Image courtesy of the Orewa Beach Series 2018
It's almost been 20 years since I first started running. Although I ran and played a lot of sport growing up, it wasn't until later in life that I really got to just run for myself simply because I loved it.
Link to my original post as to why I run can be found here
As I spent more time honing and training my hobby, I read as much as I could to get as much as I could out of it. I've read a lot of books on the topic, some about the technicalities of training, some autobiographies and some simply discussed how running changed their life. So I thought it would be interesting to post my top five books on running.
I think a lot of these books speak to me as for each of the authors, sport has given them a sense of purpose in life and allowed them to live on their own terms. Something that I am still coming to terms with. I think all of the authors are all older than I am as well, so I look to them as almost mentors.
So here they are in no specific order:
Title: Jack Daniels Running Formula
Author: Jack Daniels
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Daniels-Running-Formula-3rd-Jack/dp/1450431836
It was pretty clear when I first started running, I had no clue about structuring my training to get the most out of myself while limiting any chance of injury on my body. Needless to say, it didn't really work that well, but it gave me a good idea on what not to do. Jack Daniels Running Formula was one of the first books I read on running and it gave me a clear picture on not just how to set up a weekly training plan, but why. It gave me knowledge on threshold training, interval sessions, long runs, repeats and easy sessions. Until that time, I would usually run all my training as fast as I could. I assumed it was the only way to get faster.
Fast forward quite a few years and even though I am constantly trying to find new ways to train and optimise my training, this book keeps coming up as a one stop handbook to look for when you have any question about training for a specific race or distance.
Title: Running to Extremes
Author: Lisa Tamati
Link: https://www.lisatamati.co.nz/Store/running-to-extremes
Fast forward a few years and after finding I had a lot more time on my hands, I renewed my love for reading. When I picked up "Running to Extremes" it was the first time I had read a book on running that had nothing to do about performance, training and improving your running times. It was just about one woman and her ability to take on some of the toughest and longest ultra marathons in the world. Until this time, I had never run further than a half marathon. I thought that anything further was for super humans and people like me, would always be relegated to the sidelines cheering on. Don't get me wrong Lisa Tamati is still a superhuman, but for some reason, it gave me a strange feeling that it wasn't completely out of reach. It also let me appreciate that running didn't need to be limited to the city I lived in. Running races around the world also aren't limited to the professional ranks.
Title: Finding Ultra
Author: Rich Roll
Link: http://www.richroll.com/finding-ultra/
Not 100% about running, but is a really great autobiography of Rich Roll, his life growing up as college swimmer, becoming a corporate lawyer, alcoholic and then onto finding something more from life and becoming an endurance athlete.
I'm not vegan or vegetarian but this book gave me a lot of insight into what else there is available as endurance athletes. As well it made me question what human limits are, especially when we age and if they are more a mental barrier than anything else.
Title: Road to Sparta
Author: Dean Karnazes
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Road-Sparta-Reliving-Inspired-Greatest/dp/1609614747
If you have read one of Dean Karnazes' previous books then you'll most likely love this. Dean discusses his life journey to follow the path of the greatest ancient Greek runner Pheidippides and explores the story of the first marathon. I don't want to give too much away, but he provides us with more of the untold story of the marathon, and although the history is still being pieced together, provides an interesting insight into the history of running, specifically in Ancient Greece.
Karnazes' writing style is entertaining to say the least, also providing details on his family's history, his upbringing and his path to becoming an endurance athlete.
Title: Endure
Author: Alex Hutchinson
Link: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062499974/endure
Another one that is not completely about running but has some great references to Nike's "Project 1:59" and Roger Bannister eventual successful running of a sub four minute mile. This book was only released in early 2018 but I think it is worth putting it into my top five of all time. If you love geeking out on science and what holds us back in our pursuit for human endurance, this book is for you. It starts with a discussion on the history of research into human fitness and some of the findings that came about from the research.
It then spends time focusing on some of the limiting factors that inhibit our endurance performance including heat, dehydration, VO2Max and the brain's ability to stop us from getting the most out of our bodies. It then works through some of the latest research on how you might want to train yourself to work around these limiting factors.
My latest updated to the @runningproject is all about the "9 Mile Marathon Training Plan", so feel free to look it up below: @runningproject/the-9-mile-marathon-training-plan