Deena Kastor’s Let Your Mind Run

I just finished Deena Kastor’s book, Let Your Mind Run.

And it was amazing.

I’m not sure what I expected to be honest. As I mentioned, I’m a voracious reader and I can be pretty snobby when it comes to the written word. I grew up reading a ton but mostly pop culture type things. But when I started buying my own books and not just reading what my parents were reading, my world opened.

So I was more than pleasantly surprised when I found Deena’s book to be a page-turner. I was rapt from the moment I opened the book until the very end. From her start in finding running to reaching the world stage in the sport. I was fascinated by her career and her personal stories throughout.

Admittedly, I didn’t do the workbook style exercises at the end but I still think I got a ton out of reading the book.

I don’t need to go through Deena’s accomplishments to give her running philosophy credibility, but in case you don’t know, she is an eight time cross country champion, holds records in the marathon, 8K, 15K and 10 mile distances and is an Olympic medalist in the marathon. And in April of 2014, I watched her as she set the Master’s record in the 13.1 at the More Half Marathon in Central Park. She basically ran the entire race on her own – that is until she lapped some of the runners.

The central premise in the book is that changing your attitude can change outcomes. Deena’s career kicked up a huge notch when she started working with Coach Joe Vigil who taught her the techniques of, basically mind over matter.

It came as no surprise to me that her book was full of and focused on positivity. I was super lucky to be asked by ASICS back in 2018 to go to London for the launch of the Gel Kayano 25 back in 2018. ASICS created what they called the Blackout Track to help “train your mind.” Deena, as an ASICS sponsored athlete was over there for the same. And I got to not only go for a run with her, but ride the London Eye and then have dinner. Hanging and chatting with her was like hanging with an old friend. She was beyond personable and quite possibly the most positive person I have ever met.

A quick anecdote from that trip. I don’t remember how it came up, but we started talking about the New York City Marathon in 2001 and how the city responded. Deena told an amazing story about the day and the feeling in the city. I wasn’t even close to being a runner back then, but had been in the city for about five years and was living downton. So I relayed my 9/11 story. When we asked around the table where the others were on that day (we were with two or three others), they were all like, we weren’t born yet. It was a pretty funny moment to break up the tension.

Anyway, at the end of the day, Deena’s thesis that small changes in the way you think can have a huge impact on your performance seems to be a great way to approach running. And honestly, approach life.

So when I went out on my first run after reading it and changed my thinking from “Ugh, it’s cold, windy and I’m out of shape” to “The sun is warm when it hits me, the park is beautiful and every run get out for helps make me stronger” I found it made a difference.

Now, I just need to keep it up.

Next up,

Merch:

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My Current Running Gear

• Fenix 6X Pro Solar
• AfterShokz Aeropex
• Daily/Long Run: ASICS Gel Nimbus 23
• Speedwork: ASICS Novablast
• Trex Aeropex
• Oakley Half Jacket 2.0
• GoPro Max 360
• Follow me on Strava

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