Running Within: A Guide to Mastering the Body-Mind-Spirit

by Jerry Lynch

Runners know all too well the physical and mental challenges of their sport. Plodding for miles through inclement weather, rising before dawn to squeeze a daily run into a busy schedule, overcoming minor aches and lethargy that pose a threat to an active

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Fitness, Self Help

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1999

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has had more impact on my running than any other book I have ever read. I found an old copy of it at a used bookstore. I had never heard of it, but oh man, this book is pure gold.

I think this book will be especially helpful for other runners like me, who came to the sport late in the game, and never was on a cross country or track and field team, and therefore haven’t really had the experience of working with a running coach.

Both the co-authors have impressive credentials. I particularly found Jerry Lynch’s insights useful. He is a sports psychologist and director of a TaoSports Center, and has worked with Olympians and National champions.

This book is outlined in 5 separate parts. Chapter 4: Affirming Your Greatness and Chapter 12: Flowing with Fatigue were serious game changers for me.

I would be shocked if any runner who gives this book a shot doesn’t gain valuable understandings and enhance their running. I highly, highly recommend. I know that this book isn’t like super popular, and doesn’t have the sexiest cover. I also doubt you would be able to find it at many mainstream bookstores, so I’ll link to the Amazon book here.

<3 :)

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of spiritual and overly positive crap of the cheesy seven habits variety, but I buy point that focusing on what you want, envisioning what it takes to achieve it, reinforcing that with proactive self-talk and present-tense imagery, and a comprehensive mental training plan are critical parts of any endeavor. But you can either spin that in a Machiavellian manner or a Mr. Rogers manner. I choose the prince.

[Nora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't do self help book, because of this type of book. It just told story after story and never really got to any meat. The overall theme really did help though. Basically, you will only do as good as you think you will. I actually applied it to running with a better attitude of "I can do this, and move my feet faster". This could of been a short essay instead of a long book of short stories.

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

more eastern influenced version of with winning in mind

[Panos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book! And An inspirational one

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at the exact right moment in my life and running journey to be open to the ideas in it. Another day, another race goal and I might have found it a little hokey or over the top. But for me who has struggled recently with the mental aspects of racing, this book spoke to me and I found a lot of useful and practical advice about how to train my mind along with my body. I liked that the book gave concrete directions about what exactly to visualize during visualization or what type of affirmations are most useful. Each chapter ends with a visualization exercise to try and several possible affirmations that are related to the theme of the chapter. During my last long run I tried implementing some of the techniques and they seemed to work for me. I stayed happier and finished stronger than I usually do and I wasn't a blubbering mess at the end. This book is definitely outdated, they talk about listening to cassette tapes, and I hope that they write a new and improved edition. I think this book contains advice that all runners, especially head cases like me, can use to improve their running. I didn't give it 5 stars because I found the last section completely useless. But I really loved the rest of this book and I will use it in my training for the rest of my life.

[Jon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Running Within by Jerry Lynch and Warren Scott

Flowery language, lacking passion, uninspiring, impractical. Avoid!

Having read the first few pages I looked at some other reviews and, taking their advice, I skim read the book over a couple of hours. I am glad I didn't slog through this book as it wasn't for me. I've read a lot if personal development books and am now working through the running book genre. This book fell well behind the pack and Did Not Finish!

The premise of the book is for runners not to neglect their mental preparation, but takes what seemed to me to be a dated "90's approach" of recommending visualisation and affirmation techniques, with a lack of mind science and poor wishy-washy exercises for the reader as opposed to robust repeatable testable exercises for mental training.

I can tell I'm of the Wikipedia generation when kept thinking "[citation needed]" as I encountered thin-sounding assertions and stories in the text.

Running Within lacked the crazy passion and inspiration of Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes, the insights into how the mind works of The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters or NLP At Work by Sue Knight. I would say that any of the above would be a better investment of reading time for the runner wanting to train their mind.

Avoid!

[Véronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the fact that this book is easy to read and covers a lot of topics, stressing the importance of the mind when running. The chapters are short and I can go back easily to find the visualization related to such or such area. If you don't want a book that's not too detailed I think that's a good one. Even if some parts of the book made me laugh (yeah, as if I'll wake up 20 minutes earlier to visualize and meditate before my run, when it's already so hard to get out of bed at 5 or 6am in the cold...). But still the visualization ideas are what I like in this book and hopefully I will use them (but not early in the morning before a run :)).

[Vernon Chaplin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really stoked about getting this book: not only am I addicted to reading about running, but Weldon from letsrun.com loved it. However, I could never get into it. The suggestions didn't gel at all with how I think about running, and I only took away one or two ideas that I was even a little tempted to try. I guess mantras just aren't my thing...

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this cover to cover as I found it incredibly wishy-washy, but there are some great tidbits about visualization that I will use in the buildup for my fall marathon. Especially fascinating was the authors' discussion of the Latin root of "to compete"--it means "to seek together"!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're out of the game and looking to get motivated and come back, this is a nice start.

[Cj Sime · Rating 2 out of 5]

I focus on the process and the results take care of themselves.

[Shannon Maddox · Rating 2 out of 5]

See my review here: http://iron-diva.blogspot.com/2014/08...

[Tammy Ikram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written book about running with your mind a body in harmony.Very inspirational and thought provoking.