Jog On: How Running Saved My Life: How Running Saved My Life

by Bella Mackie

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Bella’s brilliant love letter to running turns into an extraordinarily brave and frank account of her battle with anxiety. A compassionate and important book’ Joe Lycett

‘Perfect for resetting a glum January mindset’ Alexandra Heminsley

‘My kind of role model’ Ben Fogle

Divorced and struggling with deep-rooted mental health problems, Bella Mackie ended her twenties in tears. She could barely find the strength to get off the sofa, let alone piece her life back together. Until one day she did something she had never done of her own free will – she pulled on a pair of trainers and went for a run.

That first attempt didn’t last very long. But to her surprise, she was back out there the next day. And the day after that. She began to set herself achievable goals – to run 5k in under 30 minutes, to walk to work every day for a week, to attempt 10 push-ups in a row. Before she knew it, her mood was lifting for the first time in years.

In Jog On, Bella explains with hilarious and unfiltered honesty how she used running to battle crippling anxiety and depression, without having to sacrifice her main booze, cigarettes and ice cream. With the help of a supporting cast of doctors, psychologists, sportspeople and friends, she shares a wealth of inspirational stories, research and tips that show how exercise often can be the best medicine. This funny, moving and motivational book will encourage you to say ‘jog on’ to your problems and get your life back on track – no matter how small those first steps may be.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Mental Health, Self Help, Health, Biography

Audible Audio

First published December 27, 2018

About the author

Vogue columnist. Author of best-selling novel “How to Kill Your Family."

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bella Mackie, journo and column writer, ended her twenties with life stopping mental health problems that made even leaving the sofa a monumental task, nothing really worked her rollercoaster life of high anxiety; until one day out of the blue, she pulled on a pair of trainers and started running!

This mash-up motivational, wellbeing, memoir book has really put Mackie on the map for me. Despite the subject matter, Mackie's great writing, writing voice, sense of humour and most of all understanding and empathy with other mental health sufferers, makes this a truly remarkable book, that will resonate with anyone who has ever ever had a mental health issue, which is most if us, right? On top of all he great personal experiences there plenty of sourced quotes, facts and other date that I feel will inspire others to find that 'thing' that they can do. A well deserve d8 out of 12, Four Stars.

2024 read

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. I really appreciated hearing Bella Mackie's story of how she found a mechanism for helping her deal with her crippling anxiety, and found the stories that she included of others genuinely informative. However, this book is really very repetitive, and I found that especially noticeable listening to it on audiobook. At times I thought I had already listened to some of the sections before! I also didn't particularly love Mackie's delivery, although I'm definitely happy that she narrated this herself. There are some good tips in here though, and I found it motivating for me particularly at the moment for my 10K training.

[Lucy Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A great book for those with anxiety... who think they might be tempted to run!

As someone who has grappled with anxiety for several years, and has found running to be a really effective way of managing the symptoms, I was naturally drawn to this book. And indeed, though the author's experiences of anxiety differ from my own, there was so much that I found myself agreeing with (and thinking 'thank goodness someone else knows how it feels!').

It's about Bella Mackie's own experiences with running; something she took up after her divorce. She describes how initially, it was just a short few minutes around the block, but how over time, she started going further and further, and opening herself up to not only new places, but new experiences too.

The big question is, who is this book for? I personally feel that if you're an anxious person (or suffer from any other mental health issues), then you'll find this insightful. It explains really well how that particular form of exercise can help you to detach from your problems (for a while); how it almost becomes a form of mindfulness and a welcome break from all the things that are dragging you down.

What I particularly liked was the author's honesty and lack of pretension. I was a bit worried it was going to be a bit 'look at me, I'm now an amazing runner, regularly entering marathons' etc. (the running world can be a bit competitive!) - but to my relief, she simply focuses on the benefits of running; whether you're jogging for five minutes, or heading out for a four-hour slog.

On a more personal note - I too started running, back in April (after a particularly splendid panic attack in Australia that left me literally vomiting!). Like the author, I was initially just heading out to the local park to do a few laps. Then I swiftly grew to love that peace; the sense of giving my mind a rest for a while and just letting my body take over. It's an empowering thing; and I think Bella Mackie captures that perfectly here.

If you're curious about the benefits of running for mental wellbeing, I'd recommend giving this book a read.

[Jakki Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've given up on this book. While the blurb sucked me in; the content could do so much better. For me there was too many cold facts and not enough personal connection between the reader and author. I took up working out for the first time a year ago to help deal with anxiety and depression and while I totally see and feel the changes and acknowledge the link between mental health, physical health and exercise - I'd have liked to know more about the journey and feelings behind this book more than the numbers.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is all about how running can be an excellent medicine. Most people think of running as something which is good for the physical body in terms of weight management, toning and generally looking good. This is why most people equally think of running as some kind of punishment or something they have to endure to get the desired after effects. What a lot of runners have discovered for themselves is how good running is for the mind. It is well documented that runner’s high is due to the body’s own endorphins and it makes sense that something that we have evolved to do, and were built for, makes us feel so good after doing it. Often our bodies are capable of much more than our mind allows us to believe. For me, running is meditation and I honestly love running. There is nothing that beats being out at night, in the cold air, flying down steep hills and the sense of achievement when you brace yourself for the uphill and make it; our bodies are a marvel. What Mackie is really good at is explaining that, like her, you can run from nothing. She started not even being able to run for 1 minute and she built it up from there. Her tone is quite conversational, and it feels like you’re just having a chat with a mate who is occasionally witty and makes you unexpectedly snort. Although with this came a lot of repetition and circular narrative and I found myself feeling déjà vu a number of times as she came back around to the same discussion point; it didn’t really follow a linear path. It also felt like it could have been condensed into a shorter book as essentially her advice is to run and the other people she asked agreed too. Like I always say ‘I’ve never gone for a run and afterwards thought “I wish I hadn’t done that”’

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels like the author wrote a really exceptional essay that she made the mistake of turning into an entire book. The first chapter or so is excellent, the author describing how running cured her anxieties in a way that therapy and meds never did. Her main point — that physical exercise does wonders for both body and soul, that it can mitigate or cure many mental health problems — is exhilarating and inspiring, but she fails to string the narrative sections into a cohesive flow, instead giving us a slog of chapters that all seem to be making the same point.

[Natasha den Dekker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truth - I actually nearly stopped reading this with a 2 chapters left because for some reason it didn't really resonate with me.

I think how Mackie charts how running helped her come to terms with her anxiety and develop coping mechanisms was excellently done. However, you should know I hate running. Like, I will literally do ANYthing but run. Lift weights, attempt to do a pull-up, pilates, hell I will climb and hike mountains (I'm scared of heights) instead of run. So there were bits of the evangelicasizing of running in this book that I'm just not on board with.

The side notes of other peoples' stories, and stats and general development of science of mind and body needing to be in sync was really good but yes, I didn't really enjoy it. I also feel that there were bits glossed out on - about food, about her strength training, all alluded to in a few sentences and then moved on.

Not the best book on 'running' out there. But probably the best I've seen describing the crippling affects of anxiety. As someone who does suffer from depression and has had some very severe episodes in my life, the description of cycles and 'no way out' really resonated with me. And the very calm assertion that these things 'don't leave' you 'don't get over them' was well done.

[Marthabethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book so helpful! As someone who suffers from anxiety and is a (very) amateur runner, this book helped me better understand how running can help quiet my brain chatter. I found the honesty about mental health really refreshing and learned a lot about other forms of anxiety. It also inspired me to get out and run on days when I really didn’t want to!

I listened to the audiobook of this, which is narrated by the author, and really enjoyed this format. It was engaging, interesting, educational, honest and at times, quite funny. The author has been through a lot and she never sugar coated things or pretended they were easier than they were. But, it also wasn’t a sob story. She found the perfect balance between talking about challenges and hard times, and giving hope for the future.

If you have anxiety and want to give running a try, this is great for beginners. As someone who often feels I should run more, this helped me realise that I can run more when I want to, but should also use running in a way that benefits me, and not as a way of bargaining with myself or forcing myself on bad days. I really enjoyed listening to this and would recommend it.

[Tessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the book I thought it was a definitely not for me. Dull, uninspiring and a slow read. I am just getting into running and thought it would be just the book for me...oh no! Struggled through one whole chapter and kept trying to read on but haven’t picked it up again. This was a book club book and only one out of ten has finished it - this hasn’t happened before.

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an account of the author’s struggles with lifelong anxiety. Her divorce being the catalyst for her using exercise, namely running, as the crutch to get her life back on track.

As a very keen runner I was drawn to this book for that reason, however after reading it I felt it was better aimed at those struggling with their mental health than the hard core runner. I’m very fortunate to have never suffered with these issues so a lot of the text was a little wasted on me.

I’m still giving it four stars though as it was very well written, with lots of interesting statistics on how running and exercise really does improve your well being and written in a humorous way to lighten the statistics and research load. If you suffer from anxiety and are looking for something in your day to day life that will help change your mindset, then I’d strongly recommend this book.

As Bella says, we can all run. It doesn’t have to be fast, it doesn’t have to be too long. But it does have to be regular. I started off running for 30 minutes every Friday when my kids started school. Now six years later I run 20-25 miles every week without fail and I don’t know where I’d be without it. When the dog’s going crazy, the kids are yelling and the husband’s got his music blasting, I just put my trainers on, plug my headphones in and I’m gone! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Rebecca 🦦 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting a focus on running for newbies and its benefits to mental health that the author experienced.

I’d say well over half of this book goes into almost excruciating detail about the authors mental health and trails of irrational thoughts, to the point where it reads more as a mental health book than anything to do with running. I imagine lots of people find this cathartic however for me I just found it draining, negative and extremely repetitive. It also read a bit like an introductory guide to mental health explaining s long list of disorders and how they feel.

There’s also too much politics and talk of privilege that I didn’t really come to the book to read, and to be honest… a skinny white middle class woman writing a book about exercise complaining that most of the representation of exercise from online content comes from skinny middle class women I found a bit irritating.

I’ve now discovered the author has more of a runners journal with practical guides which is probably more like the book I actually wanted so I’ll try this.

Despite all of that the parts I enjoyed I enjoyed thoroughly:)

[Maddie De Soyza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because I like the way Bella Mackie writes in a chatty and relatable way. I like that she acknowledges that running is a helpful tool, not something that will solve everything. I’m giving it 3 stars rather than 4 because a) I already run so the stuff about the benefits of running wasn’t new to me, b) I run and don’t find it as groundbreaking as Mackie claims it to be (but then I haven’t had the same life experiences as her which is likely why) and c) the book was a little repetitive at times.

I did learn a lot about anxiety, and really appreciated the honesty and rawness with which she shared her personal experiences. As someone who has never experienced anything like what Mackie has gone through, I feel this book has helped equip me to be a better friend to those in my life who have suffered/are suffering from anxiety. It is a book that encourages understanding and compassion. Mackie writes like she’s writing to a friend, which is really inviting and encouraging. It’s not a guilt trip to start running, it’s a friendly invitation.

[Tracy Larner-Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book by one of my besties and must confess I hadn't heard of it previously.

I found it to be very relatable and a really honest account of Bella's journey with her mental health. I had so many 'yes that's how I've felt' moments and it made me realise that taking regular medication to keep an overthinking brain on an even keel is nothing to be ashamed of, plus I really thought about my other coping strategies and mood boosters, which, in case you're interested, for me are any of the following:- Walking my dogs, a gym workout, kitchen disco and baking.

I'd recommend you give it a read, whether it's to delve into your own mental health or if you want to try to better understand the struggles of someone you know.

My copy is now full of highlighter and sticky tabs for me to refer back to in times of need!

A solid 4.5 stars for me 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐

[Marcela Garma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me run for the first time in my life. I wasn’t expecting this at all, I had wanted to try it before but found it so difficult. But this book is more about mental health than it is about running, maybe it’s a about both. Bella writes in such a relatable way and she has made me see mental health in a new light. I struggle with anxiety and she helped me understand this disorder better and feel less guilty about it. I also love how the author promotes the opposite of the trendy health/ wellness lifestyle which has made so many feel excluded and unmotivated from running or exercising. I highly recommend this book for people like me who were too afraid of even trying.

[Ruby French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the split from her husband, Bella Mackie’s world is turned upside down, and as a result she has to find a way to cope not only with the trauma of her breakup, but also with her suppressed mental health problems which are now too hard to ignore. Pulling herself up from her pit of misery she decides to put on her old trainers and run for a bit. Not very fast, not very far and in the dark so she doesn’t attract any attention. At first it’s a painful experience, but eventually she finds beauty and joy in the process and is subsequently able to cope with her surroundings and emotions a little bit better. Through her story she gives the reader tips with a non bullshit approach, without sounding smug or preachy. Her writing is very conversational yet packed with well researched information around a range of anxiety disorders. I especially appreciated her focus on the barriers women are faced with when getting into exercising. From intimidating gyms to traumatic PE lessons.

Somewhat preaching to the converted, but nonetheless I found her motivational book to be quite inspiring. I’ve battled with my mental health since my teenage years and I too found running to pull me out of some of my darkest days, giving me purpose and clarity I could only of dreamt of having before I’d tried. Exercise has long been hailed as a solution to all, and of course everyone’s experience of mental illness is different and must be considered on an individual basis, however for me, running has really helped alleviate a lot of my symptoms and I found this book to be really comforting and relatable, and a reminder to just do what works.

[Aisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first 100 pages I didn’t highlight anything or really think this book was too profound , just an enjoyable read.
HOWEVER, after p. 125 I think I highlighted something on every page. Mackie explores how running improves your self esteem, quells anxiety and generally improves every aspect of life. “It seeps into every other part of my life, expanding them all, opening them up.” “It’s a multidimensional thing that’s much, much bigger than just exercise.” Mackie quotes from Hilary Clinton, Jane Austen, Bryany Gordon and yet has such a distinctive voice of her own that made me laugh and cry xoxo So thanks Emily for the lush bday present boo I loved it ♥️♥️

[Jenny Westerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 20% of this book was 2 years of me picking it up getting irritated and putting it down again. However the other 80% I could get into. I think it’s in a funny place between convincing people to run and talking about running for people who do already run. It made me want to run more - especially if I’m struggling with the big A (anxiety). My favourite take away was that a good runner is just someone who runs - not the fastest, not the furthest or with best gear.

[Sharon den Otter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I liked the book but sometimes it was a little repetitive. Apart from that, have I learned more about anxiety and other mental illnesses and what physical exercise does to help that.

This is the second book I read from Bella Mackie and I love her writing style. It feels like she is talking to you and I like that!

Love to read more books from Bella in the future!

[KTD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing, inspirational and I am now ready to go for a run

[Sam]

thanks Grace for recommending this to me :)

[Katey Lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a combination of memoir and running/mental health guide. I found the sections where Bella shared her own experience of running - from initially pacing up and down an alleyway to increasing her distance to an impressive 13k - to be honest, relatable and quietly inspiring. In much the same way as Bryony Gordon, Bella is a person who decided to run, therefore she runs. The tips for beginner runners at the end of the book are sensible and realistic for complete beginners and/or those with little confidence in their abilities. There were large sections in the first half of the book that described a variety of mental health issues. I read this book during an anxious period and skimmed these sections as they heightened my own anxiety. That said, for people who have little or no knowledge of anxiety/depression/PTSD and more, the detailed medical explanations may offer an insight.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

In honour of mental health awareness week I thought I'd finally get around to reading this. If, like me, you're a runner (ew, but Bella made me feel okay about saying this), or struggle with your mental health in some way, I'd really recommend this book. With candour, unfiltered honesty, and humour, Bella recounts how running has helped as a tonic for her anxiety and depression. Although running is a very personal activity, I saw many of the reasons I choose to run, the challenges, the highs/lows etc. reflected in Bella's story, which shows that in running there is something for everyone. Right, I'm going to go for a jog now!

[Fern Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great book idea but I felt the delivery was a little flat and repetitive. Mackie took up running when she was struggling with her mental health and found it really helped clear headspace, routine and made her feel better. She is great at promoting that running is really accessible to anyone who is able bodied to take up, the problems with how exercise is advertised and yet how important it is and the need to get help for mental health. I found her really likeable. Unfortunately the writing just didn’t hold up to the ideas and messages with many passages being almost direct repetitions from previous chapters.

[Judith Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a runner and have run for 7 years with my friend through the trials and tribulations of life. Like Bella, I'm not a serious runner, like her, running is vital to my health. This memoir is moving and inspirational. Life has got in the way of running but after reading this I went for a run this morning and am now back on track.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable yet forgettable read.

I actually found this book in the little library, so picked it out for free. I initially thought it was a work of fiction, so was rather startled throughout the first few chapters. What a weird story, I thought, as the protagonist just monologued about her mental health and divorce. I soon realised it was in fact real however and I then understood it far more.

Bella Mackie has had an interesting journey. I found it refreshingly honest and learned a lot about anxiety and what other people may be going through. In that way, it has allowed me to be more empathetic.

I would recommend this book even if you are not interested in running, as it is more about mental health in general! However, I would say if you ARE interested in running you'll probably enjoy this book more.

Bella Mackie is also very funny which meant I very much did enjoy reading this one.

The only real reason for the 3 stars is it felt a bit amateurish, quite repetitive and I just don't think I'll remember it in a year's time.

[Fazal · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5/10

I picked this up because it was the library's book of the week and thought it might be useful for running. It is a book mainly about how running helped the author's anxiety.

I think this book could have been really good, if it was an essay (As another review says). Most of the chapters seem repetitive and I swear she cites the same statisitics a few times; but the content of the book is pretty solid, just kind of repeated all the time.

I think anyoned who has anxiety/mental health issues shiuld definitely pick it up, but just be prepared for somes repeating ideas.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows how running can help with mental health using studies/research, real cases and personal experience from the author. Quite a relatable read which will hopefully motivate me to create a healthy relationship with running. The book encourages you to see other benefits to running other than weight loss, and it’s something I’ve never considered before.

[Adele Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe how well Bella perfectly describes the feeling of having anxiety and depression and how it can flare up and what it can feel like. This book has really inspired me to think more about using physical exercise to support my MH journey, it may not be running for me, but I will start to think more about daily activity and how much it helps alleviate MH symptoms.

[Chelle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! Bella Mackie articulates so well what it can feel like to live with anxiety, and her journey with how running helped that was really enlightening! Having recently got into running I definitely can feel parallels with how it helped her anxiety and it was a great book to read whilst starting to dabble into running!

[irakurle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could've been shorter, but I'm very happy it wasn't. It is just about a woman who just loves running, she loves it a lot, and she appreciates all the benefits it's brought to her life. Beautifully written, and overall very kind and down to earth.