Though I’m not a big reader, I can somehow manage to plow through running related books in no time. I guess when you have a passions {yes, running is a passion for me – surprize!}, you can find it easy to incorporate it into your life in many ways.
Between my husband’s collection and mine, I realized we have quite the selection of running books. Most I have read but some I have still do to. Okay, let’s be honest….in the picture below, my books are on the bottom (read all of them) and my husbands are on top (have read none of them).
With the holidays fast approaching, these books might be great for that special someone or for your secret Santa that’s a runner. Or something for you to buy for yourself in the new year! I received a number of these books for Christmas or my birthday in the past and have devoured them, re-read them and refer back to them for training plans, workouts and tips.
Mother Runners
Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line – and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity { was my first book in the series. I was kind of hooked on this book and couldn’t put it down. Lots of great tips and training plans provided – bonus. Encouraging!
Tales from Another Mother Runner: Triumphs, Trials, Tips and Tricks on the Road { is a fun book as it’s written with stories from women everywhere. You can relate to their stories of how they got started, the struggle to run and balance life and much more. Motivating!
There is one more book in the “Another Mother Runner” series called “Run Like a Mother”. I haven’t had the change to buy it yet so it’s still on my list.
Training, Tips and Techniques
Meb for Mortals {Meb Keflezighi &Scott Douglas}.I did a book review about this book. First off, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the book because I thought I could NEVER run like Meb. But honestly, after reading it I found it had lots of tips and things I can work on over many years of running. It’s a great resource that I go back to for some key workouts and tips. Worth it!
Dr. Metzl Iron Strength {Dr. Jordan Metzl} Again, I did a review for this book as well. This was one book that I devoured and go back to a lot. The Iron Strength workouts are something I’m adding into my workouts to hopefully keep my hamstring happy. I’m actually debating on ordering the DVD workouts so I do the workouts more regularly. Worth it!
Page Turner
4:09:43 {Hal Higdon}. I couldn’t put this book down when I read it for the first time. Seriously, I felt like I was there and could picture everything in detail. The stories from those at the event, to the coverage and all they experienced. This book is amazing and though I’ve yet to run a marathon, being at a Boston Marathon event would be an amazing thing to experience. Whether I am a spectator or running {dreaming here}, I would love to be at Boston one day. A must read!
The next list of books my husband read, not me so here is a little breakdown.
Ultra Marathons/Training
Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons {Byron Powell}. The name of this book says it all. If your interested in learning more about running Ultras – this should be on your list.
80/20 {Matt Fitzgerald} is about training. It’s all about training slower to run stronger and faster. My husband has been trying this method lately but I’m not too sure if he’s liking it.
Finding Ultra {Rich Roll}. From a sedentary lifestyle to running ultramarathons after turning 40. This is a book I’d like to read and feel like it would be pretty motivating.
Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner {Dean Karnazes} is more a autobiography about how he got into ultra running after taking time off after finishing school. Honestly, I don’t know how people can run these distances. Again this a book I’d love to read. There adventures, their struggles {I’m sure there are lots}, there drive!
Vegan Focus
Eat & Run {Scott Jurek} is about a vegan athlete; balancing life and changing over to a vegan/ultra lifestyle. Eat & Run is one of Saï’s favourites because it’s plant based which my husband follows and Ultramarathon Man because he can relate to the “before” and part of the “after” story.
Not Shown
Born to Run {Christopher McDougall} This is one of my husband favourite books but I couldn’t find it when I took the photos. Funny though, he keeps telling me I should read this one!
Happy Reading!
What’s your favourite running related book?
Have you read any of these or have any peaked your interest?
What’s one book missing from this list you’d recommend?
Note: This post was written out of my own interest for Piper’s Run blog. It is not sponsored nor was I asked to promote these books. I have written reviews for some of these books in the past but this post was not required. All opinions are my own.
Piper's Run 
I have never heard of the Hal Higon book (409 something). I will have to find it. I have several of these books (the ultra & vegan ones). I love reading but I slacked all summer. Getting back to it now though. Great list.
I think you’ll like the 4:09:43 – it’s a good read! I need to read the ultra and vegan ones…they are in our house and I’ve yet to pick them up…shame on me 😉
Awesome. Thank you!
What a great list! I too love Born to Run and I highly recommend it. I would also add What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. The author is an absolutely beautiful writer. I would also add the cult classic Once A Runner. It is a great book that a runner sold out of the back of his car at races. It somehow reminds me of the Catcher In The Rye ala runner style.
Oh, I’ll have to check out the “What I talk about then talking about running” – sounds interesting! And the Once a runner! Thanks for the suggestions…my list is now growing!
Read a few on your list. Personal favourite is What I talk about when I talk about running. Another good one is Running with the mind of meditation by Sakyong Mipham.
Thanks for the suggestions, adding them to my list!
I need to work on my running reading! Adding these to my wishlist!
I’ve been slacking on my running reading lately – this was a good push to remind myself I have lots of books to read!
I read the Scott Jurek one and found him to be entirely unlikeable. I don’t know why. Haven’t read any of the others yet, but I can recommend “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” by Haruki Murakami. It’s an interesting read. I don’t necessarily share his philosophies regarding running, but I liked the book.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve yet to read Eat & Run but it’s on my list – we’ll see if I like it!
Oooh! Love this post – I’m a huge book nerd and am always looking for new reads. I’ve read the Mother Runner ones but never heard of the Hal Higdon one – I’ve put it on my list. Thanks for sharing!
Great post! I’ve read a few from your husbands list but not yours. I loved Ultramarathon Man, I’ve been meaning to buy his next few as well. I really need to read 4:09 but I also feel like I need to be mentally prepared for it though.
Great suggestions! I need to add several of these to my Christmas list!!
I actually love the Mother Runnner books, they started as a blog that I read back in the day. Actually I was the Mother Runner of the Week once when they wanted to interview a guy for the Fathers Day edition!
And I will read anything by Matt FItzgerald, Rich Roll, and Scott Jurek too. Fantastic stuff.
John, that’s awesome!!! Their books are really good, I need to get the other one I haven’t read yet.
I think the only one on here I’ve read is Born to run. It was soooo good! I’m hoping to get some new running books this year for Christmas – a few of these are on my list!