Running and Reading
I have just finished a nice book - TRIUMPH (The untold story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics) by Jeremy Schaap. In the book, Owens was described by Grantland Rice (American newspaper columnist) : “he had great power in his legs…he had blinding speed… and his style was flawless…with no sign of extra effort. Jesse was as smooth as the west wind.”
I have always been fond of reading. Since high school I have been reading mostly fiction when I am not reading school books. This hobby was interrupted only a few times through the years: during my board exams when I had to concentrate on accounting books, and early in my career when I read mostly materials on auditing. Later, Systems books and Management books were added to the mix.
But when I started running, books about running became a welcome addition. It all started with me searching for, and finding WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING (A Memoir) by Haruki Murakami.
Reading books need not be expensive. Browsing at second hand book stores has brought me such treasures as the following:
ULTRA MARATHON MAN (Confessions of an All-night Runner) by Dean Karnazes. ” Ultra running legend Dean Karnazes has run 226.2 miles non stop; redefining our perception of human endurance.”
THE FOUR-MINUTE MILE by Roger Bannister.” All sports have pivotal moments, single events that change perceptions forever. Such a moment passed …when Roger Bannister broke the “unbreakbale” four-minute mile barrier … at the University of Oxford.”
THE EVERYTHING RUNNING BOOK by Art Liberman, founder of MarathonTraining.com. It contains things from circling the block to completing a marathon, training and techniques to make you a better runner.
MARATHON by Jeff Galloway. “Olympian Jeff Galloway has set up the program used by over 100,000 average, sedentary people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s to finish a marathon without major changes in lifestyle. This book has the latest information on making the marathon your lifetime achievement and helps you enjoy it every step of the way.”
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF RUNNING by James Fixx. According to Bill Rodgers (Boston Marathon record holder), “It offers the best overall coverage of the sport I’ve ever encountered. I especially like it because of its variety of information, and because it is crammed with interesting data conveyed in a readable style.”
So, when resting after a run, or trying to get inspired before one, these are the sort of readings that are my companion.
