Night Running: A Book of Essays About Breaking Through

by Emily Mitchell, Joy Russo-Schoenfield, Anne Milligan

This daring volume combines the best of writing on running with the appeal of the best literary writing, essays that take in the sights and sounds and smells of real life, of real risk, of real pain and of real elation. Emphasizing female voices, this collection of eleven personal essays set in different countries around the world offers a deep but accessible look at the power of running in our lives to make us feel more and to see ourselves in a new light.

From acclaimed novelist Emily Mitchell and Portland attorney Anne Milligan to author Vanessa Runs and ESPN reporter Bonnie Ford, a diverse lineup of writers captures a variety of perspectives on running at night. These are stories that can inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to take on a thrilling new challenge. The contributors all have distinct tales to tell, but each brings a freshness and depth to their experiences that make Night Running a necessary part of every runner’s library - and a valuable addition to the reading lists of all thoughtful readers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Short Stories, Essays

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2013

About the author

Emily Mitchell's stories have been published in Harper’s, Ploughshares, New England Review, and elsewhere. She teaches at the University of Maryland and is the author of the novel The Last Summer of the World.

Reviews

[Drew Goldstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and easy to read, Night Running takes a closer look at an activity that most of us either dread or take for granted. Carefully prefaced with the book's goal, to inspire readers to find creative inspiration though the authors' experiences, and concluded in a way that ties all five essays together, Night Running takes readers on a tortuous journey through themselves. The remarkable cast of writers, ranging from NY Times Bestselling author Steve Kettmann to well-known ESPN reporter TJ Quinn, provides a variety of thought-provoking perspectives that are sure to capture the reader's attention. While on the surface the book seems to focus on lessons learned from running into the darkness, it sheds light on the impact that a typically overlooked activity can make on our lives. These writers found solitude in their running, a place where they could distance themselves from the rest of the world and discover new, previously hidden aspects of themselves. With a book like Night Running, every reader will be sure to come away with a unique, novel interpretation that will inspire a surge of passion, whether it be in the dark or under the sun, in a marathon or on the couch. Runners might put down this book eager to reconsider the motivation behind their sacred pastime, whereas the book may lead those who detest that kind of strenuous physical activity to pursue their passions elsewhere. For me, at least, Night Running was fascinating and sent me trekking up the hills, through the valleys, and into the darkness that lies somewhere deep within me. I highly recommend this riveting collection of inspiring anecdotes and insightful commentary, as Night Running is a must-read for runners, writers, and just about anyone looking for another source of inspiration.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't been able to run at night since the glorious days of the 4x400m relay. Any night running at my house would result in a Lindsay pancake, which is bound to be delicious only to carrion birds that come pecking my way. So when I read this book in the middle of the day in the middle of one of the worst stretch of scorchers I've endured in New York, I had no other choice but to lace up right then and go for a run.


I really didn't.


When the running bug takes you, you just have to go. This small volume is filled with essays by people who, for their own reasons, have the bug. They understand drive, motivation, and pushing through; darkness is just one more obstacle to be overcome, one that profoundly changes one's perspective on the run.


While I can no longer (presently) enjoy the liberation of a good night run, I like to think the heat and haze that've made New York their home sufficiently distorted the landscape for me, in some way matching the element of the unknown, perhaps even of danger, to be found in running at night.


Fortunately, I survived my run (I hydrate well). But, as my friend Alyssa said, this is a great reminder that reading is dangerous. It makes you do things, it gives you that itch.


Have your sneakers ready, and don't say I didn't warn you.

[Briana Warman-Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, enjoyable, smart read. Made me want to start writing again. And possibly start running. Possibly.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried my first night run last night because of these essays. It's true, the kilometers do seem to float by in the dark.

[Kelsey Eiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a runner and a writer, it can be a great labor of love to "get going". Each essay of "Night Running" reminds us that even if we aren't runners or writers, our most distant and challenging goals tend to reap the greatest rewards. I read "Night Running" in one sitting because in many ways, it begged the challenge (much like a long run can). I was already tired when I started the book--it was maybe 11:30pm--but once I got going, I didn't want to stop. Each essay was a mile marker, and each page flew by more quickly as I settled into a good pace. I caught myself in an "aha" moment when reading Dahlia Scheindlin's piece, "Running to the Interior". Reflecting on his run, he writes, "It became the only moment when I was alone but not lonely". Yes! This is why I love the challenge of a solitary run, a good book, and some time to write. It feels like a socially acceptable way to be present in the world but enjoy seclusion. When I run, I witness the world flying by me. I am one with my body and my mind. It connects us to our environment, yet allows us to hide behind the blur of sheer speed.

[Marc Ballon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can be said about running at night? Turns out a whole helluva lot. This book take readers into the minds, bodies and souls of several talented writer/runners, exploring their journeys when running after the sun sets. Each of these gifted authors brings something unique and fresh to the topic, from wanting to run with wild animals and conquer mountains in Alaska to half-drukenly sprinting in Thailand's fetid and humid air to escape onself. I cannot wait for the sequel!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was great. All 5 short stories were entertaining and well written, and really enjoyable. They were detailed and each one of them captured a significant moment well. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

[Gregory Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are my people - runners and writers. Enjoyed the sense of like-mindedness exemplified through their stories; now beginning to think of whether to submit mine to this small market publishing company.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a runner, and if I were, I wouldn't run at night. And I am not a writer. But I still loved this book. Very inspirational.

[Natalie Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I ran because it was my anchor. I ran no matter how I was feeling or what time the running had to be done to fit into my day. It’s strange to describe the particular inner world of running because it was the only part of my life that did not need to be articulated. Everything else was words - work and play - but running was silence. A metaphoric silence, deeper than the music that might or might not accompany me. It became the only moment when I was alone but not lonely; thinking without explaining; feeling without justifying the feelings, editing them, or making sense of them at all. It didn’t matter how I looked or how other people saw me. Running was a bridge between the deepest, most real points of myself, a way of connecting them to the vast world beyond the borders of this body.”
➖➖➖
A quick read, but a good one. This book of short essays combined my loves for writing and for running in a way that made perfect sense to me. I often think about how I consider running to be both a physical gift and the best form of therapy for me, and it was refreshing to read the perspectives of several other folks who share that sentiment. My fellow runner-writers need to check this one out!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for those who loved Haruki Murakami's memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

[Doris Raines · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LIKE THIS BOOK.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of uneven -- some of these were outstanding and insightful.

[Brooke Bowerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 second time around really enjoyed this. There were one or two essays that were hard to get through but overall I love the input each individual had & the story they shared!

[Vicii · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I was expecting and what I wanted it to be. It is 5 short essays from different people on their experiences of running at night. It is interesting to see their perspective and they were really rich in their descriptions.

Being female, and a fellow runner, I was interested especially in the experience of one of the female writers as my first thought was "is that even safe". I was not disappointed as the writer did mention this and I would have felt a little cheated if this, so obvious to me issue, was overlooked.

Ironically, today the day I finished reading these essays, is the day that I had joined a local running club (after running on my own for years) and went out on my first club run - in the dark. It didn't start off dark but quite quickly night descended and we were in the middle of the woods with only a couple of head-torches between us to see where we were going. I can definitely say this book inspired me.

[Michel B. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my. I'm a runner. A passionate one. I buy pretty much every book on running I can get my hands on. I bought this one based on the title. It is independently published - which I admire. That's the reason for the one star. As to the rest.... well... there seemed to be very little point to any of the essays. They were more like personal diary entries, rather than essays. Yes, they are all about running at night. But the running is incidental in most of the essays and barely mentioned in a few. But, if it was incidental to 'something', to a theme, I'd have been happier with the book. Unfortunately, there is no theme. I guess I just didn't see the point in reading people's various journal blogs. I've read plenty of running books with personal essays - but they usually centred around specific themes, themes that were relevant to others.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was nothing super special that will stick with me for a long time. It contains around five short stories/essays by different writers. Each true story recaps a memorable run in the dark. Some of the imagery was vivid and entertaining, but none of the stories was all that unique. It did provide a little inspiration, helping motivated me to run hills in the dark and get up earlier than usual in the morning to put in a long run.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I do a lot of running in the dark (both am and pm), I liked the premise of this book. However, the reading of the stories were a bit too much like running in the dark: uneven, choppy, and can't quite see just ahead. The stories could have been more inspiring, but instead there just wasn't much to "break through." The 5 essays just kind of faded into the dark.