First Book of the Year

I've just finished my first book of the year.  Not great going, one book in three months but one book down this year.  The book was "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall.

This was a great book.  I only started reading it three weeks ago and it was easy reading.  It is dubbed "A bible for the barefoot running community" and for some reason when I saw that I thought the book might read a little scientific and technical.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  The book is a brilliant story of an amazing race and how it took place while also reflecting on running style, barefoot running and running injury free.  The story flows really well and keeps you engaged all the way through. 

There were a few quotes from the book that I really liked.

"If you are going to try, go all the way," I like this one as I read it before signing up for the marathon and thought, yes if I'm going to run I might as well go all the way and run a marathon.

"You don't stop running because you get old," said the Demon.  "You get old because you stop running."  Probably very true especially as there is now studies to show that running is actually good for your joints and won't kill your knees.

"Just beat the course," I told myself.  "No one else.  Just the course."  I think this one will be running around my head during the marathon.

This really is a great running book and a very entertaining read.  I'd highly recommend it.

Delivery

I've been down with the flu for a few days but feel like I'm on the mend.  Not 100% yet but not far from it now.  My recovery was also aided by a quick delivery from amazon.co.uk.  It's always nice to get a package delivered when you are sick.  The contents of the package shows how I'm becoming more addicted to running.

Since January I've become a compulsive reader of many excellent running blogs and now I'm finding my reading material is also changing.  I ordered three books, all running related.  I'm looking forward to getting to read these over the coming months.  These are the books I bought.

1. Again to Carthage by John L. Parker, Jr.

After reading Once a Runner, which was a brilliant piece of fiction, I wanted to follow the journey of Cassidy.  I hope this book is as good as the previous one.

2. Why We Run by Bernd Heinrich

There are a lot of good books out there on running but this book got me curious.  Why do we run?  I always enjoyed biology in school... hopefully it won't be a tough read.

3. Chi Running by Danny Dreyer

Ever since I injured my IT band in late December 2010 I've been reading a lot about the injury, form, barefoot running, injury free running, etc.  This book seemed a good place to start.  I'm open to new ideas and new was of running that can make me stronger and more aware of what I'm doing and how to strengthen and protect my body.

The two other running books that I've also purchased over the past few months but have not yet started are:

                                

If you have any recommendations on which to read first I'd love to hear it.

Bedtime Reading

Since I've started blogging about my running I find I'm reading books less at night.  The reason being is the time I would normally spend reading books I now find myself reading running blogs.  There are some great blogs out their full of information, tips and real motivation.

The last book I read was on my holidays at Christmas and is the reason I developed an injury.  It wasn't my fault running through a searing pain while my knee screamed no more, oh no I'm not to blame it was the book I read. The book was "Once a Runner" by John L. Parker Jr.

 (Image from amazon.co.uk)

This book was such an easy read, I flew through it cover to cover.  It helped me reengage with my running that had stopped after the half-marathon in September.  I had been so happy when I finished the half-marathon that I just stopped running for a few months.  I read the book and felt, once again the need to run.  In my wisdom I decided I was still as fit as I was three months earlier and felt I could push myself hard to make up for lost time.  Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.  Three hard runs in three days saw me do damage, which now seems to be on the mend.  As it is on the mend I can look on the bright side, which is the valuable lesson that I learned and I hope I remember.  Listen to my body when I run.  If it is fine and feeling good an extra kilometre or two is nice.  If it is tired and sore be careful and if there is pain that doesn't feel right slow down and stop if necessary, there is no point in injuring yourself because a good day will be just around the corner.