GRP Run Book Recommendations
by GRP trail runner Mead Binhammer
December is now coming to a close, daylight is a fleeting occurrence each day, and winter (at least here in Vermont) is showing its teeth. On these cold, dark days – perhaps following a bundled morning run or an evening session on the indoor trainer – I like to nestle in by the wood stove with a warm beverage and something good to read. Often, this is my local newspaper, or a dry, environmentally related nonfiction book, or occasionally a dystopian tale. But every once in a while, I like to blend my two passions and enjoy a good book about running. Whether memoir or biography, history or training guide (looking at you, Training for the Uphill Athlete), a running book can spark inspiration and intrigue in the winter months. Here are some of my favorites:
The Must Reads:
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Known – Christopher McDougall
Born to Run relays the epic story of the Tarahumara (or Rarámuri, in their own language), a reclusive tribe in the Copper Canyons of Chihuahua, Mexico, who possess incredible talent as ultrarunners. Often running distances exceeding 50, or even 100 miles in sandals through the canyons to hunt, visit relatives, or compete in community foot races, the Tarahumara use ultrarunning as a means of transport and culture. Though they are generally reticent to accept outsiders, the story in Born to Run climaxes with a race between accomplished U.S. ultrarunners (including Scott Jurek) and the Tarahumara, taking place in the Copper Canyons of Mexico. Along the way, we learn about human physiology and capacity for endurance, barefoot running, and returning from injury. If you’re training for an ultra next summer, or just want to escape Vermont winter with a book about somewhere hot and dry, this book is for you!
AND, as a bonus, check out McDougall’s other masterpiece: Running with Sherman, which tells the tale of a rescued donkey named Sherman, who, with the help of his diverse and dedicated community, finds running and competes in the unique sport of burro racing.
The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team – Kara Goucher & Mary Pilon
The Longest Race reads like an exposé in investigative journalism, providing a firsthand account of elite athlete and Olympian Kara Goucher’s experience on the Nike running team in the early 2000’s, where she was running for the abusive coach, Alberto Salazar. Despite the vast successes of Goucher as an athlete, as well as the Nike elite running team, Goucher was subjected to a misogynistic, distrustful, and controlling culture that is both heartbreaking and enraging. Her perseverance through the darkest days, and courage sharing her story to create lasting change for women’s elite runners in all distances and for all brands, however, is inspirational. If you’re a runner, or a fan of elite running, this book is a must-read!
For the Physiology-Lovers:
Bernd Heinrich is one of my favorite authors. If you haven’t read Mind of the Raven, the Snoring Bird, the Homing Instinct, or Life Everlasting, I highly recommend them, along with the rest of his anthology. Heinrich is a former UVM Biological Sciences Professor, with a keen eye for detail, and a storytelling approach to conveying complex science and detailed observations to his readership. I had read several of his works before I knew him as an ultra-runner, and an accomplished one, at that. Why we Run: A Natural History, teaches us about human’s capacity for endurance, comparing our physiology to other endurance animals; from migrating birds to water-conserving camels. It also beautifully weaves in Heinrich’s own pursuit of endurance as he trains for the American 100km road record in 1981. The best part: Ocean Spray sponsors his race by supplying him with gallons and gallons of cranberry juice, one of his secrets to endurance. Bernd Heinrich was high carb fueling long before it was en vogue!
For those looking for something brand new:
The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports – Nicholas Thompson
Nick Thompson, the CEO of the Atlantic Magazine, is a runner. And not only is he a runner – he’s a darn good one. And, perhaps a given owing to his career choice, he’s a darn good writer, too. Those elements combine in his recent book: The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports, which features introspective explorations of aging as an athlete, goal setting during busy periods in life, overcoming mental blocks, and finding inspiration from other runners who have dealt with these struggles. He highlights his relationship with his father through running, and what running can teach us about overcoming discomfort and challenges.
GRP Run Favorites:
Good for a Girl – Lauren Fleshman
Lauren Fleshman grew up as an accomplished runner, from a youth athlete to decorated collegiate runner to a pro with Nike. In this memoir, Lauren details the barriers women face in sports, and advocates for a rebuilt system that empowers female athletes. GRP Athlete Sophia Etienne says, “Good for a Girl talks about the reality of succeeding in high level women’s sports; how much we’ve progressed as a culture and how much work still needs to be done. As a female athlete, it’s a really relatable book that shines a light on coaching and training practices that we’ve just accepted as normal in the sport. It’s a good reminder that we need to keep working to make the sport safe and smart for female athletes.”
Running for My Life: One Lost Boy’s Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games – Lopez Lomong
Running for My Life tells the story of a lost boy and Sudanese Civil War refugee turned Olympic runner for the United States. Lopez Lomong details his story of finding love in running, his Olympic dreams, and his journey to become an American citizen, a country he then represented in the Beijing Olympics. The book receives high praise from GRP Athlete Stephen Kerr, who remarked on the impressive training runs Lomong was embarking on, even at a young age, “30km warmup runs for soccer games as a kid in Sudan? Enough said.”