Runners of North America: A Definitive Guide to the Species

by Mark Remy

If there's one thing that Mark Remy knows, it's running. After 25 marathons and a career of writing for and about runners in Runner's World, he is well equipped to dissect the running world and the odd creatures that make up its population. The North American Runner has evolved greatly over the years, adapting to changes in environment, including new threats, technologies, food sources, and fashion. These mysterious, brightly clad creatures live side by side with humans, but how many of us truly understand them? In Runners of North America, a comprehensive guide to the 23 subspecies of runners (ranging from The Newbie to The Gear Addict), humor writer Mark Remy presents the tools to observe and communicate with runners in their natural habitat. With chapters like "Diet and Nutrition" and "Mating Habits," Runners of North America examines and explains the lives of runners from every conceivable angle--while delivering plenty of laughs along the way.

Genres: Sports, Humor, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published April 5, 2016

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a funny book! If you are a runner, then you will get a kick out of reading this book. I've always enjoyed reading Mark Remy's articles in Runner's World and I am glad that I finally decided to get this book. There are lots of laugh-out-loud moments and this book was well put together and written. The scientific names of the different runner sub-species were so cute and the introduction had me laughing.

[Kimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somebody gifted me this, but I am likely the kind of runner who takes themselves (and the sport) too seriously to enjoy a book like this. That's on me. It could be a good one for the more lighthearted runners in your life!

I found some of it funny and spot on, e.g. the "pain receptors" diagram, but the jokes about "build", mating calls, and a few weird wife/marriage jokes made me cringe, and I generally don't enjoy jokes that revolve around stereotypes.

[Jak Krumholtz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done, really just a premise that gets old. I did learn I'm a prior "Serious Runner" who would be a "Trail Runner" if I didn't live in Florida. Unfortunately I've become "The 7:00 Minute Mile Guy" and despite having a "Kid Runner" I've never been "The Dad Runner."

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and lighthearted look at different types of runners.

[Reading For Sanity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and others at https://readingforsanity.blogspot.com...

[Lawrence Rubal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, funny read of you're a runner.

[Phil Livingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is meant more to be gifted than it is meant to be read

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you run, you should read this book. If you run but have no sense of human, don't read this book. This is not meant to be hardcore running advice, like Remy's other books, it's meant to be funny.
It was recommended to me by another runner and I'm glad I took the time to read it. The writing is witty and doesn't take itself seriously at all, written as though you're studying runners like birds by a man who's run so many marathons I can't keep track. It's a fast read, most pages having diagrams/pictures, I read it over two days because I refused to let myself finish the first day, and I was sad it was over so soon. I will definitely keep this book for anytime I need a light read or a laugh (planes, car rides). I also appreciated that in the end he recommends his other books, because I find it hard to find quality books on running, and I enjoy his writing style.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for review from a Goodreads Giveaway. Many thanks to the author and publisher for their generosity!

This is an easy, breezy, and funny look at the subculture that is running. While I don't run (only if a bear is after me or someone is giving away chocolate cake), I come from a family of runners. Many a Saturday morning has been spent at finish lines, screaming my fool head off for "Dad/sister/bro-in-law/husband".

Recommended for runners and runners adjacent. I'll be passing it to all the various members of my family who, unlike me, think running is a good time.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! If you're a runner, read this to enjoy some good-natured teasing about our sport. I loved how Remy took such a "scientific" approach to exploring "the runner" and went into every detail that runners experience. A great, easy, fun summer read. Thanks for the free Goodreads Giveaway copy! Will definitely be passing it along to a runner friend!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like an anthropological studies of another species with a sense of humor. The 23 subspecies of runner are very funny and accurate at describing the major personality types of people in the running community. This book will be funny for people that don't run, and even funnier to an actual runner. I'm really glad I won this from FirstReads.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freakin hilarious! I think I pointed someone out in each subspecies. Great way of making fun of ourselves as runners.

[Debra Hennessey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny. If Thurber were still around and wrote about running it would look kinda like this book.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun, lighthearted read about runners! And yes, it's all true.

Full review to come on the blog: http://www.takinglongwayhome.com/2016...

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whimsical look at how runners in North America act in "different species". A very quick and easy read. Great for folks who love running and not die-hard runners.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun quick read, perfect material for reading while on a flight.

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious :))