When a book on the shelf matches one of your sayings, well obviously it needs to be bought, read, and written about. And this quick, informative read did not disappoint that decision. In Running is my Therapy, the author Scott Douglas uses a balanced mix of personal story, conversations with friends, interviews with professional athletes, and data from studies to explore the psychological benefits of running. Throughout the book, he includes caveats that running…
https://www.watchungbooksellers.com/sites/watchungbooksellers.com/files/runninghomekatiearnold.jpg Although I cannot say that I wasn’t warned going into this book about the emotions involved, I still had to set it aside a few times to give myself some space to process what the author was going through. Katie Arnold’s running memoir Running Home is broken up into three main sections: Leavings, Shadows, and Upward. On the front cover of the book, you’re warned that the story is going to involve the death…
I’m a self-proclaimed nerd and runner, so when a book about running the Boston Marathon comes out, it practically clicks itself into my cart on Amazon. Becoming Boston Strong is about Amy Noelle Roe’s experience as an unemployed journalist looking for some purpose in life. And deciding that training for a marathon could be that purpose. She goes through many of the traditional running experiences along the way: Joining a training group where other runners…
Since I started running nine years ago, I have read about 40 books on running. My favorite style is what I call “autobiographies by nobodies.” What I mean is the stories by real world people who may be aiming to change their lives, but the finish line is not the Olympics. Instead its walking up a flight of stairs without wheezing, seeking a grandchild’s 10th birthday, or being confident enough to walk up to that…
As a lifetime reader, and a runner for nearly is long, it’s funny to think that I rarely read books about running or runners. Whether this is a planned habit or merely chance, my often daily escape to the written world rarely touches upon my favorite habit. When offered the chance to enjoy and learn from the experiences of another runner in the book written by Kate Edwards, I figured it would be worth my…
As a runner in the Pacific Northwest, you have probably heard of, if not participated in, the Hood To Coast Relay, running around 200 miles from Timberline Lodge to Seaside. The relay is an experience like no other, and whether you love it or not, the memories stick with you for a long time. Application date for 2019 has passed and acceptance (or not) letters were sent out in October, now you have several months…
Ever since I started running many years ago, I have best intentions to stick to training plans and to keep up a base fitness so that I don’t ever have to “start over” in my training. But then life happens and I get busy, lazy, or injured, and I have had to start over many times. Dividing my time between family, school, and work responsibilities, I attempt to reserve the time to stay in shape,…
When I started running 6 1/2 years ago, the impetus was first to lose some weight and second to get into shape. A combination of slow running and resistance training was enough to get me about 1/2 of the way to my goal, but it wasn’t until I started tracking my caloric intake with LoseIt! that I hit my desired weight. It took me only six months to lose the 25 or so pounds (which…
Ray Charbonneau, a runner and writer, has come out with a book of poetry just for runners. Simple Rhythms, Poetry for Runners is a collection of poems that all runners can relate to. The poems in this short book are a variety of styles including haiku, limerick, free verse, and traditional poetry. All of the poems have one thing in common – running. Some of the poems are light and amusing, while others embrace the…
Portland-area runner Marya Van Metre read Grand Trail: A Magnificent Journey to the Heart of Ultrarunning and Racing by Alexis and Frédéric Berg and shared her thoughts Run Oregon. Van Metre, mom to 4-year-old twins, has countless 5ks, 10k, and half marathons under her belt along with one marathon and recently made the transition to running (and thoroughly enjoying) ultras. She also happens to be fluent in French, which made her perfect to review this book…
