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Running the World: A Runner's Odyssey of Struggle and Triumph in the World Marathon Majors
She laced up for thirty seconds. That step changed everything.
#1 Amazon Best Seller!
"Running the World is a captivating tale of inspiration and adventure! It made me feel like if Robyn can do it—maybe I can too!" - Author of Foam, Laurel Senick
What does it take to run the world, literally and figuratively?Robyn Godfrey didn’t plan to become a marathoner. She stumbled through adolescence as a clumsy teen and later partied through midlife while searching for purpose. Everything shifted the day she laced up her running shoes. What began as thirty seconds on a treadmill grew into a running journey that redefined her life.
Running the World follows Robyn’s quest to conquer all six World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City—while navigating her husband’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis, injuries, weather disasters, and waves of self-doubt. With honesty and humor, she shares the grit, setbacks, and triumphs that shaped her path through marathons, half marathons, and beyond.
This is more than a running memoir. It is an inspirational story of resilience, reinvention, and the courage to start again.
For readers who want
Explore the World Marathon Majors through a runner’s eyes.
Train for their first 5K, half marathon, or marathon with fresh motivation.
Read women’s running stories that inspire strength and transformation.
Experience a travel and running memoir filled with grit, humor, and heart.
Find motivation to begin a fitness journey at any age or stage.
Running the World proves you don’t need to feel ready. You just need to take the first step.
#1 Amazon Best Seller!
"Running the World is a captivating tale of inspiration and adventure! It made me feel like if Robyn can do it—maybe I can too!" - Author of Foam, Laurel Senick
What does it take to run the world, literally and figuratively?Robyn Godfrey didn’t plan to become a marathoner. She stumbled through adolescence as a clumsy teen and later partied through midlife while searching for purpose. Everything shifted the day she laced up her running shoes. What began as thirty seconds on a treadmill grew into a running journey that redefined her life.
Running the World follows Robyn’s quest to conquer all six World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City—while navigating her husband’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis, injuries, weather disasters, and waves of self-doubt. With honesty and humor, she shares the grit, setbacks, and triumphs that shaped her path through marathons, half marathons, and beyond.
This is more than a running memoir. It is an inspirational story of resilience, reinvention, and the courage to start again.
For readers who want
Explore the World Marathon Majors through a runner’s eyes.
Train for their first 5K, half marathon, or marathon with fresh motivation.
Read women’s running stories that inspire strength and transformation.
Experience a travel and running memoir filled with grit, humor, and heart.
Find motivation to begin a fitness journey at any age or stage.
Running the World proves you don’t need to feel ready. You just need to take the first step.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2025
4 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 16, 2025
I have the privilege of knowing Robyn Godfrey personally, and reading her book gave me the chance to appreciate her resilience and spirit on an even deeper level. As someone who has run three marathons myself — including the New York City Marathon — I found Robyn’s story incredibly motivating and relatable.
This book is much more than a running memoir; it’s a testament to perseverance, strength, and the power of refusing to give up in the face of life’s challenges. Robyn’s openness about her struggles and her unwavering determination left me feeling inspired and uplifted long after I turned the last page.
Whether you’re a runner, an endurance sports fan, or simply someone looking for a story of courage and hope, I wholeheartedly recommend picking this up. Robyn’s journey will remind you what’s possible when you put one foot in front of the other — both on the road and in life.
This book is much more than a running memoir; it’s a testament to perseverance, strength, and the power of refusing to give up in the face of life’s challenges. Robyn’s openness about her struggles and her unwavering determination left me feeling inspired and uplifted long after I turned the last page.
Whether you’re a runner, an endurance sports fan, or simply someone looking for a story of courage and hope, I wholeheartedly recommend picking this up. Robyn’s journey will remind you what’s possible when you put one foot in front of the other — both on the road and in life.
September 10, 2025
I loved reading about Robyn’s running journey, from her first ever run on a treadmill to completing the World’s Majors to finishing her first 50k.
She has faced so many challenges, but the hardest was being next to her husband during his battle with cancer. Running gave her the outlet she needed when she became his care taker through countless surgeries and cancer treatments. “In that whirlwind, running became my lifeline and desperate escape from the storm. It wasn’t just a coping mechanism anymore; it became my battle cry. A fierce reminder that even in the darkest of times, I could find strength in the rhythm of my breath and the pounding of my feet.”
She talks about finding her best friends through the local running community. “Running alongside others, day in and day out, fostered a rare and beautiful intimacy. My running friends became my lifelines. They pushed me when I wanted to quit, inspired me with their own goals and triumphs, and grounded me when my thoughts began to spiral.”
I found Robyn’s story so relatable in my own running journey. Reading about her determination through life’s challenges and through her actual races was very inspiring.
I highly recommend this book.
She has faced so many challenges, but the hardest was being next to her husband during his battle with cancer. Running gave her the outlet she needed when she became his care taker through countless surgeries and cancer treatments. “In that whirlwind, running became my lifeline and desperate escape from the storm. It wasn’t just a coping mechanism anymore; it became my battle cry. A fierce reminder that even in the darkest of times, I could find strength in the rhythm of my breath and the pounding of my feet.”
She talks about finding her best friends through the local running community. “Running alongside others, day in and day out, fostered a rare and beautiful intimacy. My running friends became my lifelines. They pushed me when I wanted to quit, inspired me with their own goals and triumphs, and grounded me when my thoughts began to spiral.”
I found Robyn’s story so relatable in my own running journey. Reading about her determination through life’s challenges and through her actual races was very inspiring.
I highly recommend this book.
June 14, 2025
This was a fast read and I really enjoyed reading about Robyn’s quest to achieve such big challenge spanning nearly a decade — all while dealing with such challenges on the personal front. The fact that she wrote this book with such joy, humor and wit is a true testament to the resilience that she clearly has. I finished feeling inspired and now contemplating what adventure to sign up for next …
June 12, 2025
A Great Rainy Saturday Read
A heartfelt and honest reflection on the challenges and joys of her journey as a runner. Robin writes as if she is sitting in your living room sharing a cup of tea and her great life stories. I read this book in an afternoon both laughing and often tearing up. I learned a lot too about the running world and the perseverance needed to achieve success.
A heartfelt and honest reflection on the challenges and joys of her journey as a runner. Robin writes as if she is sitting in your living room sharing a cup of tea and her great life stories. I read this book in an afternoon both laughing and often tearing up. I learned a lot too about the running world and the perseverance needed to achieve success.
September 13, 2025
Hands down, the best collection of recaps for the Abbott Marathon Majors 💯
If you’re aimlessly searching blogs to get an intimate understanding for courses, race experience, etc- don’t. It’s all here!
By contrast, if you aren’t a runner the Author describes the intricacies of training, race verbiage, running community, and so on in a way you’ll “get”
It’s as close as many of us will get to doing these races!
So fun, and I loved the personal stories weaved through. Running is not a hobby in a silo- it intersects with life.
Robyn, if you ever get down to OIB or Sunset perhaps I’ll be able to give you a high five on this book.
Or a hug, cause runners are a special kind of kin! 🫶🏻
If you’re aimlessly searching blogs to get an intimate understanding for courses, race experience, etc- don’t. It’s all here!
By contrast, if you aren’t a runner the Author describes the intricacies of training, race verbiage, running community, and so on in a way you’ll “get”
It’s as close as many of us will get to doing these races!
So fun, and I loved the personal stories weaved through. Running is not a hobby in a silo- it intersects with life.
Robyn, if you ever get down to OIB or Sunset perhaps I’ll be able to give you a high five on this book.
Or a hug, cause runners are a special kind of kin! 🫶🏻
September 23, 2025
What a cool thing it is to read a book by someone that you've met in real life and made even more impressive that you've worked out beside. I would say that Robyn Godfrey was known to me as this tall, strong female that likes to run. I loved that for her and we would both commiserate when our trainer would require us to lift heavier or maybe add a dash of cardio into our weight training. What I didn't know is that I had been working out next to a warrior of runners and even her life story is that of an overcoming some pretty horrific and devastating obstacles. So much of this book chronicles a journey of pushing herself out of her comfort zone and for that I truly admire her.
I feel I should share a little bit about my own running experience as I can tie it into how Robyn's story affected me personally. About 15 years ago, I signed up to run the Chicago Marathon and chose a charity to raise money for so that I could gain entry. In the meantime, I ran my first 5K (Battleship 5K in Wilmington, NC) and thought, someday I'll run that half marathon (which I did in 5 years later). How did I go from thinking I'll run a 5K to being prepared to run a marathon in less than 9 months time. Essentially the answer was I didn't follow through with it. Fast forward 5 more years and I was frustrated with my out of shape self and decided to join a Boot Camp workout facility. I started also doing some running in my neighborhood and then signed up for a 5K. (let me speed up the backstory here lest you all think *I* wrote a book).... one thing led to another and in 2016 challenged myself to run 16 races in that year (I thought I was cute with this goal lining up with the year). I completed that goal with 4 of them being half marathons and I met some incredible people along the way. I got the running bug! And I know first hand how addictive it can be. I ended up running 24 races! Now... for the sad ending to my running career.... I was born with a dislocated hip that was operated on when I was 18 months old and so it was inevitable that I would someday wear the joint out faster than the average person. Not realizing that I basically accelerated that timeline with all my running, after taking a few months off and tried to resume... it was not going to be in the cards for me.
So I shared all of this so that you will know that there are aspects of this book that I related to so profoundly. That desire to strive for things that you never thought were possible. The sheer hell of being in the middle of achieving those goals and thinking WHAT THE ACTUAL F!!! am I doing to myself. If you have ever pursued a goal so passionately, I encourage you to pick this book up and read about Robyn's journey and how a fire was lit within her to accomplish small and then very large goals. She talks about what it was like to deal with her husband's health challenges and trying to keep her body healthy as well. I laughed (literally out loud) at her recall of "poopy pants" and what most runners dread "weather conditions that defeat you". I also loved listening to her narrate her story on audiobook since we've had many interactions over the past year, it was like sitting down with a friend and hearing about her story (minus the wine we could have shared). I'm in awe of what she accomplished and I encourage you to pick up her story and see for yourself what it might inspire!
I feel I should share a little bit about my own running experience as I can tie it into how Robyn's story affected me personally. About 15 years ago, I signed up to run the Chicago Marathon and chose a charity to raise money for so that I could gain entry. In the meantime, I ran my first 5K (Battleship 5K in Wilmington, NC) and thought, someday I'll run that half marathon (which I did in 5 years later). How did I go from thinking I'll run a 5K to being prepared to run a marathon in less than 9 months time. Essentially the answer was I didn't follow through with it. Fast forward 5 more years and I was frustrated with my out of shape self and decided to join a Boot Camp workout facility. I started also doing some running in my neighborhood and then signed up for a 5K. (let me speed up the backstory here lest you all think *I* wrote a book).... one thing led to another and in 2016 challenged myself to run 16 races in that year (I thought I was cute with this goal lining up with the year). I completed that goal with 4 of them being half marathons and I met some incredible people along the way. I got the running bug! And I know first hand how addictive it can be. I ended up running 24 races! Now... for the sad ending to my running career.... I was born with a dislocated hip that was operated on when I was 18 months old and so it was inevitable that I would someday wear the joint out faster than the average person. Not realizing that I basically accelerated that timeline with all my running, after taking a few months off and tried to resume... it was not going to be in the cards for me.
So I shared all of this so that you will know that there are aspects of this book that I related to so profoundly. That desire to strive for things that you never thought were possible. The sheer hell of being in the middle of achieving those goals and thinking WHAT THE ACTUAL F!!! am I doing to myself. If you have ever pursued a goal so passionately, I encourage you to pick this book up and read about Robyn's journey and how a fire was lit within her to accomplish small and then very large goals. She talks about what it was like to deal with her husband's health challenges and trying to keep her body healthy as well. I laughed (literally out loud) at her recall of "poopy pants" and what most runners dread "weather conditions that defeat you". I also loved listening to her narrate her story on audiobook since we've had many interactions over the past year, it was like sitting down with a friend and hearing about her story (minus the wine we could have shared). I'm in awe of what she accomplished and I encourage you to pick up her story and see for yourself what it might inspire!
June 24, 2025
Full disclosure: I'm a gym bestie with Robyn and I've known her for about 1 year. I am NOT a runner and I could NOT put her book down. Robyn's personality shines through her memoir. The funny, the sad, the challenges and the successes. Her motivation speaks volumes. I see her motivation and work ethic every week at the gym. Robyn is 'clued into' her body and makes all the necessary adjustments to group class exercises if something is bothering her or if she knows she's got a big race coming up and just needs to dial it down a bit. Her decisions regarding her transformation shines the light on making mistakes that help her to grow. Her honesty brings the reader laughter. Her humor propels her forward. Reading about her husband's health struggles and her guilt of leaving him home alone to complete her mission brings a tear but you can feel the love between them both. Please grab this book. You'll thoroughly enjoy it!!
September 20, 2025
I really enjoyed following her story!
3.5 out of 5.
I would’ve liked the author to have had someone edit her book and help her create more flow in the story. Her voice is so genuine, but some of the rookie writing mistakes were distracting. At times it was hard to follow.
3.5 out of 5.
I would’ve liked the author to have had someone edit her book and help her create more flow in the story. Her voice is so genuine, but some of the rookie writing mistakes were distracting. At times it was hard to follow.
July 21, 2025
I loved this story and although I’m not a runner—I wanted to start after reading this book!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews