If 2018 was the year of mindset and mental toughness, 2019 may be the year of books on Olympians and evidence-based practices. Here are nine running-related reads I plan to add to my bookshelf over the next 12 months.

Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery amazon.com Buy Now

As buzzy as recovery is among athletes right now, the question of how to best adapt to and benefit from training is still fraught with confusion. FiveThirtyEight science writer Christie Aschwanden offers much-needed clarity on the subject in Good to Go. From Gatorade to cryotherapy, Tom Brady’s infrared pajamas to Simone Biles’s pneumatic compression boots, Aschwanden investigates the latest trends in recovery, often playing the guinea pig herself. Good to Go ultimately aims to resolve which recovery products and practices are worth our time and money. (February 5 publication)



Running Home: A Memoir amazon.com Buy Now

Running Home, former Outside writer Katie Arnold’s first book, explores an issue that many runners will relate to: the healing powers of putting one foot in front of the other, over and over again. In the wake of her father’s shocking death and the anxiety that grips her one year later, Arnold’s only solace comes from solo long runs through the wilderness. Recognizing that, she turns to ultra-distance trail running as an outlet for grief and a space for self-reflection. Running Home is a personal illustration of the benefits of running that science now suggests. (March 12 publication)





26 Marathons: What I've Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life From Each Marathon I've Run amazon.com Buy Now

Four-time Olympian Meb Keflezighi is not only prolific over the 26.2-mile distance; the March publication of 26 Marathons will be Keflezighi’s third book, and his first since announcing his retirement from racing. In 26 Marathons, Keflezighi invites the reader onto the roads beside him as he journeys back through each of his professional marathons. From his 2002 debut to his 2017 retirement, Keflezighi revisits the races that now comprise a legendary career: debilitating injuries, historic victories, an Olympic podium, and all of the miles in between. (March 19 publication)





The Passion Paradox: A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success, and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life amazon.com Buy Now

The team behind the 2017 hit returns in 2019 with a spin-off: The Passion Paradox. As in their first collaboration, coauthors and coaches Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness weave together real-world examples with the latest science, this time to unravel the concept of passion and debunk the assumption that a balanced approach is best. Whether you’re an athlete or an executive, expect to glean evidence-based advice for identifying, developing, and sustaining the “right” kind of passion. (March 19 publication)





Underdog – Kim Conley & the Making of an Unexpected Olympian fieldhouse fieldhouseasheville.com Buy Now

Kim Conley may not be an underdog anymore, having made the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic teams at 5,000 meters. But in Tom Flynn’s Underdog, we learn how Conley transcended a rather ordinary college running career to become one of the fiercest track athletes in the country. Drawing from Conley’s memories, journals, and running logs, Flynn—who has also written books on baseball and lacrosse—chronicles her emergence as a professional runner, giving special attention to the “underdog moments” that have come to define her career. (April 1 publication)





Run the Mile You're In: Finding God in Every Step amazon.com Buy Now

Two-time Olympian and American record-holder Ryan Hall is back—but not on the roads, as much as his fans would love it. While Hall’s first book, Running with Joy, chronicled his daily life and training regimen as a professional, his follow-up offers a reflection on his 20-year running career from a markedly different perspective. As a coach, speaker, nonprofit partner, and adoptive father to four sisters from Ethiopia, Hall shares lessons learned on his path to international running success and the faith to which he attributes it all. (April 16 publication)





The Rise of the Ultra Runners: A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance amazon.com $18.99 Buy Now

In recent years, ultrarunning has gone from niche to mainstream, with hundreds of thousands of participants worldwide. This group of hardcore runners is the subject of Adharanand Finn’s latest, The Rise of the Ultra Runners. As he did with Running with the Kenyans and The Way of the Runner, Finn penetrates some of the most fascinating running communities across the world to learn from and train with the individuals that shape them. From Oman to Colorado, The Rise of the Ultra Runners offers a vivid glimpse into one of the world’s fastest growing and most mind-boggling disciplines. (May 7 publication)







Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World amazon.com $14.99 Buy Now

From the bestselling author of comes Range, a surprising challenge to the assumption that specialization is a prerequisite for success. Backed by scientific research as well as anecdotal evidence from some of the world’s top performers—from artists and inventors to athletes and forecasters—David Epstein makes the case for a generalized approach, and the failure, exploration, and creativity that go with it. Among the running community, Range may be especially interesting to parents wondering how to set up their children for success down the road. (May 28 publication)







One of the most comprehensive and trusted resources for marathoners, Advanced Marathoning is undergoing its second revision since its original 2001 publication. Coauthors Pete Pfitzinger, twice the top American in the Olympic marathon, and Scott Douglas, author of several popular running books, offer a number of changes that reflect the latest scientific research and best practices for runners. Among them are a new chapter for masters marathoners; major revisions to the nutrition and supplementary/non-running training chapters; the latest on the psychological side of marathoning; advice for using GPS data and other technological advances; and further guidance on adjusting training as necessitated by illness, injury, and other life demands. (July publication)



Becky Wade Contributing Writer Becky Wade is a three-time Olympic Trials competitor with a 2:30 marathon best.

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