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Recommended Running books?

  • 22-08-2019 12:12am
    #1
    DeepBlue
    Registered Users Posts: 3,668 ✭✭✭


    What running books would you recommend in any of the following categories:
    • training, improving, running plans
    • biographical / autobiographical
    • inspirational (those you might read when the motivation is flagging)
    • other
    What books have you found helped you the most?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    OOnegative
    Registered Users Posts: 4,834 ✭✭✭OOnegative


    DeepBlue wrote: »
    What running books would you recommend in any of the following categories:
    • training, improving, running plans
    • biographical / autobiographical
    • inspirational (those you might read when the motivation is flagging)
    • other
    What books have you found helped you the most?

    https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056326122/1/#post73261564


  • #3
    ewc78
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 480 ✭✭ewc78


    Last two I've bought were 80/20 training by Matt Fitzgerald and
    Don't stop me know by Vassos Alexander Don't Stop Me Now: 26.2 Tales of a Runner's Obsession https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472921542/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_18KxDbT9K1G8M


  • #4
    Miklos
    Registered Users Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Miklos


    I really enjoyed Murakami’s ‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’. He takes you through his experience with running, how it’s affected his life and his writing.


  • #5
    Huzzah!
    Registered Users Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭Huzzah!


    DeepBlue wrote: »
    What running books would you recommend in any of the following categories:
    • training, improving, running plans
    • biographical / autobiographical
    • inspirational (those you might read when the motivation is flagging)
    • other
    What books have you found helped you the most?


  • #6
    6run28
    Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭6run28


    "Murakami’s ‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" +1. A great book


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  • #7
    rm75
    Closed Accounts Posts: 149 ✭✭rm75


    Charlie Spedding Last to 1st
    Running with the Buffaloes
    Once a Runner
    The Perfect Mile
    British Marathon Legends of the 1980's (bit dry but good to dip in and out of)

    Advanced Marathon Running
    Daniels Running Formula

    2nd the Zatopek one above,


  • #8
    ArtieFufkin
    Registered Users Posts: 178 ✭✭ArtieFufkin


    'Rise of the Ultras' and 'Running with the Kenyans' by Adharanand Finn are good.
    Also-Eat and Run by Scott Jurek.
    All of these are semi-biograhic but inspiring to a certain extent.

    Running Beyond by Ian Corless is a great coffee table book with amazing pictures from iconic trail races.


  • #9
    weldoninhio
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,311 ✭✭✭✭weldoninhio


    DeepBlue wrote: »
    What running books would you recommend in any of the following categories:
    • training, improving, running plans
    • biographical / autobiographical
    • inspirational (those you might read when the motivation is flagging)
    • other
    What books have you found helped you the most?

    Born to Run and Natural Born Heroes are both brilliant. Both by Christopher McDougal.


  • #10
    Evan Scully
    Registered Users Posts: 42 ✭Evan Scully


    Lopez Lomongs book "Running For My Life" is one of the best books out there. He was a Lost Boy. Basically he was kidnapped when he was 6 from a militant Sudanese army. He became one of the Children's Army. Ran to Kenya and started running. Ran in 3 Olympics and won the American championships this year.


  • #11
    BeepBeep67
    Registered Users Posts: 8,079 ✭✭✭BeepBeep67


    Here are the last 16 or so running / running related books in my Audible library
    • Peak Performance – Stulberg / Magness
    • My life on the run – Bart Yasso
    • Shoe Dog – Phil Knight
    • Running up that hill and Don’t stop me now are entertaining by Vassos Alexander
    • Endure – Alex Hutchinson
    • The brave athlete – Marshall / Paterson
    • The Ghost Runner – Bill Jones (super story)
    • Let your mind run – Denna Kastor
    • Running for my life – Lopez Lomong (compelling)
    • How running makes us human – Vybarr, Cregan-Reid
    • The Peter Norman story – Webster / Norman
    • 26 Marathons – Meb Keflezighi
    • Primal Endurance – Sisson / Kearns
    • Run the mile you’re in – Ryan Hall
    • The rise of the ultra runners – Adharanand Finn
    • The runner – Markus Torgeby


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  • #12
    mrmoonlight
    Registered Users Posts: 59 ✭✭mrmoonlight


    A book i purchased recently was Daniel's running formular, quite good


  • #13
    Newtown90
    Registered Users Posts: 1,602 ✭✭✭Newtown90


    Big fan of Matt Fitzgerald

    -How bad do you want it
    -80/20 Running
    -80/20 Triathlon
    -Racing Weight

    Also Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes is very hard to put down.


  • #14
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    Why Running Matters by Ian Mortimer - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44322668-why-running-matters

    What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2195464.What_I_Talk_About_When_I_Talk_About_Running

    Don't Stop Me Now: 26.2 Tales of a Runner’s Obsession by Vassos Alexander - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29539192-don-t-stop-me-now

    Running Up That Hill: The Highs and Lows of Going That Bit Further by Vassos Alexander - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36747500-running-up-that-hill

    Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/87632.Ultramarathon_Man

    Parkrun: much more than just a run in the park by Debra Bourne - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23637965-parkrun


  • #15
    Supercell
    Registered Users Posts: 15,319 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Currently reading : Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession by Richard Askwith and loving it, his description of the challenges, the friendships and the mental side of running is very engaging.

    Top tip: Reserve running books online for your local library - they can be delivered to your local library from anywhere for free if its in the country, loads and loads of great running books to be reserved.

    My librarian recommended What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami (recommended above) and thats my next read.
    https://www.loughlinstown.ie

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • #16
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    Two Hours: The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon by Ed Caesar http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25917107-two-hours

    Was interesting to read given it's now been broken.


  • #17
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    Your Pace or Mine?: What Running Taught Me About Life, Laughter and Coming Last by Lisa Jackson - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29480025-your-pace-or-mine

    I picked this up as part of the Kindle daily deals at 99p and forgot about it for a few months till I was reviewing my unread books on my kindle. Lisa is not your average runner, she's probably a below average runner but she never ever lets that get in the way of her enjoyment of running, whether it's a race (5k all the way to having completed Comrades twice) or a training run. This was one of the most positive thinking books I've read when it comes to running and has perked my motivation and self belief up by a huge amount. Would recommend it to any runner but also to any people you know who may have doubts as to whether or not they can run.


  • #18
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    Endure: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37979910-endure - twas mentioned above so thought I'd add a few words about it.

    Really interesting book (for me anyway) about humans and their physical limits (mostly endurance limits but touched on other areas too). Endurance covers everything from the endurance of a 100 metre sprint through to cycling grand tours or running marathons. There are some theories and science about the topic discussed throughout. Well worth the read.

    The table of contents provides a good insight into the topics ...

    The Unforgiving Minute
    The Human Machine
    The Central Governor
    The Conscious Quitter
    Pain
    Muscle
    Oxygen
    Heat
    Thirst
    Fuel
    Training the Brain
    Zapping the Brain
    Belief


  • #19
    Supercell
    Registered Users Posts: 15,319 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Thanks py, @ £1.49 for the Kindle version currently I couldnt resist a read, already enjoying, thanks for the recommendation.
    https://www.loughlinstown.ie

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • #20
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    I was unsure if I was going to post this as technically it's not a running book but its contents will help your running through the power of recovery via sleep. If you can get a good nights sleep, you'll get oodles of legal HGH released within your body to aid recovery, who wouldn't want that?! This was my favourite book that I read in 2019.

    Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Dr Matthew Walker - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34466963-why-we-sleep

    Vast amount of information on everything sleep related. The author is the sleep expert and has been on dozens of podcasts (Trained by Nike, Kevin Rose, Joe Rogan .... and more on the net).

    I utilised the information within the book to structure things like food and liquid intake throughout my day, track my sleep on a routine basis and watch for anomalies in HR spikes which may be illness or fatigue, develop a regular routine (albeit being ignored right now on holidays as it's past my bedtime :() and some other small items that help me get a good nights sleep.


  • #21
    countbezukov
    Registered Users Posts: 142 ✭✭countbezukov


    py wrote: »
    I was unsure if I was going to post this as technically it's not a running book but its contents will help your running through the power of recovery via sleep. If you can get a good nights sleep, you'll get oodles of legal HGH released within your body to aid recovery, who wouldn't want that?! This was my favourite book that I read in 2019.

    Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Dr Matthew Walker - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34466963-why-we-sleep

    Vast amount of information on everything sleep related. The author is the sleep expert and has been on dozens of podcasts (Trained by Nike, Kevin Rose, Joe Rogan .... and more on the net).

    I utilised the information within the book to structure things like food and liquid intake throughout my day, track my sleep on a routine basis and watch for anomalies in HR spikes which may be illness or fatigue, develop a regular routine (albeit being ignored right now on holidays as it's past my bedtime :() and some other small items that help me get a good nights sleep.


    Haven't read this but I do know there has been some recent controversy about this book and has called into question some of the claims. This could probably be said for a lot of books, but worth pointing out all the same


    https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/


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  • #22
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    py wrote: »
    Your Pace or Mine?: What Running Taught Me About Life, Laughter and Coming Last by Lisa Jackson - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29480025-your-pace-or-mine

    I picked this up as part of the Kindle daily deals at 99p and forgot about it for a few months till I was reviewing my unread books on my kindle. Lisa is not your average runner, she's probably a below average runner but she never ever lets that get in the way of her enjoyment of running, whether it's a race (5k all the way to having completed Comrades twice) or a training run. This was one of the most positive thinking books I've read when it comes to running and has perked my motivation and self belief up by a huge amount. Would recommend it to any runner but also to any people you know who may have doubts as to whether or not they can run.

    Lisa jackson was interviewed on a recent episode of the Free Weekly Timed podcast.


  • #23
    MisterDrak
    Registered Users Posts: 1,703 ✭✭✭MisterDrak


    While not a specif running improvement book, "Survival Of The Fittest: Understanding Health and Peak Physical Performance" by Dr Mike Sroud is excellent.

    Describes a number of very challenging races and how humans adapt and can overcome these type of endeavors. Iv read it twice now and overdue to give it another go.


  • #24
    all the bais
    Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭all the bais


    Halfway through reading 'North' by Scott Jurek... Really enjoying it


  • #25
    stresshead101
    Registered Users Posts: 39 ✭stresshead101


    There is an App called GoodReads, a friend recently introduced me to. Like Trip Advisor for books. Handy if anyone is looking for some decent reads.


  • #26
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    Supercell wrote: »
    Currently reading : Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession by Richard Askwith and loving it, his description of the challenges, the friendships and the mental side of running is very engaging.

    I enjoyed Feet In the Clouds. It follows the author through a fell running season and latest attempt at the Bob Graham round. He has discussions with a lot of the greats within the sport, including its many devoted volunteers.

    I've a few more from the thread to work through, will report back as I do.


  • #27
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    Born to Run is 99p on Kindle today.


  • #28
    Swiper the fox
    Registered Users Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭Swiper the fox


    I really enjoyed listening to Paul Tonkinson’s book ‘26.2 miles to happiness’ on Audible over the past few days, very well written, he’s a comedian and Runners world columnist who charts his quest for a sub 3 marathon at London,


  • #29
    dna_leri
    Registered Users Posts: 2,623 ✭✭✭dna_leri


    Just finished The Ghost Runner by Bill Jones - great story reasonably well told.
    Started Duel in the Sun by John Brant - very engaging, quarter way through already.
    Recently read The River Road by Dennis Barker - good, bit like Once a Runner, which is still the benchmark.
    Other recommendations are Running with the Buffaloes and Last to First.
    Few more lined up if this situation continues.


  • #30
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,526 ✭✭✭py


    Newtown90 wrote: »
    Big fan of Matt Fitzgerald

    -How bad do you want it
    -80/20 Running
    -80/20 Triathlon
    -Racing Weight

    Have just finished his latest book "Running The Dream" - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49342140-running-the-dream He discusses how spent a summer training with a professional team prior to running the Chicago marathon. It was an interesting insight in to how they operate and how their routines worked for an amateur runner.

    I've got 80/20 running waiting to be read soon.


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  • #31
    KSU
    Registered Users Posts: 946 ✭✭✭KSU


    py wrote: »
    Have just finished his latest book "Running The Dream" - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49342140-running-the-dream He discusses how spent a summer training with a professional team prior to running the Chicago marathon. It was an interesting insight in to how they operate and how their routines worked for an amateur runner.

    I've got 80/20 running waiting to be read soon.

    If you liked that and can get your hands on it check out inside a marathon. A book produced by the same team (NAZ elite)

    It’s basically a training log from both coach and athlete perspectives independently in his build up to top 10 finish in NYC marathon.


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