Good Reads for Runners

One of the things I don’t talk about here is how much I read. I’m what some call a voracious reader. I probably read a book a week.

And for that, my wife got me a Kindle Oasis for my birthday this year (or maybe it was Hanukkah?), either way, I needed to upgrade from the Kindle Paperwhite I had because it wouldn’t hold a charge anymore. At any rate, I know there are a lot of folks that are anti Kindle, but I travel a fair amount and find it so much easier to travel with. Then again, they’re also really easy to lose. I think I went through three of them.

But my point is not to write about what I read on, but what I read.

Books to Inspire

For the past few years I’ve been on a True Crime kick. And don’t get me wrong, I love me a really juicy True Crime book. From Copte, the grandfather of the genre to Jack Olson, I can’t get enough.

But looking at my upcoming year, I decided that I want to look for inspiration in places that I don’t usually look considering my lack of it.

And rather than trying to shoehorn a new habit into my already crazy busy life, I think I can tweak something I’m already doing.

And I came up with the idea that I should add an endurance sport book into my library at least once a month. But here’s the caveat, I don’t want to read about how to hone the best race strategy or the perfect diet for hitting your PR.

I want to read inspiring stories about people. They can be professionals, amateurs, one-and-doners, whatever. Just interesting stories about interesting people in an area that I love – that being endurance sports.

So I put out a call on the Twitterz and Facebook asking folks what they thought. And I was psyched by the response!

Ima make this a series and then review each of the books as I read and finish them. And maybe this will motivate your running, cycling or swimming or otherwise get you to read.

First up!

Deena Kastor’s Let Your Mind Run. I’ve spent some time with Deena and she is super cool down to earth and loves to eat! When ASICS brought me to London a few years ago for the launch of the Kayano 26, Deena was there and we spent time hanging out, seeing London, eating and of course, running.

According to one of the reviews this book is “a candid account about the self-doubt that enters the mind of an elite athlete and how positive thinking made [Kastor] a champion both on and off the course.”

Who can’t relate to that?

I’ll keep you posted.

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