This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. Lessons for Between and Beyond the Start and Finish Line

by Chris Bennett

From Nike Running’s Global Head Coach Chris Bennett comes a bold, welcoming book for runners, non-runners, and everyone in between. Rooted in the coaching philosophy that has helped millions take their first steps forward, it’s about finding the courage to cross the starting lines in your life.

This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. is a deeply motivating, funny, and unexpectedly moving book about what happens when we dare to step up to the starting lines in our lives. Drawing on the philosophy that has inspired millions around the world, Coach Bennett reframes running not as a test of speed, distance, or competition—but as a practice in showing up, moving forward, and discovering what’s possible when you take a chance on yourself.

With his signature mix of positivity, pop-culture wisdom, and back-to-basics insight, Bennett strips away the pressure that keeps so many people stuck. Instead, he offers a refreshing you don’t have to be fast, fit, or fearless to be a runner. You just have to start. And once you do, running has a way of teaching you about far more than about resilience, confidence, self-trust, and the quiet power of momentum.

Whether you’re lacing up for the first time, returning after years away, or simply looking for a new way to think about progress, this book is a reminder that forward is forward, and that something extraordinary can happen when you take that first step.

Because the best running isn’t really about running at all.

It’s about life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help, Personal Development, Sports

Audiobook

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

Coach Bennett is a serious motivator and whimsical moustache curator. A beloved voice of Nike Run Club's popular app, he writes and runs in Portland, Oregon. You might run into him there - not far from a pepperoni pizza.

Reviews

[Lilly Minasyan]

If Coach Bennett starts a cult, I will be the first one to sign up. This is not even a joke.
I’ve done so many of the guided runs with him within the Nike app and I finally met him this year in Copenhagen and I almost cried. This person truly is a gem, a great person that I really love (i know he does not know me and this is weird, but what can I do?).
The book was in a way the compilation of his guided runs and I found it very inspiring. This is not a technical running book, but it is about how to be a runner or how to unlock that you are a runner.
People, you better not give my Coach Bennett 1 star, I’m watching the ratings!

Thank you Coach Bennett for the guided runs, for the inspiration and for this book.

[Dann]

Coach Bennett is indeed still one of my favorite people I’ve never met.

This book, like his guided runs, is 40% running tips and 60% life advice, and I absolutely love the balance. Love the title. Love the book. Love the man. Love the sport.

[martyn benny]

This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. is one of those rare books that uses a specific subject to illuminate something far more universal. While Chris Bennett draws from the world of running, the lessons extend well beyond the road or the trail. At its core, this is a thoughtful and inspiring meditation on resilience, self-belief, and the courage to begin.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. Bennett removes the intimidation that often surrounds running and replaces it with an invitation: you do not have to be fast, experienced, or even confident to take the first step. That philosophy makes the book just as meaningful for non-runners as it is for seasoned athletes.

What resonates most is the emphasis on progress over perfection. Bennett reframes success as the simple act of showing up, reminding readers that meaningful change rarely comes through dramatic leaps but through consistent, intentional forward movement. It is a message that applies equally to careers, relationships, personal growth, and everyday life.

The writing is warm, conversational, and encouraging without becoming overly sentimental. Humor, personal insight, and practical wisdom combine to create a reading experience that feels like receiving advice from a trusted coach who genuinely believes in your potential. Rather than relying on motivational clichés, Bennett offers a perspective grounded in self-trust and realistic optimism.

I also appreciate how the book celebrates the process instead of the outcome. By shifting attention away from finish lines and toward the value of simply beginning, it encourages readers to embrace challenges with curiosity rather than fear. That subtle change in mindset has the power to transform far more than a running routine.

Ultimately, This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. is less about athletic performance than about living with intention. It reminds us that every meaningful journey begins with a single decision to move forward, however imperfectly.

Whether you're an experienced runner, someone considering their very first jog, or simply navigating a new chapter in life, this uplifting and thoughtful book offers encouragement that extends far beyond the finish line.

[Melanie]

I love Coach Bennett. His guided runs have been with me on every. single. run. for many years, and they got me through some really rough times, when I couldn’t dance anymore and running was the only thing that made me feel alive. When Coach Bennett tells me “you’re a rockstar” or “you’re a badass”, I actually (kind of, sometimes) believe him. With all that said, I knew I’d love this book before I’d ever read a single word.
Basically, the book weaves the essence of his guided runs into his personal story as a runner, teacher and coach. The final few chapters made me really emotional (in a good way), and, in a way, hopeful.
And now that I’ve listened to the audiobook (seriously, for the full experience, you need to hear Coach Bennett himself narrate the book himself!), I can’t wait for my printed copy to arrive. Thank you, Coach!

[Carson Smith]

The Ted Lasso of run coaching.

Coach Bennett’s philosophy around running is what made running finally click for me 4-5 years ago. Lots of retreaded ground here if you’ve heard his Nike run workouts, but good reminders.

[abby]

I listened to the audiobook today and I think I already knew that it was going to be good because I've followed the author on social media and done some of his guided runs in the Nike Run Club app. What I genuinely didn't realize though, was just how much it was going to speak to me in so many ways. "This is about Running..." I'm a runner, but I'm also a runner dealing with injury right now, and this book spoke directly to so many doubts and hesitations that I've been feeling as I deal with my recovery and not being able to run the way I want to.

There's another level to everything in this book though, and "This is Not About Running" holds true for this in so many ways. How do we deal with setbacks, with plans not going the way we want, with feeling stuck in life, with not knowing how to even start something, let alone finish it? One part that got to me in such a good way was the chapter titled "Dear Doubt", and this part especially, "Listen up now, Doubt. You need to know that I'll always be strong enough to try. I'll always be good enough to get better." There's more in that chapter that is absolutely spot on, but the reminder that it's okay to not get things right all the time, but the biggest thing is that we keep on getting back up and trying again. Starting something so that we can find our next starting line.

I might be rambling a bit right now, but please do yourself a favor and read this. Whether you're a runner or not, there's something in here for every single person who reads it and I hope that if you do read it, that just like me, it'll somehow be exactly what you needed to hear.

[Melinda Gross]

I highly recommend the audiobook! I had it preordered on Audible and was counting down the days for its arrival! If you enjoy Coach Bennett’s Nike guided runs (who doesn’t?) then this book or audiobook is for you! I will probably buy the hard copy as well since I’m such a huge fan of Coach B! The book is for anyone who has even thought of running and everyone is a runner. It doesn’t matter the pace or distance! This book is so inspiring and just what I needed as we enter into a new season. Thank you Coach Bennett for inspiring so many people to make it to the starting line!

[Stef]

Coach Bennett’s guided runs got me through my early running days six years ago, and they’re one of the main reasons I never stopped running, and don’t plan to.

He has a way of making you fall in love with running from the very first word, but you’ll also carry his words with you long after the run is over, because this is about running, but this is also not about running!

The book is entertaining, inspiring, and full of the kind of wisdom that sticks with you. I had to stop the audiobook multiple times to jot down little gems of wisdom that I know I’ll like to come back to in the future.

My only complaint is that I wish it were longer :)

[Dan D'Orvilliers]

Having run "against" Coach Bennett - at least in the same state at the same time - and coached against him - again at least in the same state at the same time, this book is truly the words of an amazing "coach" and an amazing man. Whether you are a life long runner, a new runner, a wanna start runner, or even think running is for weirdos this book is for you. Because while it is about running...as the title states...it is also not about running.

[Courtney Cahoon White]

One thing I appreciated about this book was that it was pretty down-to-earth. Elite runners can feel like they’re in another world from us average runners, but this had enough wisdom in it to reach everyone.

[Kevin McAraw]

Why am I ugly crying during my commute

[Marissa Oleck]

I have been a follower of Coach Bennett for years, and I really loved this book. While many of his lessons and messages will be familiar to anyone who has listened to his guided runs or podcasts, there was something about reading them on the page that made them hit differently.

What I appreciate most about Coach Bennett is that he is so authentically himself. Maybe it’s a Jersey thing, LOL, but there’s a genuineness to the way he communicates that has always resonated with me. Over the years, I’ve realized that his messages don’t really change—and that’s kind of the point. Sometimes we don’t need a brand-new lesson. We just need to be reminded of the lessons we already know but tend to forget.

And despite the title, this really isn’t just about running. I finished this book feeling like a better athlete, but also a better mother, wife, friend, sister, and person. Coach Bennett has a way of using running to talk about so much more: showing up, giving yourself grace, being present, embracing where you are, and continuing to move forward.

If you’ve followed Coach Bennett for years, this book feels like spending more time with an old friend. And if you haven’t, it’s a pretty great introduction to why so many of us keep coming back to his words.

[Cam Schill]

I decided about a year ago as a person who had never run so much as a mile that I was going to run a marathon. I am not really sure where this came from, but it got stuck in my head and I haven’t been able to shake it since.

At this moment, I am about halfway to that goal. At some point along the way, my running has become less about the marathon and more about what running can give me. (Though I’m still definitely going to hit that glorious 26.2) If you know me in real life, you have probably heard me say “Running makes me a better person. And not in a ‘better than people who don’t run’ kind of way but in a ‘less of a bitch’ kind of way.”

Coach Bennett is inspiring and prompts a lot of self reflection. He promotes kindness and goodness and persists that happy runners are runners that stay in the sport. I may still have achieved the marathon goal if I had downloaded a different running app all of those miles ago, but I can say with absolute certainty that I would not be getting out of running what I do without Coach Bennett in my ears.

Running has changed my life and while I may be the one driving, Coach Bennett has always been the one in the passenger seat with the map and the killer tunes.

[Kelsey]

I’m so grateful for this book. Running with Coach via the Nike Running App has transformed my running. He’s helped make me a better, stronger runner but also a calmer, more inclusive, more curious runner. I still have hard days, but I’m kinder to myself on those days. (This comment is about running, and this comment is not about running.)

If you love running, this book is for you. If you hate running, this book is for you. If you think running and reading are unrelated, buckle up: this book is for you, too! He’s honest, and cheesy, and funny, and 100% sincere.

So thank you, Coach, for being brave enough to give us this book, and for always being there on the starting line.

(PS - I actually listened to you in chapter 6 and stopped to watch “Dirty Dancing”. What a film! I have regrets too, but this was not one of them.)

[Christine (Queen of Books)]

I'm not in the Nike Run Club, but I've really enjoyed some clips of Coach Bennett encouraging runners. From those, I liked his approach to running - it felt very positive.

And it is, at least based on this book. But I ran my first half marathon over 15 years ago, and I've trained for several marathons in recent years - I'm not new to running. This Is About Running, This Is Not About Running had little in it for me. To be sure, there were a few good reminders (e.g., measure success in as many ways as you can, being nervous means you care).

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this for novices or those interested in trying out running, before I'd gift it to my friends who are already runners. I do think there's great advice for newer runners here! Bennett narrates the audiobook, though note the end pages in the hardcover are beautiful.

Thank you to Dey Street Books for a free copy of this title.

[Patrick Barton]

Inspiring, humbling, moving, and beautiful are just a few of the words that I can use to describe this book. I have listened to Coach Bennett’s guided runs for years and they all can be described the same way; this book is those guided runs on steroids. I listened to the audiobook and will be getting a physical copy as soon as I can get to the bookstore. This book will stay with me as I cross all my future starting lines. There are many more thoughts that I can’t put into words that I felt when listening to the audio book so I will just finish my review with this, thank you Coach Bennett for writing this book.

[Julia Hurtado]

Coach Bennett taught me to love running when I first discovered the NRC app years ago. Since then, this hobby of mine has brought me endurance, strength, and probably bone density, but more importantly it’s brought me friendship, self-love, some really great runDisney costumes, healing from perfectionism, and always having another starting line to look forward to. I’m so grateful to have his experience and encouragement immortalized in the form of a book I can keep turning to whenever I need it. I’m taking his advice and passing it along to another runner: my daughter, who is 13 and too cool for everything but who ran her first Peachtree with her embarrassing parents this year and thinks this author “is probably ok since he referenced The Cure.”

[Simcha Wurtzel]

This book is a true gift for any runner and non runner reader out there. Coach Bennett wrote this masterfully in the same way that he teaches and coaches. Short snack size chapters that are topic specific makes for super easy reading, but pulls you in if you have the time to read and learn more straight through. So grateful that he finally wrote the book, which is already a favorite in our home. It’s motivating, encouraging, and educational, for all ages, there’s room on the starting page for everyone.

[Kirtney-Robin Kiefer]

I love Coach Bennett and Nike Run Club but for me there was not really anything in this book that I did not already gain from listening to the guided runs. The writing feels like Nike just collected his scripts and grouped them loosely together into a larger book.

The parts I enjoyed most were the autobiographical tidbits that were few and scattered between. If there were more of these I think I would have had a better time. In all honesty this probably a really great book for people new to running or maybe those who have not listened to the guided runs. Benetton’s style is earnest and heart warming (if you can get past the sheer amount of definitions thrown at you). His passion helps to lift what was a bit of repetitive style at times.

In short good but nothing new from CB. Your mileage may vary.

[Jude Snell]

This book was an absolute pleasure to read. I liked the structure of the book - chapters filled with running (& life) wisdom from a man who can put a positive spin on pretty much anything, interspersed with anecdotes about his own running journey and key memories that shaped his career. Loved it from start to finish! This is not a book of training plans and scientific explanations, this book will inspire you to run (the right way) and be your own best coach!

[Rose R]

Really loved this a lot - been getting back into running after being diagnosed with asthma last year and trying to figure all that out. Had spent a fair amount of time in my head, berating myself for not being the runner I once was. Listening to the guided runs on Nike Run Club have been helping to distract me from that and change my mindset to a more positive one. This book is a lovely compilation of all that good stuff and more - I have a feeling ill probably keep coming back to it 😊

[Kristin Stuthard]

I have been a huge fan of Coach Bennett's from afar for many years now and I had to pre-order this book when I heard that he was writing one. This was a fantastic read, full of motivation and inspiring stories. I listened to this during all of my runs and even when I was doing chores. I wish I was as awesome as coach but I'll take what he wrote and apply it to my runs and everyday life!

Edited for some grammatical errors.

[Annelise Blanchette]

Good balance of running and life advice. I could just hear Coach Bennett speaking the words as I read them (the audiobook is not yet available to me).

Perfect for newer runners or people considering it. Amazing for seasoned runners who forget the basics sometimes. There were a lot of good nuggets in here that warmed my heart and made me smile.

[Brian]

As the title hints, this is not just a running book. It is filled with lessons that can be applied to work, hobbies, relationships, etc in addition to running. Short, focused chapters make each theme easy to digest and reread later.

[Samantha LaRochelle]

I love coach Bennett. A lot of the sentiments here are in the guided runs I’ve been running since my first runs ever over 3 years ago, but they were framed in a lovely way and laced in were personal stories I hadn’t heard and really enjoyed. Really encouraging and helpful as I’ve had a tough half marathon training block and questioned myself a lot recently.

[Rayna (Poindextrix)]

Bennett is already a charismatic and likable figure in the running community and he makes running feel accessible. This is a through line in the book — everyone is a runner. Running isn’t just about your pace or form, but also about what you get out of it (and what you put into it).
By his own admission, Bennett rambles and he’s cheesy. This, along with his earnestness, is very much the voice of the book. It lends itself to the audiobook, but I’m not sure how it would be to read. He also repeatedly reads out definitions from the dictionary?? I think i get what he was going for, but it didn’t work for me.
Overall if you’re a runner and already a fan, it’s an enjoyable listen, but I don’t feel like there was anything particularly revelatory.

[Chels A.]

I’m a HUGE FAN of Coach Bennett. I’ve listened to his guided runs and his podcast which I highly recommend.
His book was on point and I truly enjoyed reading it. Two of my favorite chapters were “Become Your Own Best Coach” and “Training Plans Should Be Written In Pencil”.
Also, loved the illustration of all the runners on the inside of the book. Very cool!

[Caitlin Schwark]

4.5 rounded up because I just really love running and this made me almost cry a few times because of how much I love running

[Danielle Garon]

I just love him dearly ❤️ loved the parallel between what he talks about on the guided runs and what he talks about in this book

[Dawn Bell]

This is a wonderful compilation of Coach Bennett’s best stories, running wisdom, and life inspiration. Well done Coach!!