Five Summer Running Reads You Don’t Want to Miss

Summer is nearly here, and we’ve got cottage dock on the brain. But no adirondack chair is complete without a good book so we’ve put together a mix of new and classic running reads that will have you wanting to lace up, even in the summer heat.

Follow the links to find the books on amazon.ca. Happy summer trails and thanks for Staying Up to Speed! 

1. Born To Run

“Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all,  pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.”

Why we want to read it:

• Right here in North America, the Tarahumara Indians are basically superhuman and they scale Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons using techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest.
• Author Christopher McDougall Questions everything he’s been taught about running in the “modern world” in a quest to change how he looks at the sport.
• The Tarahumara have a style of running that allows you to avoid injury – sign us up!

2. Running Wild

“In this story of rare triumph, John Annerino chronicles his progress from injury to recovery to victory. Badly hurt in a climbing accident and told he would never run again, the author defied his doctors and his own overwhelming pain to run the length of the Grand Canyon three times, rediscovering Native American trade routes lost to modern knowledge. An incredible journey and spiritual quest to the limits of physical and mental endurance, Running Wild takes you there and leaves you breathless.”

Why We Want To Read It:

• This is the kind of story that could stick with you when running your next race. A dose of inspiration, perseverance and tenacity help to keep you moving when you are tackling your own “Grand Canyon.”
• Anyone recovering from injury will find this to be just what the doctor ordered.

3. Run Less, Run Faster

“Finally, runners at all levels can improve their race times while training less, with the revolutionary Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (FIRST) program.
Hailed by the Wall Street Journal and featured twice in six months in cover stories in Runner’s World magazine, FIRST’s unique training philosophy makes running easier and more accessible, limits overtraining and burnout, and substantially cuts the risk of injury, while producing faster race times.”

Why We Want to Read It: 

• On a quest towards a new PB? The FIRST training philosophy could offer a new approach to the old regime. 
• A book geared to runners at ALL levels – accessibility is key when talking training programs.

4. The Lonliness of  Long Distance Runner

“Perhaps one of the most revered works of fiction in the twentieth-century, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is a modern classic about integrity, courage, and bucking the system. Its title story recounts the story of a reform school cross-country runner who seizes the perfect opportunity to defy the authority that governs his life. It is a pure masterpiece. From there the collection expands even further from the touching “On Saturday Afternoon” to the rollicking “The Decline and Fall and Frankie Buller.” Beloved for its lean prose, unforgettable protagonists, and real-life wisdom, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner captured the voice of a generation, and its poignant and empowering life lessons will continue to captivate and entertain readers for generations to come.

Why We Want to Read It:

• Classics are made for the summer! Arm chair travel through time and space is something that every summer vacation should be made of!
• We want to know, what makes this book timeless – a story about beating the man is never out of style!
• A classic that shows the timelessness of the sport, a must read for anyone, runners and non-runners alike.

5. Eat and Run: My unlikely journey to ultramarathon greatness

“For nearly two decades, Scott Jurek has been a dominant force—and darling—in the grueling and growing sport of ultrarunning. Until recently he held the American 24-hour record and he was one of the elite runners profiled in the runaway bestseller Born to Run.

In Eat and Run, Jurek opens up about his life and career as a champion athlete with a plant-based diet and inspires runners at every level. From his Midwestern childhood hunting, fishing, and cooking for his meat-and-potatoes family to his slow transition to ultrarunning and veganism, Scott’s story shows the power of an iron will and blows apart the stereotypes of what athletes should eat to fuel optimal performance. Full of stories of competition as well as science and practical advice—including his own recipes—Eat and Run will motivate readers and expand their food horizons.”

Why We Want to Read It:

• Hot off the press,Eat and Run is everything about running trends in 2013
• Always of interest, how do vegan runners do it, and is it possible? Scott Jurek takes a look at this lifestyle based on his own personal experiences.
• A look into the Ultramarathoner and what makes these people tick!

And that’s our list! Do any of these reads peak your fancy? What do you have on the running reading list? Let us know in the comments section below!