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The Purple Runner
Known as one of the top 10 fictional running books, including The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, The Olympian, and Once a Runner, The Purple Runner now appears in its second edition printing. Originally published in 1983, The Purple Runner concentrates upon two stories evolving in London, one about a New Zealand marathoner looking to break her cycle of mediocre clockings in marathon running, and the other surrounding a mysterious world-class runner with a disfigured face. His return to competition finally occurs in spectacular fashion when both runners compete in the London Marathon. The Purple Runner is a must-read for any runner, veteran or novice.
- GenresFiction
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 14, 2022
It's a cult classic.
Christman takes the reader on the run and into the lives of the characters in London, UK, where training for the London Marathon ensues.
It's a must-read, buy it now.
https://athleticsillustrated.com/book...
Christman takes the reader on the run and into the lives of the characters in London, UK, where training for the London Marathon ensues.
It's a must-read, buy it now.
https://athleticsillustrated.com/book...
October 8, 2026
A fun running cult classic running book I came to by way of Tracksmith. It ended up being a perfect read before running the London Marathon this year. Would recommend for a distance runner, others may not find it as interesting.
March 23, 2025
Not a great piece of literature, but a nice place to stop if you love running, especially if you have ever run Hampstead Heath and the Dollis Brook.
June 9, 2026
Meant for a niche demographic, not perfect, but a pretty exciting read and even touching.
March 27, 2019
I got mixed feelings about this book.
The story is a mix of several stories overlaid on another. The worst elements are vapid, the best are weird or moralistic. The net effect for me was positive but I am not sure I can point to why I liked the book.
Minor spoilers:
One story line involves two American runners that drop their lives to move to London to run, among other things. I read the beginning of the story with incredulity. The characters were so paper thin that this felt plausible in the context of the story but, if their lives were so disposable, why the hell should I care what happens to them? I should point out, some of this is resolved but not all of it.
The second story line has a quasi phantom of the opera vibe. A disfigured superstar runner that refuses to compete because he cannot stand the idea of people seeing him the way he is who by the way lives in an abandoned London underground station he accesses using secret tunnels and doorways.
The third story line adds a female, Kiwi, phenom. While she is well written as a character, there are moments it feels like she was added in to facilitate an alternate title, Chasing Tail.
The fourth element is perhaps the most off putting for me. In my opinion, running is at its best when it is most democratic. Anyone can run. The best in the world often run in the same event as the most anemic neophyte. And running can be about competition and winning, fitness, fun, socializing, or zen-like contemplation. Three of the four main characters are top level talent and they and/or the writer condescends to the masses at various points throughout the story. In the climactic moment, there is a throw away line about accomplishment being for every runner. Gotta call, BS, my battle is not your battle. The victory of one runner or the other is not mine. I mean someone was going to win, it wasn't going to be me, but I showed up anyway. So how was your accomplishment 'for me'?
But I think the sum is more than the parts. First of all, the book is well written. The dialogue is catchy and feels unique for each character. There are cultural references that enrich the story without weighing it down. (Though, some of those references are quite dated now.) There is a cadence to the writing that draws the reader forward. Like onomatopoeia, describing running over and over again has a mesmerizing affect not unlike running itself. In this respect, the book reminds me a lot of something by Haruki Murakami.
...and that is probably what does it for me. I am a big Murakami fan. And this book with its flawed characters, bizarre moral landscape, and absurdist elements starts to feel like magical realism in a way...and I like that.
The story is a mix of several stories overlaid on another. The worst elements are vapid, the best are weird or moralistic. The net effect for me was positive but I am not sure I can point to why I liked the book.
Minor spoilers:
One story line involves two American runners that drop their lives to move to London to run, among other things. I read the beginning of the story with incredulity. The characters were so paper thin that this felt plausible in the context of the story but, if their lives were so disposable, why the hell should I care what happens to them? I should point out, some of this is resolved but not all of it.
The second story line has a quasi phantom of the opera vibe. A disfigured superstar runner that refuses to compete because he cannot stand the idea of people seeing him the way he is who by the way lives in an abandoned London underground station he accesses using secret tunnels and doorways.
The third story line adds a female, Kiwi, phenom. While she is well written as a character, there are moments it feels like she was added in to facilitate an alternate title, Chasing Tail.
The fourth element is perhaps the most off putting for me. In my opinion, running is at its best when it is most democratic. Anyone can run. The best in the world often run in the same event as the most anemic neophyte. And running can be about competition and winning, fitness, fun, socializing, or zen-like contemplation. Three of the four main characters are top level talent and they and/or the writer condescends to the masses at various points throughout the story. In the climactic moment, there is a throw away line about accomplishment being for every runner. Gotta call, BS, my battle is not your battle. The victory of one runner or the other is not mine. I mean someone was going to win, it wasn't going to be me, but I showed up anyway. So how was your accomplishment 'for me'?
But I think the sum is more than the parts. First of all, the book is well written. The dialogue is catchy and feels unique for each character. There are cultural references that enrich the story without weighing it down. (Though, some of those references are quite dated now.) There is a cadence to the writing that draws the reader forward. Like onomatopoeia, describing running over and over again has a mesmerizing affect not unlike running itself. In this respect, the book reminds me a lot of something by Haruki Murakami.
...and that is probably what does it for me. I am a big Murakami fan. And this book with its flawed characters, bizarre moral landscape, and absurdist elements starts to feel like magical realism in a way...and I like that.
July 15, 2012
A very quick read. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but I loved the way he captured running, the different temperaments of runners, and race strategy. I got it via interlibrary loan and spent a very happy Sunday zipping right through it. A great read for runners and not a bad story for everyone else.
May 12, 2014
This was a good novel that reminded me a lot of Lencioni' s business parables. It tells the stories of the runners who train right and mentally prepare to win and those that do not. The ending is semi-predictable, but it definitely is a great book about the mindset of successful runners and is an inspirational read for aspiring runners.
June 23, 2015
Being a runner myself, I found this book highly enjoyable. Reading The Purple Runner was like looking into a mirror that reflected my truest inner self. The true achievement of the book was capturing the archetypes of runners you may encounter in real life. If you don't love running, I'm not really sure what to say to you. I guess you haven't tried it yet. I'll wait.
November 7, 2015
My cousin in Kentucky loaned me this book to read. I struggled with the rating, since the story is far-fetched in many ways. I'm a casual runner, but do run. These people who are at the top rungs are a different breed, that's for sure. The story line is a different breed as well. Overall, it held my interest.
May 24, 2007
This would have been a great book about running if not for:
1. The author's treatment of his heroine - literally every male character takes a turn on her
2. An unbelievable ending
What could have been a beautiful and simple treatise on running becomes an attempt to do too much
1. The author's treatment of his heroine - literally every male character takes a turn on her
2. An unbelievable ending
What could have been a beautiful and simple treatise on running becomes an attempt to do too much
August 14, 2023
Good read for runners
It was good... That lots of comments and observations that runners will recognise and perhaps appreciate.
On the other hand... It is filled with many running and other life cliches. If you get past that its an enjoyable read
It was good... That lots of comments and observations that runners will recognise and perhaps appreciate.
On the other hand... It is filled with many running and other life cliches. If you get past that its an enjoyable read
May 1, 2016
Obviously written by someone who really understands running and runners. Sometimes the characters felt a little wooden and cliched. I enjoyed it but wonder if I would if I were not a runner.
May 15, 2016
Sometimes I thought the purple runner was Pre, but sometimes I thought he was some sort of lab experiment. If you know who he was please tell me.
June 4, 2016
This book was awful. Soulian has sex with every major male character in the book by the end, included the malformed purple runner.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews