Category: Book and Product Reviews

Book and Product Reviews

2021 best of recommendations

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I know the beginning of February may seem early…but if I could only recommend one book and one thing to watch this entire year, here they are [seriously, they are that good]:

George really thinks you should read Bravey


What to read: Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas by Alexi Pappas (2021)

Pappas is a threat in so many areas I can’t even count them all: world-class distance runner, filmmaker, writer, actor, warm and brave life ambassador. She has survived devastating personal loss, mental and physical injuries, and courageously shares what she has learned from those experiences. I was continually impressed by her candor, humor, and formidable intelligence. I would really like to have a beer with her, tell her about my day, discuss her fashion aesthetic and current training plan, and marvel together in the wonder that is this life.

We all struggle sometimes. We all feel like we are the only one who hasn’t figured out adulting, feels constantly overwhelmed, feels constantly down or anxious or both. We feel shame that we feel this way and struggle to keep it secret. Even as I type this I think “maybe I shouldn’t say that. Maybe no one else feels this way. Maybe everyone else really does Have. It. Figured. Out.” Pappas shares her journey with depression with profound generosity – it is a love letter to us all, and an invitation for us to do the same – celebrate ourselves in all our wondrous and unique complexity.

In her own words: “you can be one thing – or two or three – you can be – the beauty and the beast”.

image: IMDb.com


What to watch: Rising Phoenix (Netflix 2020)

This fabulous documentary follows several athletes training for the Paralympic Games, reviews the creation and history of the Paralympic Games, and chronicles some of the funding and publicity challenges faced in recent years.

As Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman is credited with saying, “if you have a body, you’re an athlete”. If you are currently training for something or you once trained for something or you just walked to the mailbox – you are an athlete and this documentary is for you. I strongly believe that watching athletes train at the elite level holds more for us “recreational” types than just inspiration. Every day, each of us has to move with the body we have at that moment, and dance the delicate line between challenge and strength and pushing too far. Sometimes the tango works out, and sometimes you fall on your face. But you keep trying.

Every damn day.

Book and Product Reviews

Stillness Is The Key by Ryan Holiday (2019)

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This book was sitting in our large communal to-be-read pile on the dining room table for months before I picked it up; Dan and I both thought the other person had ordered it (so if this is a gift from someone, thanks, and we didn’t get the memo). According to the book jacket, Ryan Holiday is “one of the world’s foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in everyday life”, which while impressive, makes me feel a little bit skeptical.

That said, I found the text to be interesting and occasionally insightful. Holiday is not the best writer, but he does a sound job of providing interesting examples of contemporary and historic (though it should be noted mostly male and white) figures who have or haven’t embraced stillness to guide their choices and how that impacted their life’s path. He also gives the reader practical, tangible, and realistic ways (organized as chapter headings) to consider their mind, spirit, and body, and how to honor and nourish the needs of each of those components of your lived experience. The narrative on ritual and the healing power of the outdoors resonated in particular with me, as did his words regarding our inherent connection with all other lives: “No one is alone, in suffering or in joy. Down the street, across the ocean, in another language, someone else is experiencing nearly the exact same thing. It has always been and always be thus” (160).

If you are looking for a tool to help you check-in on your priorities, this one may be a good starting point. The chapters are short, making it easy to pick up and put down within the busy rhythm of your life, and if you are of the journaling sort, I think it would lend itself to prompting exploratory writing.

Book and Product Reviews

The Rise of the Ultra Runners: A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance by Adharanand Finn (2019)

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Ultra Marathon: any running race longer than 26.2 miles (traditional marathon distance). Typically run on trails, ultra marathons may also be held on roads. Also typically, ultras involve a lot of walking as well as running. You know, because they are SO STINKING LONG.

Finn is a writer and runner with a pretty legit marathon personal best of around 3 hours (consider that most marathon finishers never break the 4 hour mark and you get an appreciation for his fitness level). A lifelong runner, he admits at the beginning of this journey to a bias towards fast events (read: traditional track and road distances) vs. ultra and trail events. But a job offer to run and then write about the multi-day Oman Desert Ultra Marathon (just over 100 miles) seals his fate and begins an obsessive dive into the rich history, training philosophies, and interesting characters that populate the sport. This ambitious immersion culminates in completing the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a trail ultra with approximately a gazillion feet of elevation gain that circumnavigates Mt. Blanc through three countries and is one of the toughest ultra races on the planet.

I would consider this book to be primarily a memoir, and I found Finn to be a likable and entertaining writer with a personality familiar to any endurance athlete or long-suffering loved one of an endurance athlete – Unrealistic expectations? Check. Ability to minimize potential effort/risk? Check. Borderline obsessive personality? Check and Check. As someone new to this type of running, Finn spends a lot of time questioning others as to why they run ultras, and as he struggles with injury and uncertainty, he ultimately decides that “putting our finger on why we do this seemingly mad sport is almost impossible. The real reasons seem to lie just beyond the reasons we give. Sure, we want to win, we want to finish, we want to do our best, we want to find our limit, we want to make people proud…but none of it quite explains it. It’s an unfathomable urge, a deep, primal call, to be out there, to stand facing oblivion, and to come through to the other side.” (228) I totally get this – it’s why I can’t stop myself from finding a new goal each time I accomplish the last one. It’s why I love ultras but also why I love road events – I want to go longer, I want to go shorter and faster, I want to KEEP GOING. I love the work towards the goal even more than I love the actual event I’m working towards; there is peace and joy in the work. There is nobility in the effort. It’s meaningless and it means everything, all at the same time.

As an ultra dork, I was already familiar with most of the people and events that Finn explores (which didn’t make it less interesting to read his depiction, it just wasn’t new to me) with the notable exception of his treatment with NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT), which I had never heard of. Partway into his ultra career he develops debilitating Achilles tendon pain, which remained unresolved after seeing multiple specialists and physical therapists. After working with an “Anatomy in Motion” provider (a similar approach to NKT), Finn is surprised to learn that breaking his left wrist three times may be contributing to the pain in his lower leg. By incorporating the NKT techniques, he is able run harder, longer, and faster with improved form and no pain. As David Weinstock describes it to Finn, “what we’re doing is essentially rebooting the computer in the brain that controls movement. In an NKT session, we interview people, then watch them move. We want to figure out what’s over-working and what’s under-working. Then you release the over-working muscles, or activate the under-working muscles, which helps re-program that dysfunctional pattern in the brain.” (126) What did not surprise me about Finn finding success with this method was that by embracing a systemic approach that views the body as a complex, integrated organism rather than isolated muscles and joints, he was able to resolve the issue.

Book and Product Reviews

Life isn’t perfect…but your running accessories can be

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top row: Going To Valhalla…Witness and Donkey Goggles (the OGs)
bottom row: Schrodinger’s Saigon Jade (the Runways)

Goodr Sunglasses; $24-35. Five styles! Kick-ass colors!! Cheap AF!!! One of my favorite things about these sunglasses, in addition to the multiple positive points noted above, is the super catchy name assigned to each color. PLUS: they do not slip while running, even with a super sweaty face. I have three pairs, and I’m doing everything to resist buying some Circle Gs (the newest style), but I’m not made of stone.

https://goodr.com/

Viva Diva Orange 1″ Sweaty Band

Sweaty Bands; $15. If you’re in need of a non-slip, not too tight but not too loose headband, check out the many styles available at Sweaty Bands. The ultra bright orange is my race day go-to, but I also have a smaller metallic gold band for the days when I need to feel like Wonder Woman. These are machine washable (I recommend you use a mesh garment bag) and last forever – I’ve had my orange one for 8 years and it’s not stretched out at all.

Shop All
image: Oiselle.com

Oiselle Firecracker Earband; currently on sale for $14. Love love love this lightweight option for keeping your ears warm on cold or windy days. I find this is a better option for me than a stocking cap, as it lets my head breathe so I don’t get cold from really sweaty hair. I’ve worn it happily in 20-something degree training days all winter.

FIRECRACKER EARBAND
my much-loved race day socks for the last 2 years

Stance Socks; price varies. When we moved to Central Oregon in late 2016, I immediately began having trouble with the trail socks that had worked for me in Portland, Mt Hood, and the Columbia Gorge. The volcanic soil here tears socks to pieces; I’ve had pairs from multiple brands have a toe blowout the very first time I wore them, which is super frustrating and expensive. My favorite socks now, for road and trail, both for comfort and durability (without too much blister-inducing bulk) are Stance. I can’t recall throwing a pair out yet. Bonus: they come in wild, fun, and silly prints.

https://www.stance.com/

image: outside.co.uk

Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta 4.0 Hydration Vest; currently on sale for $112. I ran in a Unisex (which means “men’s”) Mountain Hardware vest for my first 5 years of ultra running. It served me pretty well, but I do find having a female-specific design means better fit over my clavicles and across my torso – I don’t have to wrench the front straps way down. I found this model to be the perfect porridge of accessible pockets and adequate storage without being too big. I can carry lots of water, food, and a couple layers without even noticing the weight.

https://ultimatedirection.com/

image: roadid.com

Road ID; $20-40. If you’re out there running, it’s a good idea to wear some form of identification. I grew up in a superstitious family who believed that if you prepare for disaster, you can prevent it occurring; I think we have all seen in recent weeks that may in fact not be true, but still. If I’m running or skiing alone, I’ve got my Road ID band on. I also wear it now when I travel (or, when I used to travel. See also: global pandemic). This is also a great gift card to give the runner in your life.

https://www.roadid.com/

Coalition Snow + Black Crows sittin’ on a chair lift
image: Kori Barnum

Coalition Snow “Taken For Granite” All Mountain Skis; price varies. Back in the day when the mountains were open (March 13), this pair of lovelies was helping me become a solid intermediate skier in my 3rd season on the slopes.

“Coalition Snow is a woman-owned and operated ski and snowboard brand that builds the gear and the communities that unleash skills and expand experiences. We were founded in 2014 in response to the industry’s go-to strategy of “shrinking and pinking” women’s skis and snowboards. We wanted more. With decades of dedication to skiing and snowboarding between our founders, we took things into our own hands and partnered with some of the best builders around” (https://www.coalitionsnow.com/).

Book and Product Reviews

let’s talk about clothes, baby (women’s version)

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Herewith, a passionate proclamation concerning the apparel that powers my runs. You will see immediately that the Oiselle brand dominates my selections. I’ve supported and worn Oiselle since nearly the company’s beginning, and I’ve found their garments to be well-made and very long lasting; they’ve held up to years of washing and multiple trail tumbles and repeated cat landing-pad and taking-off encounters. I narrowed down my favorites to a mere three (Dan would find this feat particularly impressive since I’m often garbed in head-to-toe Oiselle): the Flyte tank, all versions of Roga shorts, and the Flyout bra.

If you care about how a garment looks, that’s cool but optional. What you very much should care about is how a garment FEELS on your body; it should be comfortable, because you want to feel empowered in your workouts and not distracted by an ill fit or chafing. If you also want to feel like a conquering warrior who achieves their goals and laughs in the face of uncertainty, you may find that a certain color or fit or brand strengthens your badassery – if that works for you, go with it.

Note: I group the apparel here into the “women’s” category, and will do the same in a future post detailing Dan’s favorite running apparel as “men’s”, but fit and function are about more than gendered distinctions. Find what feels good on your body and buy that. What matters is what gets and keeps you running!

image: endurancesportswire.com

“Oiselle is a Seattle-based by women, for women athletic apparel company that has always loved to go fast, take chances. We make running apparel for female athletes of all ages, paces, and places and bring together a community of women who love to move, run, and fly. Our mission is threefold: make great product, improve the sport, and build the sisterhood. We believe in the transformative power of sport”. https://www.oiselle.com/pages/about

Oiselle Flyte Tank $48
image: fleetfeet.com

The Flyte tank is made of a buttery soft fabric that strikes the perfect balance of being lightweight but not too lightweight, long enough for good movement coverage but not too long. It’s the perfect porridge of a tank top, and currently comes in 8 colors. Personally, I find $48 for a tank top to be a bit dear, and I bought my first Flyte tank during a sale. But I love it so much, I would be willing to pay full retail (a condition I normally avoid) to buy more. They are worth it.

If you started running anytime after 1980 or so, you may not have given much thought to buying a running bra. You run. You have breasts. You buy a running bra. Duh. But the embarrassment of retail riches that is the current running bra selection would have been a distant dream for female runners before that time period – it took years and some serious moxie to get a sports bra on the market:

https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20860634/a-brief-history-of-the-sports-bra/

Oiselle Flyout Bra $56
image: activeandrea.com

So I say, god bless you brassiere pioneers. And to Oiselle’s designers, I say god bless you as well. I have struggled for years to find a supportive running bra (often buying a bra that’s really too small so it will be tight enough to mash my boobs down and provide adequate support) that is also comfortable. The Flyout bra is unique in Oiselle’s line in having a pocket between the shoulder blades for your cell phone; I initially resisted trying this bra because I thought that might be a gimmick or just uncomfortable. I’m happy to report that it’s an awesome feature – I can’t even tell my phone is there, it doesn’t bounce at all, and now I don’t have to wear a waist belt to carry my phone – freedom, oh freedom! And dare I say – the bra is supportive AND comfortable. No binding, no need to apply anti-chafe balm, and I can actually inflate my lungs completely.

Oiselle Roga Shorts $58-62
image: oiselle.com

And for the final installment in my Oiselle fan-girl manifesto, I offer the Roga short. Comes in deliriously cool patterns, vibrant colors, and sedate neutrals, and three inseam options (2″, 4″, 6″) – so basically if you want short and sassy, long and subtle, or any length/color combo in between, you got it. Also pretty cool is the “Toolbelt Roga”, which features 5 POCKETS – there’s room for your gels, your keys, lip balm, you name it, all without making you feel like you have an actual toolbelt around your waist. The fabric used in these shorts wicks like a dream and is crazy durable; my oldest pair are from 2013, and I have yet to tear a pair of these during a trail fall or have a seam fail from use. I currently have 5 pairs, and I may very soon have 6 because I don’t know how much longer I can resist buying the absolutely lovely floral print that is currently available… https://www.oiselle.com/collections/shorts/products/toolbelt-roga-shorts

my sexy fast zebra impression
Adidas Terrex Agravic Wind Running Jacket
apparently now on wicked discount ~$40
image: Kori Barnum

And finally, to prove I occasionally buy another athletic brand, my favorite lightweight windbreaker is the Adidas Terrex Agravic Wind Running Jacket. I feel like a sexy zebra in this jacket, and more importantly, I feel like a sexy fast zebra. It shields the wind and light precipitation, and conveniently stuffs into the chest pocket, creating a small bundle that fits in the palm of your hand or a hydration vest pocket. Sadly, Adidas no longer makes this jacket (maybe because it had such a long and awkward name??). A quick Google search shows that it is still available through some other retailers (the-house.com, ebay) at way less than its original retail in spring of 2018 when I purchased it.

Book and Product Reviews

you had me at shoes

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image: Kori Barnum

With many of our events canceled and indoor workout facilities closed, I am finding renewed gratitude for the accessibility and simplicity of running during these turbulent times. Here are my absolute favorite shoes for trail and road running, and also recovery sandals (this is a thing, and once you have a pair, you will never go back).

If you can support your local running shop, particularly now, they are always a great place to buy and to get recommendations. In Bend we have http://www.footzonebend.com/ , where I have consistently found a friendly and knowledgeable staff to assist me. If you’re looking to order online, I have often found deals (particularly on older models) on Backcountry, Zappos, and Amazon.

Note: women’s models are shown here, but all of these come in men’s versions too. “Offset” is the difference in millimeters between the shoe height at the heel area and the height at the toe area; a traditional/common offset is around 12mm. Generally a lower offset is associated with a forefoot or midfoot strike (rather than a heel strike), which is consistent with a minimalist running style.

TRAIL SHOES:
I have only one true [shoe] love: Nike’s Air Zoom Terra Kiger. I’ve always run some trail, but I started to really focus on trail mileage around 2006. At that time I just wore my road shoes, but the market and selection for trail shoes really expanded in the 2010s. My first pair of specifically-for-trail shoes were Brooks Pure Grit, and they were a great pair of shoes. And then a clerk at Portland Running and Walking Company on SE Grand Ave had me try on a pair of Terra Kigers in 2016. I was skeptical; I’ve been a runner forever, and although I’ve tried Nikes off and on over the years, they never fit right. But sometimes when you meet the right shoe, you just know. The second they were on my feet, they were perfection. And they felt even better on the trail – natural feel so I could sense the terrain under my feet, but enough cushion that rocks didn’t hurt, and super grippy soles (I don’t even wear climbing approach shoes anymore, because I feel so secure in my Terra Kigers while scrambling on rock). They also sport a comfortable toe box that you really appreciate after a few hours on your feet when all your toes resemble Vienna sausages and need more real estate. And they come in the bold, wild, candy colors I remember from the original years of Nike running shoes from the way back of my youth. I tried recently to count how many pairs I’ve had by trying to remember all the colors, and I had to stop around 8 – which I’m not sure is high enough. I usually buy two colors and rotate those shoes (which I’m doing currently), and I usually also have a backup new pair in the closet. Even before the pandemic. Because you can never have too many backup running shoes.

offset: 4mm weight: 8.5oz $130
image: Nike.com

https://www.nike.com/t/air-zoom-terra-kiger-6-womens-trail-running-shoe-CnfDJ2/CJ0220-400

ROAD SHOES:

I must be a serial monogamist, because I’m a one-woman brand for road shoes too – Saucony. I do spice it up a little though, because I prefer one style for “Something of Substance” (SOS) workouts (race pace tempos, speedwork) and a different style for easy runs.

Saucony Kinvara 11: My go-to for SOS workouts. Neutral shoe with the just-the-right-amount of cushion and firmness. I think it speaks a lot to how well designed this shoe is that I, with narrow flat feet and a preference for more minimal shoes, can wear this style happily but so can my wide-footed, high-arched husband. I will say that I don’t love the Model 11 as well as past versions; for some inexplicable reason they made the toe box narrower (and again, I have narrow feet, so that’s saying something) and the cushion isn’t quite as well distributed. That said, it’s like looking at your 98% perfect spouse and complaining. So I’m not complaining, in case that isn’t clear.

offset: 4mm weight: 6.09oz $110
image: marathonsports.com
note: this is the Boston 2016 edition (Kinvara 7, which was my preferred model for this shoe)

Saucony Freedom 3: Another gem from Saucony’s neutral line, my go-to for easy road runs and anytime I want to walk around. These are HEAVEN. It’s like having little pillows of joy strapped to each foot. I don’t have great natural running form and I’m stiff, so when I tried these for faster runs they didn’t feel firm enough, but if you have better biomechanics, you may like them for speed workouts too. That said, I can happily run up to 12 miles or so in these without a care in the world as long as I’m at a moderate pace.

offset: 4mm weight: 8.4oz $150
image: prodirectrunning.com

RECOVERY SANDALS:

I would recommend the Hoka One One Ora Recovery Slide to anyone. The aesthetic is solidly orthopedic, so you’re not going to win any America’s Next Top Model competition in these bad boys, but your feet will be so happy, you won’t even care. When your feet are covered in blisters and hot spots, these are the shoes to wear. When your feet and ankles are tired from tough workouts, these are the shoes to wear. Mine are two years old and have held up well, which made the high ticket price worth it; they are an investment in my foot/leg recovery.

$50
image: amazon.com
Book and Product Reviews

Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson (2018)

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This text is an interesting exploration into the foundational theories behind human physical and mental endurance, as well as a detailed discussion of research into key variables in athletic training: pain, muscle, oxygen, heat, thirst, and fuel.


One of the benefits of reviewing the scientific literature on athletic training is that you can learn tips and tricks to benefit your own training (smiling reduces perceived effort, swishing and spitting out sports drinks can have a similar effect to actually consuming the drink, positive self-talk can help you push past the wall, etc). One of the disadvantages to reviewing the scientific literature on athletic training is that you may incorporate information that agrees with your current approach/perspective/biases and disregard anything that doesn’t – if I’m perfectly honest, I think I fall into this category a lot. If I read something that tells me that running for a lot of hours is bad for you or that you must focus on only one sport to truly excel or that sleeping less is ideal for performance…I’m going to move right along and ignore it.


That said, I think there’s value for most of us non-professional but still goal-driven real-life athletes in learning more about performance hacks for strength, technique, endurance, and fuel. If you haven’t done much reading in these areas, this is a great book to start with. I also found it easy to pick up for 10-15 minutes at a time, which makes it highly practical for busy, over-extended athletes with day jobs and families and adulting responsibilities.

A couple of quick info hits for you:

  • “Starting in the late 1990s, a South African physician and scientist named Tim Noakes began to argue that…it’s actually the brain alone that sets and enforces these seemingly physical limits we encounter during prolonged exercise.” (38)
  • The results of a pain study by Mauger and Marcora “suggested that the pain you experience in the extremes of sustained exercise is fundamentally different, from your brain’s perspective, from the pain you experience while dunking your hand in ice water. All pleasure is alike, as Leo Tolstoy might have put it, but each pain hurts in its own unique way.” (94-95)
  • Multiple study findings indicate “that the benefits of sports drinks and other mid-race carbohydrates for short bouts [generally 90 minutes or less] of exercise are irrelevant as long as you don’t start out with an empty stomach and depleted fuel stores.” (191)
Book and Product Reviews

Running Home: A Memoir by Katie Arnold (2019)

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You know when you pick up a book and you are so enchanted with the story and the writer’s way with language that you almost don’t want to keep reading because you don’t want the book to end? That is how I felt about Katie Arnold’s memoir. I expected based on our shared age and love of running and the outdoors, not to mention her professional work for Outside magazine (a publication I’ve found to consistently hire articulate and thoughtful writers), that I would enjoy the book – and I did. It is a lovely, touching, and moving work that leads you to consider your own thoughts towards life, running, and love.

Arnold charts her exploration of running and life through the lens of loss and gain: her parent’s divorce, her father’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent death, falling in love, the birth of her two daughters, her crushing struggles with grief and anxiety, and her emergence as a competitive trail runner. As she travels this path, often choked with fear and worry, she works to define what is most important to her, and to decide how she wants to live: “In a few months, I’ll turn forty, but here between the walls, my hair caked with silt and my shoulders freckled from the sun, I feel young for the first time all year. I think of people my age who want bigger, beautiful houses, high heels, new haircuts, the best schools. I just want this: to move my body until it’s tired and dirty and write stories and sleep outside and love my girls and Steve as long and hard as possible. I know this as clearly as I know there’s no way of knowing anything, really. I’ll have to fling myself forward, with equal parts conviction and ease, just like the river. If I’m going to die, I want to live” (173).

In running this trail called life, we’re all trying to figure out how to be happy. You start out trying to do it all, even the things you don’t want to or don’t care about, because that seems to be what all the other adults are doing. But if you’re lucky or smart, you realize as you get older that life is a pretty short ride, and there’s barely enough time to do what is truly important to you and to love your dear ones while you’re here. Running Home is about one woman’s journey on the trail, but it offers lessons for all of us about finding the clarity to name what is most important and the confidence to pursue it: “It will take me many more long runs…to experience what the Navajo have always understood about long-distance running: It will teach us everything we need to know. Like how to want nothing, even for only one minute” (244). What we need to know is different for each of us; Arnold’s courage in exploring her path helped me to find my own.

For a snapshot into Arnold’s thoughtful perspective on the roles of athlete and mother, check out her recent Trail Runner contribution below:

The “M” Word

Book and Product Reviews
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The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer by David Roche and Megan Roche, MD (2019)

I would highly recommend this book to all runners. To say that it has fundamentally changed my perspective on training would be an understatement, but more importantly, it has given me the ability to truly enjoy events and stop worrying about whether I belong there (more on this later).


Full disclosure: I am a regular and enthusiastic reader of David Roche’s Trail Runner Magazine articles [check out the DNF Podcast “Getting to Maybe” https://trailrunnermag.com/trailrunning-podcast to hear David’s story], which provide training and attitude advice tempered with a goofy sense of humor that I find hysterical and causes Dan to ask me to read them in a different room. I also follow the book’s ghost author, Addie dog [https://www.instagram.com/addiedoesstuff/], who is a bundle of unadulterated joy. If you get nothing else from this review, just follow Addie.


I read this book on the flight to the 2019 Boston Marathon, which could not have been a better choice. The book is divided into two main sections: “The Happy Runner Rules” and “The Happy Runner Training Principles”. The central thesis that frames both sections is that “your running and your perspective on your running can support unconditional self-acceptance” (xiii). Wait, what?! Running has always given me joy and purpose, but there has also been this persistent space behind that where I compare myself to others (always unfavorably to others faster/leaner/whatever), where when I speak of myself as a runner, I feel compelled to say “I’m not fast” or “I just like to run”. For the Roches, “you are perfect and enough no matter what you look like. If your body runs, even if it’s two steps many years ago, you have a runner’s body” (42). What they also mean here is no matter what your pace is, your weekly mileage, your lack of weekly mileage, whatever variables you are sizing yourself up with, they don’t matter. You are good simply because you are. This affirming message surfaces constantly throughout the book, and I hadn’t realized how very much I needed to hear it until I heard it.


If I hadn’t read this book before landing in Boston, I would have been completely freaked out walking around town, at the race expo, at the start village, during the marathon. Road runners tend to take themselves pretty seriously (I know, I know, I’m part of this), and Boston runners are a whole other level. Everyone is pacing around in their Boston Marathon windbreakers from whatever year(s) they ran before, like some kind of low body fat anxiety gang. Everyone looks like they run 3:05 marathons before breakfast. Everyone looks like they don’t even eat breakfast. It’s INTENSE. But with the emotional tools gained from The Happy Runner, I was able to walk through this experience quietly repeating “I am enough” and “I belong here”, and because of that I could truly enjoy the tremendous privilege of running this historic event. It became fun and weird and even chill. It became awesome.


It also became clear from reading the book that other runners, even elite super fasties, feel insecure too. They doubt themselves and feel like imposters. I always assumed I was the only one who feels this way – what a revelation to realize that many – if not all – runners also experience this. It made me wonder, what could I accomplish if I stopped putting any energy into this comparison insecurity? It was consuming an inordinate amount of my energy regarding my training and my self-perception as a runner. What if I only focused on me, on what my body could do, on what I wanted to do, and just let everyone else do their thing? That would give me the freedom to really consider the four questions the Roches encourage each runner to ask themself (58-9):


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?

The second section of the book outlines some key training principles and guidelines to consider. Rather than providing specific training plans, the Roches recommend that runners begin with a “zoom out. That means viewing yourself and your decisions with a universal perspective, through a lens of kindness and enthusiasm” (118). Ask yourself what you want from running, today and far into the future. It seems somewhat obvious to consider your training from a long-term view, but how many of us really do that? By stepping back and looking out, we gain valuable perspective and allow ourselves some freedom in the short-term to adapt, modify, and maybe even give ourselves a break when we don’t meet a running (or life) deliverable. [Am I the only one who thinks of life in terms of deliverables? Wait, maybe don’t answer that.]


First principle: run easy and it will make you faster later. Most training philosophies support the approach that the majority of your miles should be easy, and this is one of the rules that I find easy to heartily embrace. Give me the ambling, rambling, lost in thought easy runs any day of the week. You have time to stop and pet dogs! You can send a covert text to a friend! You can even walk. Oh, the luxury. If running easy sounds, well, easy, there’s actually a science to it and a specific way to approach these runs and the Roches do a good job of reviewing the physiological benefits and provide direction on how to run easy. Second principle: learn how to run fast. You may have seen this one coming. Detailed instruction is provided on how to specifically move your body for those of us who are not natural speed runners (I’m trying to think of an animal that looks as awkward as I do running fast and can’t even come up with one – maybe a cow?!) and how to progress safely. Third principle: how to build strength in concert with your speed training. Fourth principle: specificity is important, but it’s not everything. Running potential is not event specific, and your training will benefit from (surprise!) thinking with a long-term view and having an open mind. Run a 5K with your mom. Try a new sport. This life thing is supposed to be fun! Fifth principle: learn to run healthy. The Roches discuss recognizing both physical and mental stress, and nourishing your body with rest, sleep, and food with the adage “when in doubt, do less, go easier, eat more, sleep in” (191), which perfectly sums up my approach to training this week. If you’re an active person, injuries happen, but there are things you can do to lower your risk of injury and improve how you feel day-to-day.


In running and “in life, you’ll fail and you’ll screw up no matter what you do. There is only one antidote to the virus of failure: persistent, resilient, stubborn belief” (80). This book really helped me define in both the short and long-term what I want from my running, but even more importantly, how I want my running to make me feel and what I want it to add to my overall life.