From elite marathoners to everyday runners, these powerful memoirs explore grit, failure, triumph, and the life lessons found on the road and trail.
“My advice to you as a runner?” Haruki Murakami, Japanese novelist and author says to musician Harry Styles in a sit-down chat near Murakami's home. “No contradictions.” In the past few years, Styles has added “runner” to his famously developed resumé, as fans witnessed him hitting pavement in Tokyo and Berlin, finishing with a 2:59:13 during the latter race.
Now, the pop star has graced the latest cover of Runner’s World to delve into the beginning of his motivation for the sport: Murakami’s memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. As the duo went back and forth on Murakami’s over 25 completed marathon’s, we got to thinking: what other highly-rated memoirs can runners indulge in ahead of, during, and after training? Luckily for runners of all kinds, we put together a list of the sport’s top six running memoirs that you . Keep reading to find your next book club pick, Libby hold, or library find. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir by Haruki Murakami This list doesn’t exist without Murakami’s published work. The memoir, published back in 2009, covers his thoughts — that he journaled throughout – while training for the New York City Marathon. The title has garnered hundreds of thousands of five-star ratings on Goodreads, and covers everything from his stark recollections to his revelations. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall In this national bestseller, McDougall dives into the ability that Tarahumara Indians had to run hundreds of miles in Mexico’s Copper Canyons without injury. This story recounts the ultimate race with America’s top ultra-runners, who fight to experience what the tribe did. Reviewers call it a 'fascinating examination of modern running shoes,” “inspiring,” and “thought-provoking.” Choosing to Run: A Memoir by Des Linden Olympian and Boston Marathon winner, Des Linden, was recovering from an illness and wasn’t intending on any accolades in nearly freezing temperatures, rain, and intense winds. After mile 22, Linden took the lead, becoming the first American woman to win the Massachusetts race in 33 years. In this memoir, the athlete recounts her thoughts while training and what keeps her grounded. 26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career by Meb Keflezighi and Scott Douglas There are no wiser words than ones stemming from a four-time Olympian. Meb Keflezighi ran his last marathon in 2017, citing 26 marathons completed. In his memoir, the runner offers advice on running, training, and nutrition, and also reveals the life lessons he’s learned along the way. There are many ups and downs in marathon running, but Keflezighi assures that there are ways to cope with them. North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail by Jenny Jurek and Scott Jurek A 2,189-mile journey is no small trek. In 2015, Scott Jurek set out to break the speed record for the Appalachian Trail, running through inclement weather, unruly terrain, and injury. This memoir recounts his daily nearly 50-mile runs that he endured throughout a seven week period. This read is for those who are really looking to push themselves to their limit, and are in search for advice on perseverance and personal enlightenment. Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games by Lopez Lomong and Mark Tabb A feel-good, inspiring story about never giving up is what Lopez Lomong is all about. The title follows Lomong’s journey, starting from navigating the Sudanese Civil War to becoming an athlete in the U.S. Olympic Team. It’s a beautiful story about the intense trials and tribulations of life, and how the runner overcame the unthinkable.
Running Memoir Books Best Books About Running Inspiring Running Books Marathon Memoirs Ultramarathon Memoirs Athlete Memoirs Endurance Sports Books Running Motivation Books Trail Running
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