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TitleAuthorGenre
Rating (1-5)
Notes
Read?
Date finishedAvailability
2
Once a RunnerJohn L. Parker Jr.Fiction★★★★★my favorite, there's two more in the series and im obsessed with quintonRead
3
Again to CarthageJohn L. Parker Jr.Fiction★★★★☆second book in the series, alllmost as goodRead
4
Running in the RainJohn L. Parker Jr.Fiction★★★★☆prequelRead
5
The Running BodyEmily PiferMemoir★★★★★Genuinely gorgeous writing, fairly short, about eating disorders, RED-S, college runningReadJune 2025Hoopla
6
The Runner's Literary CompanionGarth BattistaPoem + Story Collection★★★☆☆compilation of lots of short stories and poems about every distance from sprinting to marathonsReadMay 2025Thriftbooks
7
Run Faster from the 5k to the MarathonBrad Hudson + Matt FitzgeraldTraining Science★★★★☆info about self-coaching, plus suggested training plans in the back, recommend purchasing a physical copyReadMarch 2025Austin library, then bought one on Thriftbooks
8
Jack Daniels Running FormulaJack DanielsTraining Science★★★☆☆a classic, training plans in the back, recommend purchasing a physical copyReadThriftbooks
9
The Science of RunningSteve MagnessTraining Science★★★★☆dense, long, and science-focused but super interesting – get a foundation for running science before diving into this oneReadspotify audiobooks
10
The Result is What You See Todayedited by Paul Deaton, Kim Moore, and Ben WilkinsonPoem Collection★★★★☆wide range of styles and topics, i really liked this oneReadMay 2025Thriftbooks
11
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance RunnerAlan SillitoeFiction, Short Story★★★☆☆a classic, short, old, beautifulReadInternet PDF
12
Poverty Creek JournalThomas GardnerMemoir, Journal entries★★★★★Fucking gorgeous, maybe my favorite book, super shortReadJanuary 2025Thriftbooks
13
The Purple RunnerPaul ChristmanFiction★★★★☆takes place in england, fairly short, character-basedReadThriftbooks
14
Hansons Marathon MethodLuke HumphreyTraining Science★★★☆☆a classic, training plans in the back, recommend purchasing a physical copyRead
15
Late AirJaclyn GilbertFiction★★★☆☆kinda tragic; novel about a high school xc girl and her coach and his wife, a fairly interesting take on grieving in the context of runningReadJanuary 2025
16
The Incomplete Book of RunningPeter SagalMemoir★★☆☆☆Kind of goofy, but some good storiesReadSpotify audiobook
17
Pretty Good for a GirlLeslie HeywoodMemoir★★★★★phenomenal, my actual favorite – gorgeous high-quality poetic writing, but not esoteric or heady. raw and vulnerable memoir about being the fastest girl, training with the guys, eating disorders, reclaiming self, i wish every male runner would read this tbh Read
18
To the GorgeEmily HalnonMemoir★★☆☆☆wanted to love this one more than i did but it wasnt bad; memoir about running the pacific crest trail after her mom dies; about grief as much as about runningRead
19
Better Faster FartherMaggie MertensHistory★★★☆☆great intro to the history of women in running, super accessible, goes up until the present with info about RED-SRead
20
The Rise of the UltrarunnersAdharadand FinnHistory, Journalism, Ultrarunning★★★☆☆read this while training for my first ultra, written super well and has history along with personal experienceReadSummer 2024
21
Follow Your HeartSteph Bruce + Ben RosarioTraining Journal, Memoir★★★☆☆love this style of book – this is a weekly training log with notes and context from steph and her coach during her last training build + marathon before retirementRead
22
Inside a MarathonScott Fauble + Ben RosarioTraining Journal, Memoir★★★★☆love this style of book – this is a weekly training log with notes and context from scott and his coach during his training build for the NYC marathonRead
23
Running the DreamMatt FitzgeraldJournalism★★★☆☆matt (fast but non-elite) trains with NAZ Elite in Arizona for a season to see just how good he can get – this was really cool to get an inside perspective on their training, and would recommend pairing it with the two training log books that NAZ coach ben rosario wrote with scott fauble and steph bruce!Read
24
Born to RunChristopher McDougallNarrative★☆☆☆☆tbh i couldn't get all the way through this one but its a cult classicStarted
25
Running with the BuffaloesChris LearSports★★★☆☆college XC focused on adam goucher, take the coaching with a grain of salt, but super interestingRead
26
What I Talk About When I Talk About RunningHaruki MurakamiMemoir★★☆☆☆short, reads like poetry, philosophicalRead
27
How Bad Do You Want ItMatt FitzgeraldScience, Psychology★★★★☆focused on the mental element of running, i liked nerding out on this oneRead
28
Choose StrongSally McRaeMemoir★★★☆☆Super intense, TW: more about childhood trauma + abuse than running (there's a second book coming out soon that picks up where she left off with more of her running story)Read
29
Running to GlorySam McManisJournalism★★★★★ok i loved this one – deep dive into the season of a high school xc team in an underprivileged area, super character-focused, compelling and excitingRead
30
Master the MarathonAli NolanTraining★★☆☆☆focused on the female experience of running a marathon for beginners, good entry-level textRead
31
RunnerLizzy HawkerMemoir, Ultrarunning★★☆☆☆gonna be honest i didn't finish this one and i don't remember why, but very inspirational!Started
32
A Runner's HighDean KarnazesMemoir, Ultrarunning★★★☆☆inspirationalRead
33
Up to SpeedChristine YuScience★★★★☆"the groundbreaking science of women athletes" must-read!Read
34
We Share the SunSarah GearhartJournalism★★★☆☆behind the scenes of kenya's elite runners and coach patrick sangRead
35
Running with the KenyansAdharadand FinnJournalism★★★☆☆behind the scenes of kenya's elite runners, from the POV of finn, who lived there for six months and trained with themRead
36
Amazing RacersMarc BloomJournalism★★★★☆another deep dive following the xc season of a high school team – legendary F-M in new york. loved the emphasis on the women's team, and some super interesting coaching philosophies (didn't seem super problematic or toxic for a hs girls team, which surprised me)Read
37
Good for A GirlLauren FleshmanMemoir, Science★★★★★highly recommend, must-read – great intro into RED-S but with compelling narrative/memoir along with itRead
38
EndureAlex HutchinsonScience★★★☆☆nerdy, each endurance sport gets its own chapter (free diving, cycling, running, etc), attempts to answer the question of what makes us stop (great central governor theory primer)Read
39
Choosing to RunDes LindenMemoir, Boston★★★★★a fun, exciting read: alternates between flashbacks to des' life as a runner and flashforwards to every mile of des' (winning) 2018 boston marathonReadSummer 2023
40
The Longest RaceKara GoucherMemoir, Expose★★★★★expose on nike, alberto salazar, the nike oregon project. heartbreaking but well-written and has compelling narrative throughout, really raw and vulnerable, im a huge kara goucher fanReadSummer 2023
41
BraveyAlexi PappasMemoir★★★★☆this was the first running book i ever read! i love alexi pappas and her life philosophy/outlook – this dives deep into her childhood as someone who lost her mom at a young age to suicide, so its not a light read persay, but she comes at it from an interesting but positive lensReadJune 2023
42
Let Your Mind RunDeena KastorMemoir★★★☆☆emphasizes the mental/meditation aspect of running, deena is greatReadSummer 2023
43
In Search of Al HoweyJared BeasleyJournalism, Biography★★☆☆☆this guy was batshit omg super interesting story trying to trace back this guy's lifeRead
44
Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat SlowShalane Flanagan + Elyse KopeckiCookbook★★★★★highly recommend, great easy recipes with lots of quality context about fueling correctly (and enough) as a female runnerReadFeb 2024Amazon? i bought this one
45
Running Through the WallNeal JamisonCollection of Non-fiction stories, Ultrarunning★★☆☆☆I've read part of this one; lots of cool stories about all different races and people, a little dated but in a fun retro wayStartedSummer 2024Thriftbooks
46
Everything is Beautiful and Everything HurtsJosie ShapiroFiction★★★★☆read just like a memoir, kind of like a mix between des's choosing to run (had a marathon interspersed through a past story), and pretty good for a girl (about starting to run in childhood, with some ED/abuse themes within female elite running), takes place in new zealand which was different from all the other books!ReadJune 2025Austin library
47
Running While BlackAlison Mariella Desir★★★★☆currently reading, highly recommendReadJune 2025spotify audiobook
48
From Last to FirstCharlie SpeddingMemoir★★☆☆☆supposedly about an average guy who trained his way to the olympics (he wasn't average at all but does have some interesting stuff about being the underdog/outperforming yourself in races). skip the last couple chapters bc he has some weird gatekeep-y hot takes about why the sport isn't as good as it used to be that ruined the rest of the book for meReadJune 2025
49
Running and BeingDr George SheehanCollection of running column articles☆☆☆☆☆he was personally recommended to me by coach bennett lol, and i can totally see the overlap in their philosophies on running, i started it but had to return to the libraryStarted
50
Bowerman and the Men of OregonKenny MooreHistory☆☆☆☆☆Biography of Bill Bowerman and the origins of nike (i started this one but could only read the sample)Started
51
Long Road to BostonBruce TuckmanBoston, fiction★★★★☆fiction, short read, super engaging, loved it — it's like once a runner meets purple runnerReadOct 2025
52
What Made Maddy RunKate FaganBiography☆☆☆☆☆really sad – about the mental health and suicide of a top college freshman runnerNot Startedspotify audiobook
53
On Sundays We Go LongTy StrangeFiction★★★☆☆reads like a romcom summer beach read so far lol. longggg but kinda calming, great descriptions of XC races, just felt like following along in these guys' life (sometimes it was annoying so just had to get over that)ReadAug 2025
54
The Animal KeepersDonn BehnkeJournalism? Memoir?★★★★☆Really good so far; nonfiction about a special needs kid that joins a high-performing high school xc/track team, written by the coachReadAug 2025Everand
55
Fast GirlSuzy FavorMemoirabout Olympian Suzy Favor (the WI women's state champ from The Animal Keepers book!)Not Started
56
Your Pace or MineLisa JacksonMemoir☆☆☆☆☆some people on reddit said this was their favorite book of all time; sounds inspirational about a woman who started running later in lifeNot Started
57
Win the Inside GameSteve MagnessPsychology☆☆☆☆☆Startedaustin library + spotify audiobook
58
The Perfect MileNeal BascombHistory☆☆☆☆☆Story of the race to break 4 minutes in the mileNot Started
59
RunnersRoger Hart☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
60
Running HomeKatie ArnoldMemoir☆☆☆☆☆StartedThriftbooks
61
Runners on RunningEdited by Rich ElliottShort Stories, Memoir☆☆☆☆☆"The best nonfiction of distance running"Not Started
62
Advanced MarathoningPete PfitzingerTraining Science☆☆☆☆☆StartedThriftbooks
63
Good to GoChristie AschwandenRecovery Science☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
64
On PaceMatt Fitzgerald☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
65
Beyond FastSean BrosnanJournalism, XC☆☆☆☆☆High school xc teamNot Startedpublished Set 2 2025
66
The TigerbellesAime Alley CardHistory☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
67
More FireTony Tanser☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
68
UnbrokenLaura Hillenbrand☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
69
Running Up the MountainMatt Baxter☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
70
Why We RunBernd Heinrich☆☆☆☆☆Started
71
Twin TracksRoger Bannister☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
72
In the Long RunBob Schul☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
73
Slaying the DragonMichael Johnson☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
74
Run EliteAndrew Snow☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
75
Meb for MortalsMeb Keflezighi☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
76
Embracing VictoryMariah Burton Nelson☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
77
In it for the Long RunDamian Hall☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
78
Out of Thin AirMichael CrawleyJournalism☆☆☆☆☆Ethiopian runnersNot Started
79
Running the RiftNaomi Benaron☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
80
In the Spell of the BarkleyMichiel PanhuysenUltrarunning☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
81
Running is a Kind of DreamingJames Matthew ThompsonMemoir, Mental Health☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
82
Racing the ClockBernd HeinrichScience, Aging☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
83
Win at All CostsMatt HartExpose☆☆☆☆☆boooo NikeStartedspotify audiobooks
84
NorthScott JurekMemoir, Ultrarunning☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
85
An Accidental AthleteJohn BinghamMemoir☆☆☆☆☆late in life runnerNot Started
86
Long Run to GloryStephen Lane☆☆☆☆☆Started
87
Out and BackHillary Allen☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
88
Broken OpenDavid Clark☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
89
The Champion's MindJim Afremow☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
90
The Running ClubBen GrossFiction, Mystery☆☆☆☆☆Started
91
Stupid FastMatt BallezaFiction, XC​Not Started
92
Modern Training and PhysiologyJohn DavisTraining Science☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
93
The Explorers GeneAlex Hutchinson☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
94
Eat and RunScott Jurek☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
95
The Endurance ArtistJared Beasley☆☆☆☆☆Not Started
96
Feet in the CloudsRichard AskwithMemoir☆☆☆☆☆Fell-running; shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain LiteratureNot Started
97
The Marathon MakersJohn BryantHistory☆☆☆☆☆three people racing the marathon in the London Olympics, true storyNot Started
98
Don't Call it a ComebackKiera D'AmatoMemoir☆☆☆☆☆Releases Sept 2025ReadOct 2025
99
The Marathon BookChris Chavez☆☆☆☆☆Releases in the futureUnreleased
100
Turn the PageDes Linden☆☆☆☆☆Releases in the futureUnreleased