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50 Best Running Books of all Time – Motivation, Training, Nutrition

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best running books

Over the span of my running career I’ve gone from devouring every publication of Runner’s World to reading all the best running books. More are released each year, which means my fun never ends!

Train smart, eat well, & enjoy the run!  — P. Mark Taylor

That would be the shortest and yet best running book I could recommend. We know that the overall concept of a good training cycle is simple, but that doesn’t meant easy and it doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of little pieces we need to know too!

8 small words encompass everything there really is to know about running…but let’s be honest we love the details!

We love to talk about our rave runs, blistered toes, what to eat before a run and why we no longer ICE injuries. Luckily the running boom has also meant a growth in wonderful books about the sport.

Top 50 Running Books

While I certainly read a ton of running bloggers and love my Runner’s World magazine, sometimes you need more. You need a beautiful story or a plan or meal and that’s why I’ve cultivated a  list of the top 50 books for  runners.

top running booksFollowing are some of my must reads for any runner from those just beginning to those who’ve been pounding out the miles for many years!

Since putting this post together in 2014, I’ve come across so many new books that I love, which means it has been updated consistently every single year because I read hundreds of books!

While it was painful to eliminate anything from the first list, I did it just for you! So this is my newly updated list of must read running books.

In fact, since I first created this list…well I’ve written my own book! I guess that might make a recommendation biased, but here’s what other folks had to say:

“THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING! If you are someone who laces up, shows up, and runs, you NEED THIS BOOK! Unlike other running books that boast and brag about being a “fast” runner, this book is for the LARGEST group of runners out there, middle of the pack runners that are trying to do the best for themselves, stay injury free, and train healthy while still living their lives….

She first starts out stating you must first stop calling yourself slow or not a real runner, which is something I struggle with. She uses not only physical advice but mental advice within the book, cause let’s be serious running IS a mental sport.

I just started it yesterday and couldn’t put it down, making notes and putting post it notes on my favorite phrases like “Forward is a pace” and “Stronger and Stronger with every mile” GET THIS BOOK. “online running book

Best Running Books to Motivate Your Training

Following are true stories or biographies of runners that will inspire you to push your own limits…yes many are tales of doing things we may never dare like running across the country or even 200 miles, but it’s the moments they go through that make you believe you can do more.

As runners, we all go through many transitions– transitions that closely mimic the larger changes we experience in a lifetime. First, we try to run faster. Then we try to run harder. Then we learn to accept ourselves and our limitations, and at last, we can appreciate the true joy and meaning of running.
Amby Burfoot

Many of these make fabulous audiobooks because you’ll get sucked in to the runner’s story and it will help you get in a few more miles on that long run!

Running with the Buffaloes: A Season Inside with Mark Wetmore, Adam Goucher, and the University of Colorado Men’s Cross-Country Team by Chris Lear
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
My Life on the Run by Bart Yasso
The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life by Amby Burfoot
The Long Run: A New York City Firefighter’s Triumphant Comeback from Crash Victim to Elite Athlete by Matt Long
Finding Ultra by Rich Roll
Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness by Scott Jurek
— Have to note that his new book North is also a fabulous read.
Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an all night runner by Dean Karnazes
A life without limits by Chrissie Wellington {read review}
Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner’s Story of Love, Loss and a Record-Setting Run Across America by Marshall Ulrich {read review}
Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastordeena kastor bookRunning with the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn {read review}
Going Long: Legends, Oddballs, Comebacks & Adventures by the Editors of Runners World
14 Minutes: A Running Legend’s Life and Death and Life by Alberto Salazar
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Marathon Man: My 26.2 mile journey from unknown grad student to Top of the Running World by Bill Rodgers
A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio
Run to Overcome by Meb Keflezighi
A Race Like No Other:26.2 miles through the streets of New York by Liz Robbins
Dual in the Sun: Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America’s Greatest Marathon by John Brant
Running Ransom Road: Confronting the past one marathon at a time by Caleb Daniloff
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Age is Just a Number by Dara Torres (ok she’s not a runner, but you’ll thank me)
The Pants Of Perspective: One Woman’s 3,000 kilometer running adventure through the wilds of New Zealand by Anna McNuff

Whether you need some running motivation, training tips or to improve your sports nutrition, you'll find a great book on this list! #running #motivation Click To Tweet

As noted, I have read HUNDREDS of running books and this list has changed many times over the years as new books come out. Yet some of the best running books are timeless to me and have remained on this list long after others have come out. Of course this is personal opinion, but it gives you some ideas to get your own reading going!

Best Running Novels That Inspire

All right so the people in these stories may not be real, but the authors have certainly tapped in to the mindset of an athlete! You’ll find yourself nodding frequently thinking “yes that’s me!” And while this group is small, they’re great!

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Once a Runner by John L. Parker JR.
HOHA’s In Love: The Lessons of Running Reveal the Secrets of Love by Laurence Grahamthe running dream

Best Running Training Guides

A training book may not sound like something you want to curl up on the weekend to read, but trust me these are all well worth it for any runner. Most share hilarious stories {real runner mistakes} and have plenty of motivational stories.

When I first started running, I was so embarrassed I’d walk when cars passed me. I’d pretend I was looking at the flowers! -Joan Benoit Samuelson

Running on Air: Run Better by Breathing Smarter by Budd Coates
Train Like a Mother: How to get across any finish line – and not lose your family, job or sanity
by Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell
Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson
Run Faster: How to be your own best coach by Matt Fitzgerald {read review}
The Big Picture: 11 laws that will change your life by Tony Horton {read review}
The Runner’s Rule Book: Everything a Runner Needs to Know–And Then Some by Mark Remy
Brain Training for Runners: A Revolutionary New Training System to Improve Endurance, Speed, Health and Results by Matt Fitzgerald
The Brave Athlete: Calm the F**k Down and Rise to the Occasion by Simon Marshal
Elite Minds: Creating the Competitive Advantage by Dr. Stan Beecham  {read review}
The Divided Mind: An epidemic of Mind Body Disorders by Dr. John Sarno {read review}
Hansons Marathon Method by Luke Humphrey {read review}
Chi Running by Danny Dreyer
Big Book of Endurance Training by Phil Maffetone {read review}
Anatomy for Runners by Jay Dicharry
Running with the mind of Meditation by Sakyong Mipham
Lore of Running by Tim Noakes
80/20 by Matt Fitzgerald (finally understanding easy runs)
Fast 5K: 25 Crucial Keys and 4 Training Plans by Pete Magill (great for all levels)

Sports Nutrition Books

We all know that pre and post run fueling is a key to avoiding runner’s trots and speedy post race recovery to keep training on track. So yes indeed I’m including here some of the best I’ve read on fuel for athletes.

When I am running well I am happy, and when I am happy I run well. – Ian Thompson

The Athlete’s Palate Cookbook by Yishane Lee
Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow. by Elyse Kopecky and Shalane Flanangan {sample recipe}
Diet Cults by Matt Fitzgerald {read review}
Runner’s World Cookbook {sample recipe}
Essential Sports Nutrition by Marni Sumbal
Sugar Shock by Connie Bennett {read review}sports nutrition books

Happy reading!!!

If you have a favorite running book I left off, let me know!

And yes you’ll find many of these authors on my top audiobooks for runners and top podcasts for runners.

And finally if NONE of that is really what you need because this year you want to think more strength based – checkout this list of the best fitness books.

Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram Daily Fun: RunToTheFinish

Facebook Community Chatter: RunToTheFinishRunning_motivation_thumb

Get more running tips: Pinterest

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Posted by amanda Categories: book reviews, running books

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michael says

    June 19, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” is great, but it’s a memoir, not a novel.

  2. margo says

    August 23, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    you forgot lizzy hawker’s book “RUNNER” a short story about a long run…. incredible account of this ultra runner – non-fiction :)

  3. Sandy says

    November 29, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    “Honey, Do you need a ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner” by Jennifer Graham.

    I have never related to a stranger more than every time I read this book.

    • amanda says

      December 1, 2019 at 9:26 am

      ohh adding to my list!

  4. Erin Kesterson says

    January 11, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    This is such a great list you have put together, thank you! Essential Sports Nutrition is one of my favorites written by a fellow SC registered dietitian!

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Amanda Brooks is a Certified Running Coach, Certified Personal Trainer and long time distance runner with a passion for every facet of running, which leads her to do more reading, research and running than necessary. Find all the tips, tricks and tools you need from this running coach for your best injury free running. Read More…

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Amanda Brooks : Run Coach
A NEW PLAN DOESN’T FIX EVERYTHING. You might alr A NEW PLAN DOESN’T FIX EVERYTHING. You might already know what’s best for you, but aren’t doing it consistently. That’s the only way we really make changes.
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A PLAN can help, but I often don’t think that’s step one to making lasting change.
//
HABITS AND ROUTINES✴️
-Eliminate the need to make decisions.
-Which reduces brain fatigue.
-Which increases your chance of success.
//
TINY HABITS✴️
This is the smallest step you can take towards your goal. Often so small it seems insignificant, but is easy to make it a habit.
🌟
That leads you to another tiny habit, then another and suddenly it’s just your lifestyle.
👆👆👆
When people ask how I easily kept off 35lbs for over 15 years, while enjoying pizza, taking rest days and not obsessing about food.
👇👇👇👇
When people ask how I stay motivated to run year round and rarely race. Tiny habits.
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Day one isn’t eat perfect or run for an hour.
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Day one IS drink a glass of water when I wake up. Put on my running clothes.
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Day 30 is then more like after I drink my glass of water, I do 5 push ups. After I put on my running clothes, I do a 5 minute warm up.
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SLOW PROGRESS IS BETTER THAN NO PROGRESS, it builds momentum and is sustainable.
❔❔❔
Have you ever practiced creating tiny habits???
1️⃣ WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR RUNNING THIS YEAR? M 1️⃣ WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR RUNNING THIS YEAR?
Mine... satisfying.
😊
1900 miles blows away previous years.
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(swipe to see...because yes I love tracking.) Unfortunately I’m not positive what it was 2001-2007 because I wrote it on calendars.
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SATISFYING
🥰I needed the long miles early on to process my business being thrown for a loop. Bye bye book tour and partnerships.
😊I needed it after that to get away from the news and pretend I wasn’t spending all day alone. Then as my business shifted again to keep ideas flowing.
🌲I loved the time outside to think, get lost in a comedy podcast or audiobook. Otherwise I’m at home working!
🤩Without a single race, I still checked a big goal off my list of running an ultra distance (solo was very interesting!).
//
I’ve seen some posts that make it seem like we’re wrong for talking about what we achieved this year.
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It was a HARD FCKIN year for everyone, but guess what lots of years are. And not every year is great even without a pandemic.
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For all the lows this year, I also worked my ass off to make some really good things happen. And I’m extra proud of that.
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So let’s hear your word for fitness in 2020??
⬇️
Hard, easy, strong, powerful, consistent, cleansing, relaxing, nature, grace, grit, grind, triumph, building...
HAIR EMOJI POLL!!! Seriously hair...it’s a lot r HAIR EMOJI POLL!!! Seriously hair...it’s a lot right?! Figuring out what to do with it, color it don’t color it, keep it healthy, breakage from ponytails, long, short. And yet a good hair day😃 🔥 🌟
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POLL:
🥰Love your hair
🤪Frustrated with your hair
1️⃣Natural curls
2️⃣Stick straight
👇👇👇
Curly friends: share your favorite tips!!
Long hair friends: what helps you keep it healthy?
👆👆👆
//
At 7 I could sit in my hair it was so long.
At 10 we started perms.
At 16 I had a full mane of hair I loved.
At 20 I learned I have naturally curly hair 😂after years of perms as a kid.
At 25 I was going blonde blonde blonde.
At 29 I began losing hair and it got so brittle I had to chop it off, due to the hormone issues.😭
At 35 my hair started to recover (as did my body), but never like that mane I loved as a teen.
At 39 I got my first curly haircut! I’m still figuring it out, but was amazed at how it looked.
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I don’t wear much make up, but I do admit to really caring about my hair and it was a tough time when it felt so unhealthy.
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I’m still struggling to figure out this new curly style 😂but keep hearing from other curly girls ya just gotta stick it out. So we’ll see.
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#curlygirlmethod #hairtalk
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Yes.
It makes me happy.
No, if I’m happy our time together is better.
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MY VIEW IS THIS...
❌If you aren’t working out because of food guilt
❌If you aren’t missing big moments because you must workout
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✅THEN GO FORTH and don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for improving your mental and physical health.
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❓Do you have guilt or get guilted about workouts for n holidays?❓
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This has been my lifestyle so long that our families just know to expect that I’m gonna sweat. And of course, I’m lucky David wants this lifestyle too.
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My best advice when asked has always been to try and calmly explain why it matters to you and then just go. They get over it or used to it.
🎁 🎄🕎
TAKE ANOTHER LITTLE PIZZA MY HEART 😂a reminder TAKE ANOTHER LITTLE PIZZA MY HEART 😂a reminder this holiday season that we all need to be loved differently...and pizza transcends all.
//
🍕Do you have a favorite local pizza place?🍕🍕
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Yes, I knead to know for when we can travel again.
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Here we fell in love in love with @saucyspizza and I wouldn’t be sad if I got it as a gift 😆
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#pizzamemes #eatlocal #denvercolorado #ilovepizza #lovememes #pizzagram #digiorno #papajohns #foodisfuel #longrun #womenwhoeat #carbsarelife
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