As you must have heard, health is wealth. It truly is!
Everything comes after it. However, in our daily hectic lives, we often neglect it. But you must not! A healthy body and mind lead to more content and happier life. Therefore, you must include exercise, yoga, running, and meditation in your daily routine. It increases your stamina and makes your body stronger.
If you haven’t incorporated exercise into your daily routine, then begin today! It’s never too late.
Start with walking and running. There are ample benefits associated with the same. In this article, we have curated a list of the 10 best running books for you. These will help you to learn the advantages of running. Every book has a detailed description.
So, let’s begin!
10 Best Running Books
1. Born to Win
Highlights
Author: Muriel James, Dorothy Jongeward
Last Published: 1978
Publisher: Penguin USA
Description
Born to Win is an incredible book that dictates athletic achievements and gives inspiration. The writer of the book collects the world’s greatest distance runners and understands their strategies. He also explains how we have the wrong perspective about running. So get ready to learn some myth-buster facts as well.
The writer talks about Tarahumara Indians. They reside in the terrains of Mexico. For centuries, they have had a habit of running hundreds of miles without any break. It is not a big thing for them to chase down a fast-running animal till the last mile. Undoubtedly, it’s a superhuman talent. Tarahumara is blessed with serenity and health along with immunity to diseases.
McDonnell showcases his exuberance in the storytelling. He depicts the science labs as well as the valleys across North America beautifully. The book provides a beautiful message that the secret to happiness is at your feet. Everyone is born to run. Besides, you also get to understand the ample advantages associated with running in the book.
To learn more, purchase this copy now!
2. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Highlights
Author: Haruki Murakami
Last Published: 2009
Publisher: Vitange
Description
With an impactful quote “pain is inevitable, suffering is optional”, The book boosts an individual to take out time for running. It is written by an internationally Bestselling writer. In the year of 1982, Murakami, the author of this book, began his journey of running to stay fit. Slowly and gradually, he kept moving forward. He became part of several sports races and increased his stamina.
In his book, he also describes how sports and running have played a major role in his life. There is a mention of his detailed four-month preparation for the New York City Marathon in 2005. His style of writing is humorous and sober. He also presents philosophical thoughts along with being playful.
You will also find his relationship with other athletes who were a part of distance running. Overall, the writer gives a boost to the readers to start running and maintain a healthy life by citing his own experiences.
To explore more, purchase your copy now!
3. Once a Runner
Highlights
Author: John L. Parker, Jr.
Last Published: 2010
Publisher: Scribner
Description
Once a Runner is a remarkable classic novel of all time. In the sports world, this book is loved by millions. The story of the book revolves around an athlete living in the 60s amidst the Vietnam war. Based on the experiences of the writer, he writes a character named Quenton Cassidy. He is a competitive runner and wishes to complete a four-minute mile.
When he’s just a second away from achieving this milestone, the horror of the Vietnam war intrudes in between. Due to this, many protests begin and he actively takes part in them. Unfortunately, he gets suspended from his team due to being a part of such projects. At one point in time, Cassidy gives up everything and isolates himself to prepare for the race of his life.
He had to compete against the greatest runner in history. The overall account gives you an idea about the incomparable hard work distance runners put in.
To unravel more of this individual‘s quest of becoming a champion, purchase your copy now!
4. Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
Highlights
Author: Dean Karnazes
Last Published: 2006
Publisher: Penguin USA
Description
This is an unusual and commendable journey of Dean Karnazes. He dared to attempt running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. Isn’t that astonishing? Well, he did not just set this target but achieved it too!
His primary aim was to educate the youth of Americans to fight obesity and maintain their fitness levels. It is a remarkable story that describes his entire journey across the country. To your surprise, he has already run 262 miles, which is equal to 10 marathons without any rest. Interestingly, he is also the only person who ran while eating the entire pizza.
The stunning book has inspired millions of people to start running and push them to achieve such milestones.
The style of writing is humorous and gripping. It leaves the readers anticipating. Quite rarely you will find such humor and candor in sports memories as you will find in this book. The three major questions that the writer asks you are:
- How do you do it?
- Why do you do it?
- What do you eat?
- How long do you train to maintain shape?
All these questions are also answered with great insights. Overall, this is a highly motivating book that will propel you to get up and pursue running.
To learn more about this fascinating book, purchase your copy now!
5. Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory
Highlights
Author: Deena Kastor
Last Published: 2018
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Description
This remarkable book is written by Dina Kastor. She was a popular runner with incredible potential. However, her career almost ended very soon. The primary reason was her rising negativity and frustration associated with the approach – run as hard as you can! This thought process brought her to burnout.
Interestingly, when she was about to quit, she shifted to Colorado and met the legendary coach Joe Vigil. He had just started his professional team of distance running. When she met him, she understood that the only thing that was blocking her was her thinking! She started to change and shape her mind into becoming more kind and encouraging towards herself.
As evident, to shape your mind in a particular way, you require years of patience. However, Dina became extremely dedicated. And soon after she became a superstar. She has a tremendous record of bagging America’s first Olympic medal in the marathon in 20 years.
You will find this book highly motivating and positive. To learn more, purchase your copy now!
6. Daniels’ Running Formula
Highlights
Author: Jack Daniels
Last Published: 2014
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Description
This incredible book is a bestseller. It is also known as the best training book in the runners’ world. One of the best coaches in history, Jack Daniels, introduces with his VDOT formula to train in the best way possible. He describes how training with some important elements and methodologies can make you a champion.
With his methods, it becomes easier for the athletes to run for a longer period.
This new edition comes with new chapters explained comprehensively. Take a look:
- Daniels’ running formula
- Altitude running
- Seasonal programming
- Treadmill training
You can incorporate all the strategies of the coach and witness the stunning results by yourself. Moreover, you can also get the detailed workouts as well as programs inclusive in his running formulas. Overall, it is a highly informative guide on running.
Purchase your copy now!
7. The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
Highlights
Author: Matthew Inman
Last Published: 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Description
This remarkable book is the number-one New York Times bestseller. It is written by a widely popular author Matthew Inman. You will learn about many shades and emotions related to an athlete’s mind while running. It is a wonderful account that talks about the reasons for running as well as its associated suffering.
The book is an amalgamation of various experiences and stories of running. It even has several comics and illustrations made by cartoonists. All these images make it more appealing and interesting to read.
Overall, it is a motivating account that will inspire you big time. You will know about The great reasons and insights into how we wake up every day and put in our bodies through pain, happiness, and sorrow. This book takes quite a different approach and forms an entertaining read.
To learn more, purchase your copy now!
8. Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
Highlights
Author: Alex Hutchinson
Last Published: 2018
Publisher: William Morrow
Description
This book tells you about the epic experiences of the writer. How did he start from a two-hour marathon and reached the summit of Mount Everest? Or how fast can a human go? Or how can you break your limits and achieve more and more in life.
The book also gives you a lesson and a realization on how your brain is your only limit. An individual can push his or her boundaries as much as required. It is all about hard work, determination, and resilience. With a lot of experiences and stories mentioned in the book, you can learn how to improve your performance and stay positive.
Moreover, there are ample methodologies explained in the book for running and building stamina. To explore more, purchase your copy now!
9. Lore of Running
Highlights
Author: Timothy Noakes
Last Published: 2002
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Description
This book gives a detailed account of various topics such as racing, physiology, injuries, and world-class athletes. You also get expert opinions of physicians and scientists regarding running.
The book also contains a detailed account of the below-given topics:
- Effects of training methods on your body
- Estimating your potential and avoiding overtraining
- Methods to prepare for the 10k run
- How to eat proper nutrition to control weight and deliver maximum performance
You can also find interviews of 10 world-class runners who spell out the beans and share their success stories. Lore of Running is undoubtedly the best running book to ever exist.
To explore more, purchase your copy now!
10. Ready to Run: Unlocking Your Potential to Run Naturally
Highlights
Author: Dr. Kelly Starrett
Last Published: 2014
Publisher: Victory Belt Publishing
Description
Ready to Run is a highly informative running guide. It gives an immense boost. The book mentions little habits that prove to destroy our bodies such as sitting in one place, wearing the wrong shoes, etc. These habits lead to lower-back problems, foot pain, and knee pain.
Furthermore, this book will help you to learn about:
- Top 12 performance standards for improvement
- Understanding weaknesses and turning them into your strengths
- Several running techniques
- Methods to handle pain
- Accelerating your recovery process
- Practicing mobility exercises
- Steps to run faster and better
- How to handle home mobility gym
With all these vital concepts, there is much more to learn and understand in this book. To explore more, purchase your copy now!
Conclusion
Running is a great exercise for your body. It has several advantages and helps you to build stamina. It’s a great decision to opt for running daily. Many great athletes and distance runners have shared their experiences in life stories in the books mentioned above.
All of them motivate and inspire you immensely.
If you wish to take up running, then you must go through these books and understand about it in detail. As there are ample options available, we presented you with the 10 best running books.
We hope that the information helps in the best way possible.
Do read, and start running!
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