
And while this may be the first issue dedicated to running, books about running have showed up throughout this newsletter. Here is a roundup of my favorites.
Books on running
Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor (2018)
Description: Deena Kastor has a prestigious running CV, holding numerous American distance records, many cross-country titles, and a bronze medal in the marathon from the Athens Olympics. This book is only partially a memoir, it is also a guide for runners. Deena shares the mental strategies she used to overcome injuries, to stay fit while running part-time and working part-time to support herself, and to stay tough during gruelling training and racing.
My take: I listened to this book when it first came out in 2018 and find Deena an incredibly inspirational. Hearing her story up close and personal only reinforced my feelings. Listening to her voice felt like a coach and friend cheering me on. I finished this book during my shakedown run the day before the Berlin marathon, where I ran a phenomenally even paced and mentally strong race.
Bonus tip: The audio version read by the author herself is a great companion for long runs.
Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports by Kathrine Switzer (2007) (previously published in Issue 13 on Women's Voices)
Description: Kathrine Switzer is most well-known for the iconic photos from the 1967 Boston Marathon, where race directors tried to pull her of the course. Switzer represents so much more than being a “first woman”, she went on to be a sports journalist and race director herself, orchestrating the multi-year plan that would bring the women’s marathon to the Olympics, a feat achieved at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
My Take: As a runner, I was terrified to learn that in the 60s running more than 1.5 miles was considered unhealthy for women (because their uterus could drop out!). Switzer’s story’s main message though is not about that iconic picture or being the first woman to do something. No, it’s about the determination and years-long work to stand up for and do what you believe in, and also about the community of women and men who rallied behind her, including familiar names like Billy Jean King, Fred Lebow, and Ted Corbitt.
Bonus Fact: I recommend the audio book read by the author herself and this interview on one of my favorite podcasts, the Clean Sports Collective.
North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail by Scott Jurek with Jenny Jurek (2018) (previously published in issue 2 on mountain reads)
My Description: Scott Jurek, one of the most well-known and decorated ultra-runners, chronicles his attempt at the Fastest Known Time record on 2,189-mile long Appalachian Trail together with his wife and support ‘crew’ Jenny Jurek. This is a story of human perseverance.
My Take: Easy to read, personal, and inspirational throughout. Definitely not for runners only. This book feels like a gripping story told over a long dinner by your favorite neighborhood couple.
Bonus Tip: Jurek’s name may sound familiar, as he was featured in Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run, in which Jurek races with the Tarahumara indigenous runners in Mexico’s Copper Canyon. ***Update*** Scott Jurek attempted to break the current fastest known time record on the Appalachian Trail this year, but had to stop due to an injury.
The Rise of the Ultra Runners: A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance by Adharanand Finn (2019)
Description: The author is both a journalist and a runner and explores the insane world of runners and races that are longer than standard marathons. The chapters cover his own journey in ultramarathoning across a series of events, while interviewing the legends of the sport and many experts across a variety of related topics.
My take: This book is a study of the human spirit and thus riveting for both runners and non-runners. It is a lovely balance of personal storytelling and fascinating conversations with the heroes of the sport. I particularly liked how each chapter also tackled issues such as doping or addiction.
Bonus tip: Here is The Guardian article that inspired Finn to write this book.
Advice about running
As I rather incessantly talk about running, I often get asked for advice on running: how to start, how to get faster, and sometimes even how to actually enjoy it. To me running is a bit like eating, you have to eat what you like and what makes you feel good, not every meal is a great one, and no one else can tell you what is best for you. Running is the same. You might like to run alone or with a friend, you might prefer mornings or evenings, music or no music. I personally find the most important is to do it regularly, which might mean every Tuesday for one person and every morning for another. Find your rhythm.
Currently listening to: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants written and red by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Thanks a lot for reading along. As always please share your reading tips and have a lovely weekend, hopefully sprinkled with moments for reading or running or maybe even both. Happy trails!