20 Must Read Books for Runners

Running is a mental sport.

I’ve long shared this belief with anyone who has asked about my ability to run 18 miles in the Florida summer. Knowing this I’ve found it extremely helpful over the years to continually feed my mind with motivational reads.

Some days a great blogger can pull me in and remind me why I’m out there, others it’s sitting down with a novel and a story that may never look like my own, but reminds me I can always push a little bit harder. And because I am a fan of all things running, it’s also about reading all the great training guides that are out there to help me continue to find little ways to improve.

Following are some of my must reads for any runner:

REAL LIFE MOTIVATION
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
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an all night runner by Dean Karnazes

NOVELS THAT INSPIRE
Once a Runner by John L. Parker JR.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
HOHA’s In Love: The Lessons of Running Reveal the Secrets of Love by Laurence Graham

TRAINING
The Athlete’s Palate Cookbook by Yishane Lee
Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performance by Matt Fitzgerald
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
Running on Air: Run Better by Breathing Smarter by Budd Coates
The Divided Mind: An epidemic of Mind Body Disorders by Dr. John Sarno