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Find Your Pace: How Running Changed My Life and How It Can Change Yours Too
'This genuinely feels like having a personal running coach in the book. Emma’s way of making runners of all paces feel confident in their own race is unmatched. A must-read for amateur and experienced runners alike.' - Candice Brathwaite
All it takes is the first step.
As a child, Emma Kirk-Odunubi loved to run, revelling in that sense of freedom and the feel of the breeze on her skin. But as she grew up, her passion for this most simple of activities waned, overtaken by all the distractions that come with adult life. It was only when faced with the loss of her beloved father that Emma returned to running, and rediscovered its joy and its power. Now a certified coach and running gait expert, in Find Your Pace Emma reveals how running saved her life, how it can help you too, and — crucially — how to do it in the way that works for your lifestyle.
Packed with practical, expert advice, including detailed guides and training plans for beginners, intermediate and advanced-level runners, Find Your Pace will help you run better, whatever that looks like for you. It’s not about speed or distance or competing with running is for everyone.
Along the way, Emma dives into her many motivations for lacing up her trainers and hitting the road, trails or track — from releasing pent-up energy and feeling at home in her body, to processing grief and carving out the time she needed to explore and accept her sexuality. She looks at running in relation to race, community and self-confidence and gives everyone the tools required to get started, get better and get even more out of going for a run.
This relatable, funny and moving book will encourage you to run back to yourself, on your own track.
'Emma is the reason I started running! Find Your Pace blends coaching expertise with real-life experience in a way that feels supportive and genuinely realistic.' - Dr Hazel Wallace
All it takes is the first step.
As a child, Emma Kirk-Odunubi loved to run, revelling in that sense of freedom and the feel of the breeze on her skin. But as she grew up, her passion for this most simple of activities waned, overtaken by all the distractions that come with adult life. It was only when faced with the loss of her beloved father that Emma returned to running, and rediscovered its joy and its power. Now a certified coach and running gait expert, in Find Your Pace Emma reveals how running saved her life, how it can help you too, and — crucially — how to do it in the way that works for your lifestyle.
Packed with practical, expert advice, including detailed guides and training plans for beginners, intermediate and advanced-level runners, Find Your Pace will help you run better, whatever that looks like for you. It’s not about speed or distance or competing with running is for everyone.
Along the way, Emma dives into her many motivations for lacing up her trainers and hitting the road, trails or track — from releasing pent-up energy and feeling at home in her body, to processing grief and carving out the time she needed to explore and accept her sexuality. She looks at running in relation to race, community and self-confidence and gives everyone the tools required to get started, get better and get even more out of going for a run.
This relatable, funny and moving book will encourage you to run back to yourself, on your own track.
'Emma is the reason I started running! Find Your Pace blends coaching expertise with real-life experience in a way that feels supportive and genuinely realistic.' - Dr Hazel Wallace
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 14, 2026
A beautiful essay on loss and grief in relation to running, with a half of the book dedicated to the technicalities of the sport. Loved it (wouldn't recommend the 6*1km intervals session though, my legs are still burning and my ego is nowhere to be seen).
May 9, 2026
A well-written blog in book form about how you can find your everything in the backdrop of running aka looking after your mental health. Emma starts the first part of this book talking about herself, finding herself, her identity, her loss/ grief following the death of her father but then the next half of the book is geared to beginners or an awareness to experts on how to find and keep your motivation in looking after yourself.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I consider myself a bit of a traditionalist: I like my books about running to actually be about running. While a narrative can certainly take a few scenic detours, the core should actually be about running. This book didn't share my philosophy.
Much of my experience listening to this was spent in a state of mounting frustration. In fact, I found myself writing notes just to figure out exactly why I felt so irritated. I’ve condensed those grievances- and the occasional bright spot- as follows.
The first half of the book is a crowded space. It features some poignant reflections on the loss of Kirk-Odunubi’s father, which, while moving, feel tangential. However, this does offer some backstory and introduces the book’s elaborate foray into social commentary. For example, due to her experiencing grief at a comparatively young age, she believes there should be more done in school settings to prepare children for this.
Bless those who don't work in education and yet think that the solution to every ill is to teach children about it (13%).
Yes- grief is hard, and all will experience it.
No, we don't teach children about grief because it's outside their contextual understanding, making it ineffective for the age group.
No- it's called parenting; that's why children get goldfish and hamsters.
No- it's called life; you just have to live it.
The author also seems fixated on what she is not. She notes (15%) that since the early 2000s, the ‘ideal’ body type has been ‘Eurocentric: namely, skinny, white, petite and without an ounce of fat’. While that's a fair point to discuss and could be an interesting topic to explore, it’s hard to act surprised that a standard is Eurocentric when you are, in fact, in Europe.
There is a curious paradox in the way diversity is handled here. It is charming to see an advocate for anti-racism stumble into the very territory they are policing. 'If you're reading this as a person of colour, I want to highlight that I'm going to discuss my experiences of racism. If it feels like too much or brings up traumatic moments in your life, protect your peace and feel free to skip or engage in however works for you' (18%).
No- it is entirely possible to be prejudiced towards anyone, not just a specific subset.
This is highlighted in a story she shares about a child saying, ‘she’s got hair like a monster’ (20%). The child was undeniably rude, or maybe was conceivably using their prior knowledge to comprehend something new, but they weren't being racist. Sharing this as an example of racial ‘trauma’ feels like a stretch that distracts from the actual topic of the book. There is a fixation on skin colour as the sole metric for diversity, with very little consideration given to any other feature or background.
Mercifully, part two arrives, and the running book finally becomes a book about running. It actually delves into form, technique, and advice for those looking to start their journey. This section will likely be useful for new runners who might benefit from the buzzword-heavy, almost asinine tone. However, for those already involved in the sport, the self-help reminders tend to wash over you with little impact.
By the end, I felt talked down to, particularly during the section fixated on the benefits of group running. Also, I dislike that a book suggests I 'check out her YouTube channel'. Either explain it in the book, or don't bother mentioning it.
As for the production, it’s functional. Kirk-Odunubi is clearly not an experienced orator; her pacing is inconsistent, and there are a few mispronunciations, which grate. That said, the information is conveyed clearly enough.
I had the thought after listening to much of this that I'd quite like to run with Kirk-Odunubi. I feel confident that she'd be an enthusiastic companion; she'd focus on your achievements, perhaps offer small suggestions to improve, but always high-five you when you reach your goal. However, I'd politely decline the post-run coffee; I don’t think our conversational tones would align for long.
Much of my experience listening to this was spent in a state of mounting frustration. In fact, I found myself writing notes just to figure out exactly why I felt so irritated. I’ve condensed those grievances- and the occasional bright spot- as follows.
The first half of the book is a crowded space. It features some poignant reflections on the loss of Kirk-Odunubi’s father, which, while moving, feel tangential. However, this does offer some backstory and introduces the book’s elaborate foray into social commentary. For example, due to her experiencing grief at a comparatively young age, she believes there should be more done in school settings to prepare children for this.
Bless those who don't work in education and yet think that the solution to every ill is to teach children about it (13%).
Yes- grief is hard, and all will experience it.
No, we don't teach children about grief because it's outside their contextual understanding, making it ineffective for the age group.
No- it's called parenting; that's why children get goldfish and hamsters.
No- it's called life; you just have to live it.
The author also seems fixated on what she is not. She notes (15%) that since the early 2000s, the ‘ideal’ body type has been ‘Eurocentric: namely, skinny, white, petite and without an ounce of fat’. While that's a fair point to discuss and could be an interesting topic to explore, it’s hard to act surprised that a standard is Eurocentric when you are, in fact, in Europe.
There is a curious paradox in the way diversity is handled here. It is charming to see an advocate for anti-racism stumble into the very territory they are policing. 'If you're reading this as a person of colour, I want to highlight that I'm going to discuss my experiences of racism. If it feels like too much or brings up traumatic moments in your life, protect your peace and feel free to skip or engage in however works for you' (18%).
No- it is entirely possible to be prejudiced towards anyone, not just a specific subset.
This is highlighted in a story she shares about a child saying, ‘she’s got hair like a monster’ (20%). The child was undeniably rude, or maybe was conceivably using their prior knowledge to comprehend something new, but they weren't being racist. Sharing this as an example of racial ‘trauma’ feels like a stretch that distracts from the actual topic of the book. There is a fixation on skin colour as the sole metric for diversity, with very little consideration given to any other feature or background.
Mercifully, part two arrives, and the running book finally becomes a book about running. It actually delves into form, technique, and advice for those looking to start their journey. This section will likely be useful for new runners who might benefit from the buzzword-heavy, almost asinine tone. However, for those already involved in the sport, the self-help reminders tend to wash over you with little impact.
By the end, I felt talked down to, particularly during the section fixated on the benefits of group running. Also, I dislike that a book suggests I 'check out her YouTube channel'. Either explain it in the book, or don't bother mentioning it.
As for the production, it’s functional. Kirk-Odunubi is clearly not an experienced orator; her pacing is inconsistent, and there are a few mispronunciations, which grate. That said, the information is conveyed clearly enough.
I had the thought after listening to much of this that I'd quite like to run with Kirk-Odunubi. I feel confident that she'd be an enthusiastic companion; she'd focus on your achievements, perhaps offer small suggestions to improve, but always high-five you when you reach your goal. However, I'd politely decline the post-run coffee; I don’t think our conversational tones would align for long.
March 21, 2026
“You don’t have to run fast to be a runner; you just have to show up and put one foot in front of their other at a forward pace: left foot. right foot. breathe.” (Kayla Jeter)
This is possibly the best message I took away from Find Your Pace. There is a lot I took from the book but this message hammered home the concept of non-comparison. I don’t have to run fast, all I have to do is show up and run, run for me.
Emma Kirk-Odunubi shares her story of how she got into running, the benefits she got from it, the impact it had on her life. But the book is so much more than that. It has tips on getting started, training programmes for both running and complementary strength workouts, inspiration from other runners.
I’ve got to admit, I’m not sure the training schedules etc work well in a kindle version. That might be me. Despite being a predominantly e-reader, the more instructional side of books like recipes, workout schedules etc work better in paper for me. It might be differ for others.
“Whatever distance you cover, however ‘slow’ your pace, your run is still worthy and an incredible achievement.”
Find Your Pace is an inspiring read. I’m a very novice runner despite being at it for 3 years. but it helped me accept my running.
This is possibly the best message I took away from Find Your Pace. There is a lot I took from the book but this message hammered home the concept of non-comparison. I don’t have to run fast, all I have to do is show up and run, run for me.
Emma Kirk-Odunubi shares her story of how she got into running, the benefits she got from it, the impact it had on her life. But the book is so much more than that. It has tips on getting started, training programmes for both running and complementary strength workouts, inspiration from other runners.
I’ve got to admit, I’m not sure the training schedules etc work well in a kindle version. That might be me. Despite being a predominantly e-reader, the more instructional side of books like recipes, workout schedules etc work better in paper for me. It might be differ for others.
“Whatever distance you cover, however ‘slow’ your pace, your run is still worthy and an incredible achievement.”
Find Your Pace is an inspiring read. I’m a very novice runner despite being at it for 3 years. but it helped me accept my running.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🏃♀️ 🏃🏿♀️🏃🏽♀️ Find your pace 🏃♂️🏃🏽♂️🏃🏿♂️
PRE PUBLICATION REVIEW
PRE ORDER, Release date - 5th February 2026
Audiobook review
Narratored by the author @emmakirkyo
Growing up as a gifted athlete, Emma navigates grief, racism, and questions of identity. This memoir explores the challenges of her early life and how they ultimately led her to find herself through running. The book openly discusses identity, sexuality, race, and includes powerful reflections on racism around the world.
If you're new to running there's all the information you need from how to run, what to wear, timings , pace, fueling, injury, healing and fetch.
As a runner, I understand why running saved her. It isn’t about speed or distance. You can walk during a run — you can walk a lot — and it’s still a run. It still makes you a runner! Moving my body and being outside has saved me too. Running can save you as well.
PRE PUBLICATION REVIEW
PRE ORDER, Release date - 5th February 2026
Audiobook review
Narratored by the author @emmakirkyo
Growing up as a gifted athlete, Emma navigates grief, racism, and questions of identity. This memoir explores the challenges of her early life and how they ultimately led her to find herself through running. The book openly discusses identity, sexuality, race, and includes powerful reflections on racism around the world.
If you're new to running there's all the information you need from how to run, what to wear, timings , pace, fueling, injury, healing and fetch.
As a runner, I understand why running saved her. It isn’t about speed or distance. You can walk during a run — you can walk a lot — and it’s still a run. It still makes you a runner! Moving my body and being outside has saved me too. Running can save you as well.
April 9, 2026
I heard author Emma Kirk-Odunubi talking about this book on the Runners’ World podcast recently.
There was a lot of interesting talk about running form, selection of shoes and other gear - and training. I bought the book on the strength of it but was a little disappointed. My three-star rating might be a little unfair as I suspect I'm not the target audience for the book. It's far more targeted at beginners. And there's much less in here about the technical elements than I'd hoped.
The first part of the book is a memoir of Emma's mental health struggles prompted by the premature death of her father, and her coming to terms with her identity as a black black bisexual woman. Some readers will find this quite interesting as she positions running, and how it helped her, against the backdrop of these issues. However it wasn't quite what I bargained for and I struggled to maintain my interest as I read it.
There was a lot of interesting talk about running form, selection of shoes and other gear - and training. I bought the book on the strength of it but was a little disappointed. My three-star rating might be a little unfair as I suspect I'm not the target audience for the book. It's far more targeted at beginners. And there's much less in here about the technical elements than I'd hoped.
The first part of the book is a memoir of Emma's mental health struggles prompted by the premature death of her father, and her coming to terms with her identity as a black black bisexual woman. Some readers will find this quite interesting as she positions running, and how it helped her, against the backdrop of these issues. However it wasn't quite what I bargained for and I struggled to maintain my interest as I read it.
February 8, 2026
Managed to pick up and Emma signed a copy of find your pace at the Birmingham running show.
I just want to say having now read this book it was really wonderful book. It’s got the perfect mix of personality, story telling and training advice. The story’s are all really from the heart and Emma’s authenticity, personality and wit all shine through. It’s been immensely helpful both to know more about training but the insights into grief, love and loss were incredibly resonant for me.
This is a must read if you are an LGBTQ+ runner and looking for a for a read where you feel represented.
In addition it’s a brilliant book for anyone looking to know more about running the benefits of Emma’s beautiful and poignant running journey. Tackling grief, love, racism and self exploration in a wonderfully frank, and authentic way.
I just want to say having now read this book it was really wonderful book. It’s got the perfect mix of personality, story telling and training advice. The story’s are all really from the heart and Emma’s authenticity, personality and wit all shine through. It’s been immensely helpful both to know more about training but the insights into grief, love and loss were incredibly resonant for me.
This is a must read if you are an LGBTQ+ runner and looking for a for a read where you feel represented.
In addition it’s a brilliant book for anyone looking to know more about running the benefits of Emma’s beautiful and poignant running journey. Tackling grief, love, racism and self exploration in a wonderfully frank, and authentic way.
March 14, 2026
As a new runner, I really enjoyed this book and have found a lot of inspiration from the variety of perspectives that Emma shares. I enjoyed the variety of information in this book from running plans to experience from different runners and particularly, insights from Emma as a runner who has found running early and then later on in life and how it helped her to deal with grief and mental health. I myself have found joy and a community in running and I relish reading this and finding people that have had this experience as well is very enjoyable.
February 14, 2026
listened to this as an audio book and very much enjoyed it. Has inspired me for the half marathon I have signed up for this year.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews