Two running books on a coffee table.|Two running books on coffee table.

February 22, 2021

16 of the best running books recommended by fellow runners

Lately, I’ve begun to ask myself exactly why I run (perhaps I was prompted by Google’s year in review video). Running is hard, really hard, and it hurts, a lot with one author in this list even describes running as an ‘irrational passion’. Yet, despite the pain, you’ll still find me sticking on my running shoes and heading out the door most days. So, in the pursuit of answers, I turned to running books. What became clear was that reading about other peoples’ experiences with running was not only a great way to identify the why, but also to keep inspiration and motivation high.

With this in mind, I thought I’d compile a list of the absolute best running books out there. To do so, I asked some of the Let’s Do This team for their favourites. There were a real mixture of recommendations; ultra running books, running books for training, running books for motivation. Some are absolute must-reads, some offer quirky insights into individuals in the space and some will motivate you to get up and out the door.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen - Christopher McDougall

Best for: Falling in love with running

It’d be impossible not to start a list of the best running books with Born to Run. McDougall’s book centres on Mexican-Indian tribe The Tarahumara whose name for themselves - Rarámuri - roughly translates to ‘those with light feet’. The tribe has an ancient tradition of running long, long distances (in other words ultramarathons) and McDougall dives into the tribe’s anthropology in an attempt to uncover its running secrets. This is a story about running in its purest form and it’s an essential read for anyone looking to answer the why behind running. If there’s a book on this list which you buy tomorrow, then this is it.

Above the Clouds: How I Carved My Own Path To The Top of The World - Kilian Jornet

Best for: Planning a running trip to the mountains

Kilian Jornet is unquestionably one of the most impressive endurance athletes of the 21st century. If you don’t know him, I suggest a quick Google - the guy is an absolute machine. On not one, but two occasions, he's been named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and there's no adventure that better encapsulates Jornet than his ascent(s) of Mount Everest. You may be thinking, ‘but lots of people have climbed Everest, what’s so special about this guy?’ Well, Jornet made the climb twice, in 7 days, without any ropes or bottled oxygen. Above the Clouds will give you the full story, and more, of Jornet’s numerous feats.

Epic Runs of the World - Lonely Planet

Best for: Booking yourself onto a running holiday

Dreaming about your next (or first) running adventure? Buy this running book. Seriously, I got this for Christmas and have made a ritual of sifting through its pages over my morning coffee. The book is split regionally, so you can easily zero in on a location anywhere on the planet and quickly find it’s best running routes. Perhaps you'll find that some are closer to home than expected, while others will be sufficiently exotic to remain out of reach at the moment. If reading about amazing running routes doesn't quite convince you, then there is the added perk that this book looks great on your coffee table.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running - Haruki Murakami

Best: Bringing out the intellectual runner within

This one came highly-recommended from a number of the team. I appreciate that the revered Japanese novelist, Haruki Murakami - author of A Wild Sheep Chase and Norwegian Wood - and running don’t go hand-in-hand. However, Murakami loves distance running and, as you’ll find out in the book, it’s an essential part of his writing process. This funny, philosophical book about Murakami’s love of running is a must-have.

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Say you’re running and you think, ‘Man, this hurts, I can’t take it anymore. The ‘hurt’ part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand anymore is up to the runner himself [or herself].”

Haruki Murakami

Running with the Buffaloes: A Season Inside with Mark Wetmore, Adam Goucher, and the University of Colorado’s Men’s Cross-Country Team - Chris Lear

Best for: A quick read, because you won’t be able to put it down

If this was published today it wouldn't be a running book, but instead a Netflix Original or an Amazon Prime documentary. The book is packed with drama - following Colorado University through their ‘98 NCAA season and all the ups and downs which come at the top level of collegiate athletics in the States. With total behind-the-scenes access to the team, Lear dives into the life and methods of the controversial - yet revered - coach Mark Whitmore, and the tragic death of one of the team, Chris Severy. This raw and honest account of elite-level sport makes this book stand the test of time.

Run Like Duck: A Guide for the Unathletic

Best for: An intro to running and not taking yourself to seriously

We've covered a lot of ultra running books in this list, as well as books that centre on serious experiences or elite athletes. Run Like Duck, on the other hand, self professes itself as a running book for the unathletic. This book has raving reviews and our recommender comments that it has "so many relatable experiences for a newbie runner." It's not easy to marry up comedy and genuine advice but this running book does just that. Plus, it's recommended by Sean Conway - so what's not to like!

A Life Without Limits: A World Champion’s Journey - Chrissie Wellington

Best for: Being inspired to book your first triathlon

Chrissie Wellington is undoubtedly one of the greatest triathletes on the planet. It only took her three years to go from beginner to bursting into the limelight of professional triathlon. Her debut Ironman World Championship title in 2007 was characterised as one the ‘biggest upset in Ironman Hawaii history’ and the journey to this victory provides great reading. But, more compelling than any single achievement, are her numerous tales of conquering adversity to become one of the most impressive endurance athletes on the planet.

The Doorstep Mile - Alistair Humphreys

Best for: Making the most of your spare time (there’s more than you think!)

I was sent this book by a friend of mine who thought I’d like it. He was right, and I’ve since got into the habit of sending a copy to friends of my own. Humphreys’ easily digestible writing focuses on how we can live our lives more adventurously, but within the confines of our everyday, busy schedules. Again, this isn’t a running book. However, as all runners know, getting through the doorstep is often the hardest part of a run. Humphreys’ key ethos: live between the 5 - 9, not the 9 - 5.

Feet in the Clouds - Richard Askwith

Best for: Planning a running trip to the Lake District

Next to Born to Run and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, this is one of the all-time best running books. First published in 2004, the book immediately received plaudits and went on to win the Best New Writer Prize in 2005. The name fell running originated in the Lake District and is different from trail running because it takes place in mountains or high moorland. Fell running is a unique sport with a cult following and Askwith delves into it through the only acceptable medium - taking part. Spending a whole season taking on the UK’s most immense fell-running locations, Askwith’s journey culminates in the sport’s most revered challenge, the Bob Graham Round.

Finding Ultra - Rich Roll

Best for: Making you want to try a plant-based diet

Rich Roll becomes the first person to feature on both our lists of recommended running podcasts and recommended running books. Roll isn’t your conventional ultra-athlete. On the eve of his 40th birthday, Roll had an epiphany: he was overweight, unfit, and ultimately worried about what his future held. Now, almost 15 years later, Roll is one of the most prominent plant-based endurance athletes on the plant. Finding Ultra tells us how he got there, and is absolutely one of the best ultra running books out there.

Can’t Hurt Me - David Goggins

Best for: Getting you up and out the door for training

This list isn’t short on inspiration. But if you’re after someone to get you up and out of the door, there’s no one better than David Goggins. Can’t Hurt Me is a story of a man who came from nothing. A man who, like Rich Roll above, altered his life’s trajectory to become the ‘Fittest (real) man in America’. The story centres around Goggin’s theory ‘The 40% Rule’, which details how the vast majority of us only tap into 40% of our mind and body's capacity. Anyone seen Limitless? Well, unlike Bradley Cooper taking a magic pill, Goggins advocates three things: hard-work, resilience, and discipline.

Living with a Seal - Jesse Itzler

Best for: Making you want to hire a personal trainer

Jesse Itzler is an American entrepreneur, author and current owner of NBA team the Atlanta Hawks. But, like so many others, he had fallen into a rut. To counter this, he turned to fitness and a training plan. But not just any training plan. This was an entire month of training with a Navy SEAL, or, in other words, the ‘toughest man on the planet’. While Itzler's story should certainly exist on a list of general fitness books, it came in so highly recommended that we couldn't not include it in our list of running books as well.

I hate running and you can too - Brendan Leonard

I hate running and you can too book cover

Best for: A new perspective on running,= and what makes this sport so unique

This one comes a bit out of left field and it was only released on March 16th 2021. Author Brendan Leonard - creator of Semi-Rad - is known for making comical charts about endurance sports and, importantly, not taking it too seriously. Now he’s written a book about running. His credentials? He once ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks, so he knows a thing or two. The blurb alone - ‘how to get started, keep going, and make sense of an irrational passion’ was enough to make me order it. And, I'm glad I did.

Running Beyond: Epic Ultra, Trail and Sky Running Races - Ian Corless

Best for: Blowing your dinner guests away with epic imagery

When the aforementioned Kilian Jornet is writing the foreword, you know the book is bound to be good. If you’re looking for an ultra running book, then this really is the best running book for you. Corless has travelled to all corners of the planet to track down the best, most picturesque, and most exhilarating ultra running races. There’s no shortage of awesome content in this book, with interviews with runners, course maps, and much more - but it’s the images that truly make this book. Powerful and expressive, these action-packed images make Running Beyond a coffee table running book, on steroids.

Shut up and Run: How to Get Up, Lace Up, and Sweat with Swagger - Robin Arzon

Best for: A running bible

If you're looking for running books that are a little more interactive, then this is the one for you. Arzon’s book takes running far beyond a mere activity that some do on the weekend, and reveals the extent to which running has become an industry unto itself. This book is a training plan, a running gear guide, and a self-help book all tossed into one. If you're here for the best running book for training, then you've found your winner.

Running with the Kenyans - Adharanand Finn

Best for: Realising you’ve got a lot of training to do

Kenyans, alongside Ethiopans, have long dominated the long-distance running space. In fact, Kenya and Ethiopia won more medals in men’s middle to long distance running events at the Beijing Olympics that the rest of the world combined. But what is it that sets them apart? Well, Adharanand Finn is determined to find out. He travels to Iten, Kenya - a running Mecca - to uncover the secrets that make Kenyan athletes better than the rest.

Let us know your favourite running books in the comments below.

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The Challenges Women Face in Running and How It Impacts Participation

Running is often lauded as one of the most accessible sports—just lace up your trainers and go. However, for many women, the barriers to participation go far beyond the logistical. While safety concerns are frequently highlighted, deeper systemic issues like access to the sport and unequal treatment are also preventing more women from running. It was a topic keenly discussed at our In Her Stride panel held at the end of November, with key members of the female running community including Sophie Power, Tasha Thompson, Rehana Mawani and Emily Shane.

Before we kick things off however, we should highlight that female participation in running events is growing, and this is a great thing! According to data from Let’s Do This, women in their 20s are the fastest-growing demographic in event participation this year. However despite this, women are still 16% less likely to run every week compared to men. This disparity is particularly striking given that women report higher levels of personal benefits from running, such as improved fitness, better sleep, and reduced stress.

The reasons for this are complex and personal, however we have broken down three key challenges discussed during our panel and the solutions explored that could help address them.

1. The Pressure of Pace

One of the biggest hurdles for many women is the pressure to run faster. Despite the average UK woman’s running speed of 06:37 min/km (according to Strava), most run clubs don’t cater to this with the slowest pace often around 6 minutes per km. Add to this the relentless focus on personal bests and fast times on social media, and it’s no surprise that many women feel too intimidated to join in.

Thankfully, there are starting to be more people rebelling against this speed obsession, including our panelist, Emily Shane. Emily has been leading the charge to encourage more women to disregard pace and focus on the experience of running to drive uptake amongst women. Initiatives like events without cutoff times and more inclusive pace groups at running clubs are vital to creating a more welcoming environment and broadening the benefits of running to the experience and community.

2. Perception of Sport in Schools

One of the topics hotly discussed was how for many girls, the barriers to enjoying physical activity start at school. Puberty, coupled with changing bodies and fluctuating emotions, can make sports feel daunting and uncomfortable for teenage girls. Research highlights this disparity: only 38% of girls enjoy sport and exercise compared to 53% of boys, and just 26% of girls feel confident in physical activity versus 43% of boys.

The panel emphasised the need to address this such as:

Introducing a wider variety of sports and fitness activities to cater to different interests
Providing more supportive and confidence-boosting PE kits.
Showcasing more female role models in sport to inspire young girls.

By addressing these issues at the school level, we can foster a love of sport that lasts into adulthood.

3. Treatment at Events

This is a topic that panelist Sophie Power, founder of SheRACES is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about. Even at organised running events, women often experience unequal treatment. From “unisex: t-shirts (which are actually designed for men) to a lack of sanitary products in portaloos, these "small things" can collectively make women feel like an afterthought. Prize money inequality and rigid event policies—like no deferral options for pregnant or postpartum women—further highlight these disparities.

Thankfully, initiatives like the 50:50 campaign by Threshold (a campaign to get 50% of women at Ultra startlines vs. the current average of 30%) and the advocacy work of SheRACES are driving change, and there are many amazing event organisers such as Maverick, Threshold, Why We Run and many more, that are working hard to make their events are inclusive as possible for women.

Despite these challenges, the panel and attendees felt overwhelmingly optimistic about the future of running for women and the benefits it brings us. Progress is being made, however we all need to add our voices to the conversation to help more women get into the sport and reap the benefits.

Some Helpful Resources‍

Here are a few helpful resources. This list isn’t exhaustive by any means, however is a good starting point for those looking for inspiration on where to start.

Female friendly events:

Female Only Run Clubs

From Radio to Race Day: Hattie Pearson’s Path to Endurance Event Glory

Hattie Pearson is the type of person who doesn’t just dabble in fitness (or most things…!) She dives in headfirst, often with no hand-holding (except, perhaps, metaphorically). From her first triathlon in 2021 to a series of jaw-dropping endurance feats in 2024, she’s been redefining what’s possible with determination, community, and a big ‘YES’ attitude.

Just say YES

Hattie’s ‘yes’ streak started when a friend and her decided to do a sprint triathlon together. “We had such a great time,” Hattie recalls, “and I was like, I want to do more of this.” That spark quickly turned into a blaze of ambition. By the following year, she was competing in Outlaw triathlons and even signing up for a full-distance Ironman—before completing her first half-distance event. “I didn’t give myself the choice to not carry on,” she says.

The Power of Community

For Hattie, discovering the 10IronWomen network—a group committed to gender parity in triathlons—was a game-changer. “It’s amazing to see a community encouraging women and non-binary folk to show up,” she explains. “Seeing others doing it made me think, I want to be a part of this.” That sense of solidarity and shared purpose has been a recurring theme, whether she’s lacing up for a winter triathlon in the Alps or a grueling ultra-marathon closer to home.

A Year of Big Goals

This year, Hattie set herself a dizzying list of challenges. She swam 500 kilometers (yep, that’s half a million meters!) and tackled a range of events, including a winter triathlon complete with ski touring, the Étape du Tour cycling challenge, and her first ultra-marathon. Each was hard in its own way—whether it was battling snowy trails with crampons or smashing out seven-and-a-half-minute miles for 13.1 miles. But for Hattie, the difficulty is the point. “Every time I achieve something I thought was impossible, I remind myself: I can do hard things.”

Balance and Burnout

With goals that ambitious, fitting it all in can be a challenge. Early mornings help. “I’m one of those people who can get up at 5:00 a.m,” Hattie admits, however it also takes a lot of discipline. With her work on Hits Radio starting later in the day, she carves out time for training, dog walks, and the occasional tantrum over broken goggles. “I’ve definitely had those ‘forgetting-my-swimming-costume’ moments,” she laughs. But her key to staying motivated is simple: keep it fresh and fun. Whether it’s joining her triathlon club for training or trying a completely new event, keeping it fun and different is the secret to staying motivated and on track to reach your goals.

Advice for Aspiring Endurance Athletes

For anyone looking to follow in her footsteps (or strokes), Hattie has this advice:

Be patient. Results don’t come overnight, and the journey is as important as the destination.
Stop comparing. “Your journey is completely your own. Social media only shows the highlights,” she reminds us.
Find your community. Whether it’s a running club, a neighbor for early morning jogs, or an online network, accountability and camaraderie make all the difference.

What’s Next for Hattie?

In 2025, Hattie plans to tackle her first multi-day event, the Monster Triathlon. Admittedly it is as scary as it sounds, kicking off with a 5K swim in Loch Ness, followed by a 1,000-kilometer bike ride to Windsor, and wraps up with a casual 50K run to London(!). Her goals also include more open-water swimming, trail running, and maybe—just maybe—an even bigger endurance challenge. (Though definitely not swimming the English Channel: “No way am I swimming through jellyfish without a wetsuit!”)

Hattie Pearson’s journey is more than a personal triumph. It’s a testament to the power of showing up, saying yes, and proving that with the right mindset, anything is possible. Whether you’re tackling your first 5K or dreaming of an ultra-marathon, Hattie’s story is proof that the finish line is worth the hard miles. And when you cross it? You’ve won your race—medal or not. 🏅

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Make your own electrolyte drink

Why spend on expensive sports drinks when you can make a natural, hydrating electrolyte drink right at home? With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a refreshing blend packed with essential minerals and hydration-boosting properties. Perfect for fueling your workout or post-run recovery, this homemade option keeps it natural, affordable, and effective.

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Ingredients:

1 pinch of high-quality sea salt
Small piece of fresh ginger, peeled
500ml coconut water (e.g., Rebel Kitchen)
Juice of 1 lime
Fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

Prepare Salt & Ginger: Add a pinch of sea salt and the peeled ginger to a blender.
Add Coconut Water & Lime: Pour in the coconut water, squeeze in the lime juice, and add a few mint leaves.
Blend & Serve: Blend until smooth, pour into a glass, and garnish with extra mint. Enjoy your refreshing, hydrating drink!

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