Explore every episode of the podcast Running Book Reviews with Alan and Liz
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Women, by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson | 15 Nov 2025 | 00:58:30 | |
Recently, a trend has captured public attention: female athletes have been beating the strongest male contenders, in the toughest races in the world, races designed for men. In Ultra Women, the authors (who are themselves endurance athletes) delve into the surprising science of sporting performance to explore the physiological and psychological differences between the sexes. They ask: could fat stores and muscle type (and capacity for not sleeping) really give women an edge over men in ultra long distances? And what roles are played by pace, preparation, and motherhood? Speaking to elite athletes, historians and scientists, the book unearths the largely unknown past of female endurance, from hunter- gathering to the early 20th Century discipline of pedestrianism and we get to meet some amazing women who have done amazing things. These bios are not going to do justice to these two women because they do a lot more than we could cover in the number of characters allowed in this description, but here it goes! Lily Canter is a freelance running, fitness and adventure travel journalist writing for Runner’s World, Live for the Outdoors, Women’s Health, The Guardian and Metro. She is an England Athletics running coach and founder of women’s only club Great Bowden Runners. She competes in ultra marathons and canicrosses with her dog. Instagram: @lilycanter Emma Wilkinson is an award-winning freelance journalist specialising in medicine, science and health. She has written for the Sunday Times, BBC, Pulse, the BMJ and Lancet among others. Emma lives in Sheffield and runs up hills for fun. Instagram: @emmawjourno If you're interested in getting a copy of this book for yourself then you can find it on Amazon or directly on the publishers website here: https://www.canburypress.com/products/presale-ultra-women-by-lily-canter-and-emma-wilkinson-isbn-9781914487101?srsltid=AfmBOopm-PGhLV9ZE2vjNfl-wobGtYreNsxyJ2F_VNPUtgLWH1VGzlsy Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet https://caffeinebullet.com/RUNNINGBOOK Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Fuel For Thought, by Renee McGregor | 01 Nov 2025 | 01:06:55 | |
Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet https://caffeinebullet.com/RUNNINGBOOK Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| What If?, by Ashley Varley | 15 Jun 2025 | 01:41:56 | |
What If? Is the story of author Ash Varley’s running journey between 2016 and 2023. At 43, with years of running experience behind him, he wondered if dedication, patience, and a willingness to break free from the comfort zone could lead to the realisation of long-held running dreams. In this book he explores how he ended up running multiple sub-3 hours marathons and 100-mile trail races. Along the way he talks about surprising himself with his ability when he’s able to get out of his own way, how he is inspired mid-race by random strangers, and the importance of of being surrounded by people who believe in you.
About the Author Ashley Varley lives with his wife in the seaside town of Hastings, East Sussex. He works as a gardener and when he’s not helping nature grow, he’s enjoying it while running… sometimes very long distances! Since he started running several years ago, Ash has run many road and trail races varying from 10k road races to 100 milers through woods, up steep mountain trails, and sometimes across country borders. What If? Is Ash’s first book If you're looking to get a copy of the book for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/2NX2PMa Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet https://caffeinebullet.com/RUNNINGBOOK Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Anatomy of Speed, by Bill Parisi | 01 Jan 2022 | 01:34:09 | |
Anatomy of Speed is a very detailed book explaining what speed is, what you need in order to properly train for speed, and all the different components that make up speed. The book has 12 chapters:
If you are looking to earn some continuing education credits once you have read the book, the last page of the book has a discount code to buy the exam. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Run Well, by Dr. Juliet McGrattan | 15 Dec 2021 | 01:46:52 | |
Run Well, written by general practitioner Dr. Juliet McGrattan, is a book that answers common medical questions that runners have. The book is written in a question and answer format with a short introduction at the beginning of each chapter. The questions are grouped into chapters based on body systems, starting with the head, and there is one chapter at the end on self-care. Chapter introductions include drawings of relevant biology that you can refer to if needed. Throughout the book there are real life runner stories, “did you know?” segments, and summaries of things to try. The end of each chapter also has other resources you can consult for more information. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| An Unstoppable Runner, by David Williams | 01 Dec 2021 | 01:21:15 | |
An Unstoppable Runner is the story of David Williams running journey and life. He starts running in high school but doesn’t continue afterwards. In early adulthood he starts drinking and smoking, and this habit continued until he realized that he was not very healthy. One day one of David’s colleagues told him to go buy a pair of running shoes, and this is how he started running again. David has over 40 years of running in his legs, and some very very very long runs. Although he started with the more popular distances and local races, he kept asking himself if he could go farther or run longer which brought him to discover ultra distance events. David Williams is a long-time runner who still enjoys endurance events today in his 70’s. He has done many ultra-distance runs of all types in the trails and on the track and has participated in both measured distances and time-based events. Although ultra-running is popular today and anyone can find a race close to home, David started in the 80’s when you didn’t have access to the internet to search and register for races. He learned about events by word of mouth and by doing other events and was not always sure that his registration was received until he got his bib in the mail. Another thing that David is as passionate about as running long distances is books! Although not related to his first job, David has owned a used bookstore, and still scours used book stores (and the internet) for running books he doesn’t have in his extensive collection. It’s only fitting that David is now an author of a running book, and we were honoured to have him with us for this episode. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Ultra Mile, by Tim Wills | 15 Nov 2021 | 00:55:47 | |
Join us for a discussion with author Tim Wills, about his bookThe Ultra Mile. The Ultra Mile describes what goes into running the ultra distances, why something so difficult is also appealing, and how really long distances like 100 miles are really a team effort. The book introduces us to different aspects of running although it is not an exhaustive resource on any one topic. The book is divided into 6 parts: Big thank you to Tim for providing a review copy of the book, and for taking the time to speak with us. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running Against The Odds, by Desmond Dunham | 01 Nov 2021 | 01:21:39 | |
Running Against The Odds is a testament that past traumas and emotional blockades stand no chance against motivation, will power, and can only fuel the desire to become a champion and emerge victorious. This book is Coach Dez’s memoire. He divides his journey into 3 parts: Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Mental Training for Ultrarunning, by Addie Bracy | 15 Oct 2021 | 01:28:41 | |
Ultra-endurance events have the highest dropout rates. While some people need to drop out due to injury, you may need to drop out because you are lacking the mental strength needed to get through a rough patch. Addie Bracy's book, Mental Training for Ultrarunning, has many exercises and techniques to help you build a tool box so that you have what you need to get you through a tough race. Although the examples and featured athletes are from ultra-running, many of the skill are transferable to shorter events, and even other life goals.
Addie Bracy is a long-time runner starting out on the track, and spending about 15 years running more traditional track and road races before discovering ultra-running. Although now a professional ultra-runner, Addie is a three-time USA Track & Field National Champion and a three-time USA Track & Field Women's Mountain Runner of the Year, and a Runners Alliance ambassador. She is also a Mental Performance Consultant to elite athletes across a range of sports, and is certified by the Association for Applied Sports Psychology. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running The World, by Nick Butter | 01 Oct 2021 | 01:21:08 | |
Running The World is Nick Butter’s story of his attempt to run a marathon in every country in the world as both a World Record attempt, and to raise money for prostate cancer UK. Every country, really means every country, including: North Korea, which had to be timed with the marathon held there in order to get into the country; Venezuela, where he ran in the city of Caracas, known as the “kidnapping capital of the world”; and countries which were at war like Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria. Nick wanted his last marathon to be the event held in Athens, Greece, on the 10th of November 2019 due to its symbolism as the birthplace of the marathon. Just to add an extra challenge along the way, he also attempted to run all the world marathon majors meaning that he actually ran more than once in some countries! As with many big projects, not much went according to plan, and both Nick, and his team back home in the UK, had to think on their feet and often rely on strangers to help make things happen. If you would like to follow Nick Butter's adventures, or donate to the 196 foundation, you can find everything on his website https://nickbutterrunning.com. You can also follow him on Instagram @nickbutterrun. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Rundown on Books 21 to 30 | 15 Sep 2021 | 00:43:37 | |
In this episode we reflect on everything we learned in books 21 to 30. We know that all the things we have learned is making us into better runners. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| When Running Made History, by Roger Robinson | 01 Sep 2021 | 01:36:07 | |
When Running Made History is a book based on the authors memory of historic running events that he witnessed throughout his life, starting with the 1948 Olympic games in London when he was 9 years old and his uncle brought him to watch some track events. The book borders on being a historic reference about running because a lot of facts were added about each event and the circumstances at the time. Chapters are titled with a date and location in chronological order from the 1948 London Olympics to October 2016 when Roger saw the first woman over 65 run under 20 minutes for the 5k. Readers will marvel at how many historic moments the author witnessed throughout his life! Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Running Drug, by Tim Beynon | 15 Aug 2021 | 01:22:49 | |
The Running Drug is the story of how the author, Tim, discovered and fell in love with running after some sedentary years in his 20’s, and then he received some unexpected news at the age of 40. At age 40, men in the UK are invited to get their first routine health check, but only about one third of them go. Although Tim felt he was very healthy and didn’t need a health check, he went anyway, and was glad that he did. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Run Less Run Faster, by Bill Pierce and Scott Murr | 01 Jun 2025 | 01:38:20 | |
Run Less Run Faster is a book explaining the 3plus2 training program developed by the Furman Institute of Running & Scientific Training, FIRST... and don't worry, RUN LESS doesn't mean TRAIN LESS! The book is divided into 5 sections which cover everything from the training program, why it works and the science behind it, all the different components like strength, stretching, and cross training) and ends with a section about qualifying for the Boston marathon. The programs in this book include everything from 5k to marathon. For the beginners out there, there is a run-walk plan to get you to your first 5k run. About the Authors Bill chaired the Health Sciences Department at Furman University for three decades. He and FIRST® (Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training) have been featured in articles in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, Men's Journal, and Runner's World, among others. Pierce, listed as one of 10 marathon "supercoaches" by Runner's World magazine, has made hundreds of presentations on fitness, wellness and running. He has captured age-group awards in his 250 road races and 42 marathons, finishing the Boston Marathon in five different decades. Dr. Scott Murr, Assistant Professor in the Health Sciences Department joined the Furman faculty in 1998. Scott is co-founder of the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (FIRST) and is the Training Performance Director of FIRST. Scott is co-author of Runner's World Run Less Run Faster (2012) and Runner’s World Train Smart, Run Forever (2017). Scott is a 35 year veteran in the sport of triathlon and has been running marathons even longer. Scott did his first marathon in 1982, his first triathlon in 1984 (alongside his Furman mentor Dr. Sandy “Optimal Man” Molnar), and his first ironman distance race in 1988. From marathons to cycling centuries to triathlons, Scott has competed in over 300 endurance events and is a 12 time Ironman Triathlon finisher. If you're interested in a copy of the book then you can find it here: https://a.co/d/huRLTAG Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet https://caffeinebullet.com/RUNNINGBOOK Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Today We Die A Little, by Richard Askwith | 01 Aug 2021 | 01:14:22 | |
Today We Die A Little is the story of Czech runner Emil Zatopek’s life and his athletic success, but also a history lesson of the communist era in former Czechoslovakia. Emil was born in 1922 and was the seventh of his parents eight children. Although not particularly athletic, or someone who you would mark as talented, his work ethic was exemplary, and he became the world’s most dominant runner by sheer hard work. Emil was known for experimenting with training methods and was known for his ability to accept being uncomfortable. If you would like to follow Richard's work, he can be found on Twitter, but a better place to follow his work is on his website: https://richardaskwith.co.uk Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Abdi's World, by Abdi Abdirahman | 19 Jul 2021 | 01:04:28 | |
Abdi's World is the story of Abdi Abdirahman's life starting when he left his home in Somalia in 1991 with his parents and siblings. Abdi was just barely a teen at the time. He and his family went from having a middle-class lifestyle to having only each other, but Abdi expresses gratitude throughout the book for the many people who helped him along the way. Abdi will represent the USA in the 2021 Olympics in the marathon, and is the oldest prson to qualify for a US Olympic team. He has had a long and successful career in running, and his journey, as well as the book, spans six Olympic cycles! Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| This Voice in My Heart, by Gilbert Tuhabonye | 01 Jul 2021 | 01:12:32 | |
The Voice in My Heart is Gilbert Tuhabonye’s story of growing up in Burundi on a peaceful mountain side surrounded by family, discovering the sport of running as a child, and later being the only survivor of an attack on his school where the Hutu’s attacked about 100 Tutsi teachers and students with machetes, before putting all those that were still alive in a building which they doused in gasoline and lit on fire. Gilbert survived, but was badly burned and doctors told him he would not run again. During his recovery Gilbert describes the many emotions he had to deal with, including survivor’s guilt, anger towards Hutu’s, difficulty trusting people, and being constantly afraid that someone was going to poison him or kill him while he was recovering in the hospital. The author, Gilbert Tuhabonye, made a full recovery to high level running. By 1996, three years after the attack, his running performances took him to the United States as part of an Olympic training program. He obtained a track scholarship to Abilene Christian University and was a national champion runner. He has since become the award-winning coach of the Gilbert's Gazelles Training Group in Texas. In 2006, he co-founded the Gazelle Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve life for people in Burundi without regard to tribal affiliations. Today Gilbert is a US citizen and lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and children. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| I Hate Running and You Can Too, by Brendan Leonard | 15 Jun 2021 | 01:10:27 | |
Are you a new runner trying to figure out why people love this running thing? Have you been a runner on and off throughout the years because somehow you would lose motivation or just feel like you don't like running anymore? If so, the you will love this interview with author Brendan Leonard about his new book I Hate Running and You Can Too: How to get started, keep going, and make sense of an irrational passion. And yes, if you already love running, then you will also really enjoy this episode. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| High Performance Nutrition for Masters Athletes, by Lauren Antonucci | 01 Jun 2021 | 01:31:51 | |
Have you been ignoring your nutrition? After listening to this episode you will realize what a disservice this is for your running progression... especially if you are over 35. In this episode we speak with author Lauren Antonucci about her new book High Performance Nutrition for Masters Athletes: Fuel Smartly and Efficiently at Age 35 and Beyond. This book is all about nutrition; it is based on overall good habits with some tweaks geared towards athletes and in particular, masters athletes. The book is divided into 3 parts: Lauren Antonucci is a Registered Dietician, and a board certified Sports Dietician. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University, and was awarded a fellowship in nutritional biochemistry at the University of California. She is specialized in eating disorders , and is a diabetes educator. On top of all the degrees and experience in the field, Lauren also founded her company, Nutrition Energy, in 2003, wrote a monthly column for Triathlete Magazine for 3 years, and wrote for New York Road Runners for over a decade. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Make the Leap, by Bryan Green | 15 May 2021 | 01:49:59 | |
Have you ever started making huge progress in your training, and figured you would just keep improving at the same rate? If you have, then you probably already know that your porgress eventually slows down. Author and runner, Brian Green, noticed that there is a cycle of these performance jumps, and that you can do more than just training to help get yourself to the next level in your running. The best part is that what he teaches in his book, Make the Leap, is transferrable to other areas of your life as well! Big thanks to Bryan Green for coming on the podcast, and for the great chat! If you are interested in getting a copy of the book, it can be found directly on Bryan's website, and you will get a 20% discount by entering the code ALANANDLIZ at checkout. You can also just use this link to have the code applied automatically at checkout: https://maketheleapbook.com/discount/ALANANDLIZ Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running on Tired Legs, by Bill Graham | 01 May 2021 | 01:24:22 | |
Bill Graham is a runner who has enjoyed the sport for over four decades. He is a multiple time sub-3 hour marathoner, ran in the UK Cross Country national championships as a youth, and has lived and run in both the UK and South Africa. Bill is also a running coach and mentor to other runners. In this episode we get to chat with Bill about his new book, Running on Tired Legs. Running on Tired legs is a memoire of Bill Graham’s life, and a parallel account of the Lakeland 100, which is a 100 km run in the English Lake District. Bill’s personal journey starts with a description of his childhood, introduction to sport and later running, and a reflection of what he was like as a kid. He was extremely shy, and had some issues with performance anxiety during competitions. Through sports, and especially running, Bill builds on his confidence throughout his life, and he makes many friends along the way. During the parallel story of Bill's 100 km run, there are several times when Bill is not sure he will finish and he describes the variety of challenges he had along the way. The help of the race volunteers, and some runners he meets during the event, really highlight the camaraderie that exists in the running community and reminds us why we love this sport so much.
Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running in the Midpack, by Anji Andrews and Martin Yelling | 15 Apr 2021 | 01:31:33 | |
We often see books for either beginner runner's or the elites, but the largest portion of runners is somewhere in between. This is why authors Anji Andrews and Martin Yelling decided to write Running in the Midpack, How to be a Strong, Successful, and Happy Runner, which is a book for the midpack runner. There are 6 chapters and a conclusion: 1. The midpack runner 2. Psychology 3. Whole body health 4. Training 5. Nutrition 6. Race day 7. Conclusion Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Bravey, by Alexi Pappas | 01 Apr 2021 | 00:50:30 | |
Bravey was Alexi Pappas mantra, and also the title of her memoire. Alexi is an olympian in the 10 000 m event which she ran for Greece and got the national record at the 2016 Olympic games. Although Alexi is still young and has many years ahead of her, she has also had many life experiences which she reflects on to try and tease out valuable lessons. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Advanced Marathoning, by Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas | 15 Mar 2021 | 01:21:19 | |
In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with both Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas about the 3rd edition of their book, Advanced Marathoning. As you will hear in the episode, both of us will be using a plan from this book to train for our sub-3 hour marathon attempt, so we made sure to ask lots of questions. Training components Ch. 1. Elements of training Ch. 2. Nutrition and hydration Ch. 3. Balancing training and recovery Ch. 4. Supplementary training Ch. 5. The older (and wiser) marathoner – New in 3rd ed. Ch. 6. Tapering for peak marathon performance Ch. 7. Race day strategy Training programs Ch. 8. Following the schedules Ch. 9. Marathon training up to 55 miles (89 km) per week Ch. 10. Marathon training on 55 to 70 miles (89 to 113 km) per week Ch. 11. Marathon training on 70 to 85 miles (113-137 km) per week Ch. 12. Marathon training on more than 85 miles (137 km) per week Ch. 13. Multiple marathoning New in the 3rd edition is Appendix B: Equivalent race times from 10k to marathon. Some more recent athletes are featured in the chapters, like Eliud Kipchoge, and Molly Huddle. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| BONUS TRACK: Alan at the 2025 London Marathon | 23 May 2025 | 00:31:13 | |
We haven't done one of these in a while and Alan just got back from his time in the UK for the London Marathon! ...he may have also seen some family and stuff, but you probably don't want to hear about that. If you've been following us for a while, you know that Alan has been applying every year to try and get into the London Marathon via the lottery. He has been disappointed every single time. So how did he get in? We talk about that in this episode, along with how it went, how it compares to Boston, and how Alan was part of a Guinness World Record! Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet https://caffeinebullet.com/RUNNINGBOOK Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Rundown on Books 11 to 20 | 01 Mar 2021 | 00:51:14 | |
Similar to our "Throwback Thoughts on the First 10 Books" episode, we decided to go reflect on everything we learned in books 11 to 20. We know that all the things we have learned is making us into better runners. Run to the Finish, by Amanda Brooks - https://www.amazon.ca/Run-Finish-Everyday-Avoiding-Ignoring/dp/0738285994 Win at All Costs, by Matt Hart - https://www.amazon.ca/Win-All-Costs-Running-Deception/dp/0062917773 Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall - https://www.amazon.ca/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/0307279189 Running with Sherman, by Christopher McDougall - https://www.amazon.ca/Running-Sherman-Inspired-Rag-tag-Craziest/dp/0525433252 The Comeback Quotient, by Matt Fitzgerald - https://www.amazon.ca/Comeback-Quotient-Get-Real-Building-Fitness/dp/1948007169 Running Home, by Katie Arnold - https://www.amazon.ca/Running-Home-Memoir-Katie-Arnold/dp/0425284670 The Lost Art of Running, by Shane Benzie and Tim Major - https://www.amazon.ca/Lost-Art-Running-Rediscover-Forgotten/dp/1472968085 Out of Thin Air, by Michael Crawley - https://www.amazon.ca/Out-Thin-Air-Running-Ethiopia/dp/1472975324 Epic Runs of the World, by publisher Lonely Planet - https://www.amazon.ca/Lonely-Planet-Epic-Runs-World/dp/1788681266 Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| My Noisy Cancer Comeback, by Fitz Koehler | 15 Feb 2021 | 01:10:02 | |
Can you imagine being healthy and fit your whole life... you eat healthy, exercise, and even your career is all about fitness... and then you get a cancer diagnosis?! This is what happened to one of USA's most sought-after running event announcers, Fitz Koehler. Big thank you to Fitz for responding to our request, and for spending time with us to record this episode. If you are interested in getting a copy of the book, Fitz will personally sign any hard or soft cover copies purchased directly from her website: http://www.fitzness.com/blog/ Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Epic Runs of the World, published by Lonely Planet | 01 Feb 2021 | 01:25:07 | |
Epic Runs of the World is a compilation of running destinations, each described by a different author. The publisher, Lonely Planet, has a travel information website and has published many other travel books which are also featured on their website. We are not travelling at the moment but the website, and this book, can be a great resource for planning your future adventures. You may even realize that one of the epic runs are in your own back yard; we found out that Montreal's Mont-Royal is featured in the book! Since this book has no single author, we took a slightly different approach. We contacted a few of our running buddies who have done some of the runs in the book, and asked them to tell us about their experiences.
Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Out of Thin Air, by Michael Crawley | 15 Jan 2021 | 01:05:58 | |
We hear a lot about Kenyan running culture, and in recent years athletes from all over the world have gone to train in Kenya, but what about Ethiopia? Ethiopia has produced athletes like Tirunesh Dibaba, Kenenisa Bekele, and Haile Gebreselassie.
Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Lost Art of Running, by Shane Benzie and Tim Major | 01 Jan 2021 | 01:00:33 | |
Whether you think working on running form is important, or not, this book is a must read. For the non-believers, the book makes some good arguments. For those who already believe form is important, the book will give you a different perspective on form; it is not about one component, like cadence, but about several components, including our lifestyle, which affect each other and our running. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running Home, by Katie Arnold | 15 Dec 2020 | 01:33:03 | |
In this episode we speak with ultra-runner, mother of two girls, and author, Katie Arnold, about her book Running Home. This book is a memoire about Katie’s life. She is a child of divorced parents who grew up in the 70's, and felt like she always needed to be a “good girl” and seek approval from her father. She later became a wife and mother herself, and struggled with mental health. Thank you to Katie Arnold for getting in touch with us, and taking time to come on the podcast. If you want to find out more about Katie, you may read about her on her website https://katiearnold.net/bio. You can also order the book through Katie's website, or get it from your local book store. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Comeback Quotient, by Matt Fitzgerald | 01 Dec 2020 | 01:22:50 | |
Matt Fitzgerald's second book release in 2020?... You better believe it! Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running with Sherman, by Christopher McDougall | 15 Nov 2020 | 01:39:19 | |
Have you ever heard of Burro Racing? We hadn't either until we read Christopher McDougall's new book, Running with Sherman. In this book Chris shares his story of how he ended up adopting a sick rescue donkey who ended up with the name Sherman, and then training to run a race with him. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall | 01 Nov 2020 | 01:04:29 | |
What?!! You haven't read Born to Run?! Even if you have read Born to Run, this episode should remind you of all the details you've forgotten. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Win at All Costs, by Matt Hart | 15 Oct 2020 | 01:35:50 | |
Matt Hart's recently released book, Win at All Costs, gives us an insight into Nikes secretive running program, The Nike Oregon Project. It details the investigation by USADA into Head Coach, Alberto Salazar, and a Houston endocrinologist, Dr. Jeffrey Brown, and their practices with Nike Oregon Project athletes. Matt's book is filled with stories of Nike employees and athletes like former assistant coach Steve Magness, and Olympians Kara and Adam Goucher, who broke the silence about practices within the Nike Oregon Project that were causing them serious ethical dilemas. It also lifts the curtain on the male dominated exploitation and Win at All Cost culture within the Nike organisation. Divided into 20 chapters, the book charts us through a 12 year process that began in 2007 with a voicemail tip-off from Danny Mackay, to the eventual 4 year ban of Salazar and Brown in 2019. At times it seems almost like a James Bond spy story, but like Lance Armstrong, another Nike affiliate, the stories were all too real.
If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, please consider helping your local bookstore if possible. Matt suggested checking out the Bookshop.org website, which also supports local bookstores (thanks Matt!!). Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Alan and Liz's Running Chatter and Rundown on Books 101-110 | 15 May 2025 | 01:17:25 | |
Here we are again with another recap episode. Alan and Liz chat about their last ten reads:
If you're behind in your listening then this episode is for you. You can get a feel for each of the last 10 books we read, before going back to the episodes in order of which books you're most interested in! Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet https://caffeinebullet.com/RUNNINGBOOK Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Run to the Finish, by Amanda Brooks | 03 Oct 2020 | 01:13:30 | |
From basic equipment and training principles to the importance of psychology and dreaming “just big enough”, Run to the Finish by Amanda Brooks, is an overview of everything running. It covers a wide range of topics in an easy to understand way that is accessible to new runners, but provides information that is also good for runners who are not new to the sport and want to improve. It was specifically written for the "middle of the pack" who find that some of the other books out there are a little intimidating because they seem to speak to a more elite group. The book is divided into 11 chapters: 1. You are a runner 2. Motivation beyond the clock 3. Breaking down discomfort VS pain 4. Don’t play the injury game 5. Dreaming just big enough 6. The perfect training plan 7. What is solid training? 8. Managing runger to avoid hangry times 9. Understanding the final 10% 10. Owning race day 11. Developing a lasting PR
If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, please consider helping your local bookstore if possible. If you are looking to get the book online, and also helping out the podcast, you can get the book through our Amazon.ca affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2SnkzrC Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Rundown on Books 1 to 10 | 15 Sep 2020 | 00:45:08 | |
We’ve realized that reading running books has changed us. This is why we decided to go through the first 10 books we reviewed to recap the things we have learned, and the things that have made us better runners.
Kicksology, by Brian Metzler - https://amzn.to/3hzkfR6
Runner, by Lizzy Hawker - https://amzn.to/3mhl2JV
Strong, by Kara Goucher - https://amzn.to/32sjtkA
Happy Runner, by David and Megan Roche - https://amzn.to/3bUaOKF
Running the Dream, by Matt Fitzgerald - https://amzn.to/2NEATSO
Girls Running, by Melody Fairchild and Elizabeth Carey - https://www.velopress.com/books/girls-running/
North, by Scott Jurek - https://amzn.to/39VKe2Z
The Rise of the Ultra Runners, by Adharanand Finn - https://amzn.to/2XTUqUO Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Chasing Excellence, by Pat Melgares | 01 Sep 2020 | 01:22:48 | |
For those who have never heard of Coach Vigil, he is a legend in the coaching of US Track and Filed, Cross Country, and distance running. He has helped develop a coaching program for coaching runners, and has taught coaches all over the US, and in many other countries around the world. Although he has accomplished many things, gotten many awards, and coached dozens of Olympians, Coach Vigil is most loved for his compassion and caring for the “whole person” and not just the athlete. Chasing Excellence is a book about Coach Vigil’s life. It starts by telling us how Joe Vigil grew up to a single mom who worked very hard to provide food and shelter for 3 boys and made sure that they were always in line. They didn’t have very much in terms of material but with the work ethic instilled by his mom, his desire to help people, and his passion for sports, Joe ended up accomplishing many things that some would not have thought possible. Coach Joe Vigil has touched the lives of many people he has met, and this book is full of stories about the impact he had on different people. Not all his runners went to the Olympics, but many did great things because Coach Vigil not only believed in them, but also helped them believe in themselves.
In this episode of Running Book Reviews we had the pleasure of interviewing the author (and one of Coach Vigil's former athletes), Pat Melgares. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| The Rise of The Ultra Runners, by Adharanand Finn | 15 Aug 2020 | 01:28:10 | |
Ever wonder why someone would want to run distances longer than the marathon? Isn't the marathon hard enough? What about hundreds of miles through the woods, across the desert, or up a mountain? If you ever wondered how any runner becomes an ultra runner, and why, these are the questions explored in Adharanand Finn's latest book The Rise of the Ultra Runners.
If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, please consider helping your local bookstore if possible. If you are looking to get the book online, and also helping out the podcast, you can get the book through our Amazon.ca affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2XTUqUO Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| North, by Scott Jurek | 01 Aug 2020 | 01:20:07 | |
Scott Jurek, 7 times winner of Western States Ultra and one of the greatest ultra-runners in the sports history, describes in his book, North, his final herculean running challenge, the FKT (fastest known time) for the Appalachian Trail (AT). The AT is 2189 miles of rugged difficult track with over 500,000 ft of elevation change. What’s more, Scott decides to do it going in the more difficult “North” direction at the same time as hurricane Bill hits the eastern mountains of the USA! Suffering a serious injury with still 30 plus days to go at 50 miles per day, Scott is going to have to dig deeper than he has ever has before. Alan and Liz talk through Scott and Jenny’s adventure and speak with their friend Nestor who ran with Scott during his record-breaking attempt. If you are interested in purchasing a copy this book, you can help support the podcast at the same time by getting your copy through our affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/39VKe2Z Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Girls Running, by Melody Fairchild and Elizabeth Carey | 16 Jul 2020 | 01:10:08 | |
If you have an athletic teen girl or young woman in your life, this book should be your next gift to her. Girls Running is a book by Melody Fairchild (once the fastest girl in the world for her age) and Elizabeth Carey (writer and running coach), that aims to answer questions that girls and young women have about running, and how puberty and female hormones can affect performance. In this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing the authors about their book. The official release date is August 11th, 2020. If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, it is available for pre-order on the Velo Press website: https://www.velopress.com/books/girls-running/ Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running the Dream, by Matt Fitzgerald | 30 Jun 2020 | 01:12:52 | |
Have you ever dreamt of what it would be like to train like an elite runner? To have your whole life revolve around running, and see how good you could get if there were no other distractions? Accomplished endurance athlete, coach, and author, Matt Fitzgerald, did exactly this in 2017, and wrote about it in his most recent book Running the Dream. If you are familiar with some of Matt Fitzgerald’s other books, this one doesn’t have the traditional layout with chapters dedicated to different topics. Instead, the book reads like a journal, and each chapter is titled with the number of days left until his goal race, the Chicago Marathon.
In this episode we get to interview Matt, and he provides additional insight to his “fake pro runner” experience. He tells us about the things he had to do in addition to the running to be able to sustain the training and speculates what his performance may have been if he had not felt his injury coming back during the race.
Thank you to Pegasus Books for providing us a review copy, and also putting us in contact with the author for an interview. If you want to find out more about Matt Fitzgerald, his personal website https://mattfitzgerald.org has a list of books he has written and co-authored. You can also access his coaching services through this website.
If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, please consider helping your local bookstore if possible. If you are looking to get the book online, and also helping out the podcast, you can get the book through our Amazon.ca affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2NEATSO Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Happy Runner, by David and Megan Roche | 16 Jun 2020 | 00:49:10 | |
In Happy Runner, a 2-part book published by Human Kinetics (thanks for the book!), David and Megan explain the importance of being a happy runner (part 1) and outline the training principles they use with their running team SWAP (part 2). The acronym stands for “some work all play”, which is their goal when coaching their athletes. The book is written as a combined first-person perspective of both authors (we), but occasionally shifts to the perspective of either David or Megan, or their dog Addie who is very present in part 1 of the book. Addie represents unconditional love and support, which is what David and Megan believe we all need to have for ourselves. David and Megan are highly educated, and great runners. Both have numerous Team USA appearances and distinguished pedigrees in trail running.
Part 1 - Happy Runner Rules The first section is the longest, and all about mindset. David and Megan believe we need to live in the moment and be happy with our running in order to progress. They have 3 rules: Rule 1: Embrace the Process Rule 2: Know Your “Why?” In order to enjoy your running, you need to know why you do it. In this section the reader is told to ask him/herself 4 questions: 1) Why do I run at all? 2) Why do I run each day? 3) Why am I racing at all? 4) Why do I have my long-term goals? Rule 3: Power Yourself with Kindness Megan and David believe that being kind to yourself and others will improve your happiness, and your running!
Part 2 - Happy Runner Training Principles This section is all about the training principles used by David when coaching SWAP team members. There are 5 basic principles: Principle 1: Easy means Easy Principle 2: Learn to Run Fast before practicing Running Hard Principle 4: Specificity Matters but less than you think Principle 5: Healthy Running is Active and Earned Each principle is explained, and David gives examples of many athletes who have excelled with SWAP. Even though David’s athletes train hard, he also explains that the body knows stress not miles, and stress comes from training and life! Everyone is different in the amount of stress they can handle, but incorporating some dynamic exercises, rolling and stretching, getting enough sleep, and eating enough can help increase the amount of running stress you can handle. As a final note in the book, David, Megan, and Addie want you to know that you are awesome, you are enough, and you should believe in yourself. Listen to the podcast to hear more details, and as usual, some of our own stories!
If you are interested in purchasing a copy this book, you can help support the podcast at the same time by getting your copy through our affiliate link at: https://amzn.to/2N5Z1xo Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Strong, by Kara Goucher | 01 Jun 2020 | 00:49:35 | |
Kara Goucher's book Strong: A Runner's Guide to Boosting Confidence and Becoming the Best Version of You was published by Blue Star Press in 2018. In the name of full disclosure, Blue Star Press was kind enough to provide us a free copy to review. Kara Goucher is one of the USA's most decorated, and most recognizable female runners. She has a long list of accomplishments both on the track and on the road and has been on the US Olympic team in 2012 and 2016. Her book aims to help other athletes boost their self-confidence using the same sports psychology techniques that she used during her career. Kara doesn't claim to BE a sports psychologist, but rather she recognizes that many runners deal with confidence issues, and wants to share techniques that were helpful for her.
The techniques Kara provides in the book are: · Positive self-talk · Mantra · Setting goals · Enclothed cognition · Power pose · Visualization · Power words · Social connection
This book has limited theoretical backgrounds about each individual technique, but this is not the goal of the book anyway. It provides questions and exercises to guide the reader in applying the technique and provides examples from Kara Goucher's own confidence journal as examples.
Kara also has other female athletes (Molly Huddle and Emma Coburn, to name a couple) contribute their own struggles and ideas about confidence, and it really shows how the elites struggle with the same demons as we do. Kara tells us how she used to feel like she didn't belong when she would line up to run high caliber races.
If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, and also helping out the podcast, you can get the book through this Amazon.ca affiliate link: Strong: A Runner's Guide to Being the Best Version of You Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Runner, by Lizzy Hawker | 14 May 2020 | 00:44:11 | |
Runner, a Short Story About a Long Run, by Lizzy Hawker, is a memoire about how Lizzy accidently discovered ultra-running, and her journey of self-discovery through testing her limits with running. Who Is Lizzy Hawker? A Ph.D. in oceanography, a Briton with great adventuring spirit now sharing her time between Switzerland and Nepal. Her list of accomplishments includes: o 100 km women’s world champion in 2006 o 5-time winner of the UTMB, most prestigious Ultra in Europe (unprecedented) o 24-hour record on the road in 2011 o First woman to be on the overall winner’s podium at Spartathlon o 2013 National Geographic Adventurer of the year o Ran 320 km through the Himalayas from Everest Basecamp to Kathmandu in Nepal
The book has 16 chapters but falls into 3 distinct parts Part 1: A Journey of Discovery. Lizzy shows her thirst for the experience of tough challenges and begins winning major Ultra events almost by accident. Part 2: A Journey of Exploration Lizzy falls in love with Nepal and the Himalayas. She also sets FKTs for Everest base camp to Kathmandu. During this episode Alan tries to explain how this feels through his own discovery of trail running and journey to the Himalayas. Liz gets lost a bit in the unfamiliar geography. Part 3: A Journey of Rediscovery and Exploration Lizzy battles with injury, a repeated series of stress fractures. Liz marvels at her ability to treat this as another type of challenge and opportunity to learn. Alan is amazed. At the end Liz has some reservations about the book and Alan is a starry-eyed groupie! The book itself is nicely presented by UK publisher Aurum Press. (now White Lion)
If you are interested in purchasing a copy this book, you can help support the podcast at the same time by getting your copy through our affiliate link at: Runner: A short story about a long run Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Unbound, by Bill Donahue | 01 May 2025 | 01:33:04 | |
In this episode of Running Book Reviews, we had the pleasure of speaking with author Bill Donahue about his recent book, Unbound. Unbound is a collection of some of the best stories Bill has written about endurance sport for Runner’s World, Outside, Backpacker, Washington Post Magazine and others. The stories are divided into 5 subcategories which make up sections of the book:
Bill Donahue is a journalist. In reporting stories, he has searched for fallen meteorites in the Sahara Desert, snuck into Manuel Noriega’s abandoned beach house, and camped out with Army soldiers in the minus 30 degree chill of the Alaskan Arctic. He has worked in over 20 countries while writing for publications ranging from The Atlantic and The New York Times Magazine to Harper’s, Wired, Bicycling, Runner’s World, Outside and Harvard Public Health. Bill’s work has been republished in several anthologies, including Best American Sports Writing and Best American Travel Writing and he has won the Lowell Thomas Gold Medal for Adventure Travel Writing as well as the City and Regional Magazine Awards. Bill lives in rural New Hampshire where he goes out cycling or skiing almost every day. If you’d like to know more about Bill Donahue you can find his website here: https://billdonahue.net He is also on Instagram and Twitter (now X) under the username @billdonahue13 Link for 20% discount on Caffeine Bullet https://caffeinebullet.com/RUNNINGBOOK Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Running Rewired, by Jay Dicharry | 01 May 2020 | 01:02:37 | |
Jay Dicharry’s book explains how to reinvent your running for better stability, speed and strength. Alan and Liz take you through it in detail covering each of the books 3 parts: 1. The rationale; what is going on with the runner’s body. 2. How to drive your run in a customised fashion with targeted precision and performance exercises. 3. How to rewire your running brain with workouts to reinforce the new behaviours.
Training harder might just be reinforcing poor running patterns. Stop forcing “plan B”, and switch to your “plan A”. Jay uses a step by step approach to tells us how to do this, and why it is important. There are clear explanations of what is going on inside your mind and body, demystifying some of the more common scientific jargon we hear around running. Discover how to find out what YOUR body needs to do to be a better runner, and then convince your brain to send it a revised set of instructions! Sounds magical? Well it’s going to take some work. Jay shows us each drill and exercise in sumptuous illustrated form, before assembling them into a menu of routines. Each person can then select routines from the menu based on needs, skill level, and where they are in their training plan. Liz offers her advanced experience with the programs in the book, and Alan contributes his beginner experience trying to get his glutes to show up for a run! As usual the team give the book a thorough and enthusiastic examination. Is it the book for you? You will certainly know by the end. If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, and also helping out the podcast, you can get the book through this affiliate link: Running Rewired: Reinvent Your Run for Stability, Strength, and Speed Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Kicksology, by Brian Metzler | 01 Apr 2020 | 00:37:42 | |
The hype, science, culture and cool of running shoes is described brilliantly in Brian Metzler's book. In addition, all the historic and controversial milestones are described. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||
| Hanson's Marathon Method, by Luke Humphrey | 01 Apr 2020 | 01:14:09 | |
This book describes a unique marathon training program developed by Kevin and Keith Hanson, and trained by coach Luke Humphrey, one of Hanson’s early students. Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/ If you have been enjoying the podcast and want more, you can find some extras on our By Me a Coffee site! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/runningbookreviews | |||