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Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running
More than 11 million women run regularly, a number that's growing every year. They tend to be educated and affluent-the perfect audience for Sole Sisters.
Half of all runners are women, and they are changing the face of the sport. It's a social outlet, a healthful way to improve mental well-being, and an opportunity to form bonds with like-minded women.
Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running is a gripping collection of stories that captures the inspirational heart of the women's running. Authors Jennifer Lin and Susan Warner have interviewed women of all ages from all walks of life and all parts of the country. All of their subjects have one thing in common: Running has transformed them. There are both heartrending stories of grief and survival and lighthearted tales of friendship. Among them are:
* Sisters who competed in a 5K race to honor a sister who survived breast cancer.
* A 9/11 widow who ran her first marathon to honor the memory of her husband.
* A 65-year-old woman who overcame obesity and alcoholism to finish the grueling Ironman triathlon.
* An unknown runner from Norway named Grete Waitz who decided to run a marathon-and changed the face of the sport.
Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running is not just for women who run. It appeals to all women who know what it means to have the support of others who share their trials and triumphs. Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running is sometimes touching, sometimes funny, and always inspiring.
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
18 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Lin
8 books10 followersI was born with the reporter’s gene. It’s all I ever wanted to do from the time I was in high school and listening to a young local radio reporter named Andrea Mitchell (yes, that Andrea Mitchell) interviewing my father about soaring health-care costs. I had the good fortune of working for one of the finest newspapers in the business, The Philadelphia Inquirer, but always as a reporter, never an editor. Reporters had more fun. There’s nothing like the rush of a big breaking story. I worked as a correspondent in New York, Washington, D.C., and Beijing. My son and daughter were tots when I told them, “We’re moving to China!” They thought Beijing was somewhere west of Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. My husband, Bill Stieg, uprooted his journalism career and we traded in our Ford station wagon for Flying Pigeon bicycles. I reported from all over Asia—Hong Kong during the 1997 handover to China; Jakarta during the fall of President Suharto; Bangkok during the Asian financial meltdown. But of all the news and issues I covered, the assignment that captivated me the most was the one right in front of me, the story of my Chinese family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
October 17, 2011
In the end, I would rather hear stories about average runners racing in average races with average finish times.....those are the runners that truly inspire me. Running a sub 3 or even 4 hour marathon is great and deserves massive amounts of credit. But those that do it in 5, 6, or even 8 hours are the ones that move me to tears when I watch them finish. Those are my hero's.
July 1, 2017
An quick and inspiring read about woman and the power of running. The book presents a total of twenty-one stories from women from various walks of life expressing the impact running has brought to their lives. Out of all the stories in this book, my favorite was "On the faded trail of Chief Dull Knife" by Cinnamon Spear in that the female on the story shares her experience in running freezing temperatures in Montana to retrace the journey performed by the Cheyenne over a century ago.
After reading this book, it remains me of how running can be viewed as more as exercise, it can also be therapeutic as well as help deal with grief. Whether these women are walking, jogging, or running, it's comforting to know that they use running as a way to find or reclaim themselves and well as create and reach goals which is also the main reasons I run as well.
The only thing that would've like at the end of the book was a list of resources for women looking for running groups or companies that make running clothes for women.
After reading this book, it remains me of how running can be viewed as more as exercise, it can also be therapeutic as well as help deal with grief. Whether these women are walking, jogging, or running, it's comforting to know that they use running as a way to find or reclaim themselves and well as create and reach goals which is also the main reasons I run as well.
The only thing that would've like at the end of the book was a list of resources for women looking for running groups or companies that make running clothes for women.
February 14, 2016
I was given this book as a gift and absolutely loved it! Great read for any runner - especially women!
December 29, 2017
This book was a gift from one of my dear running friends, so I really wanted to love it and I was expecting a lot of inspiring stories that would make me want to go out and run 20 miles right now. Instead what I got was some lackluster writing and some passages that could have been inspiring if they were not so poorly written. Some were interesting, like the lady who runs with her horses, but I wanted more from this collection of running experiences. The writing is shallow and emotionless for most of the book and there were several things I found downright offensive. For example, in one passage there is this sentence: "Marilyn got so good at running that she decided to join Susan in a local 5k race". First of all, this is the least complex sentence on the planet (See: the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog). Second, you don't have to be "good" at running to run a 5k. Anybody who wants to run a 5k can go out and run one anytime they want. I'm not sure how a sentence that implies you have to be "good" before you can be a runner is supposed to inspire the reader. Another example is a direct quote that was included in one of the entries. The quote is in reference to a group running a race and having people jump in from the sidelines to run: "Sometimes it can be dangerous. We're running a six minute pace and somebody who weights 200 lbs just jumps in front of us". I understand that this is a direct quote and the authors can't control what someone says, but why put this in there at all? This makes it seem like there's no way anyone who weighs 200 lbs could ever keep up with these people in a race. True, I may not have been able to keep a 6-min pace several years ago when I weighed 200 lbs, but it's kind of shitty to assume someone can't be fast just because of their weight. ANYWAY. The moral of my review is this: I found this book to be very uninspiring, especially for someone who is just starting out running or who may not be comfortable with their physical appearance. Many of the stories are about elite runners or women who run at an elite level. I would have preferred some more emotional, touching stories about "normal" women.
May 30, 2022
I read this on a flight from Boston to Minneapolis, cover to cover. Perfect little book for that situation. Also, with a goal of incorporating runs into my routine, it was heartening to read about women who came back from hardship, injury, illness, and other challenges (including having had a long "raising kids" hiatus) to run. I have zero wish to run competitively or to even participate in "road races," but I was inspired by the anecdotes about middle-aged women who pretty much went from out-of-shape to very-in-shape over the course a few months.
May 2, 2023
A quaint, friendly collection of stories about women runners and the solidarity and camaraderie that female athletes have with each other while trying to navigate their lives. A bit repetitive and redundant in some spots, and I wished there had been more diversity in some of the stories and subjects other than moms who got back into running as a coping mechanism or a way to lose weight. So it got a little boring to read from time to time. But at least the stories were short and quick and interesting, and even a little inspiring.
December 26, 2017
Full disclosure: I didn’t read all the stories. I read 3/4 of them. They’re a bit samey - Woman hasn’t run for years, is maybe even (heaven forfend!) a bit fat but then goes out for a run, drops 15 pounds and either wins the race or sets some kinda record, or both. I’ve no doubt they’re all true but I am much more interested in ordinary stories about women who just love to run.
January 9, 2022
Short book with vignettes about why a particular woman ran and how it effected her life. Quick read and inspiring; it makes you realize not everyone is out there just for the physical experience but for the social, emotional and mental side as well. If you have run or like to run you'd enjoy this.
February 20, 2018
Fun true short stories
October 5, 2018
Cute book with short non connected chapters made for a good read when the kids were playing outside.
August 31, 2019
The book is a compilation of blog posts. It doesn't flow very well but the information is good.
September 28, 2020
Inspirational stories of women runners. Also gives you insight into the impact of TItle IX on women.
October 6, 2020
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge 2020: A book you've never heard of.
October 9, 2020
Interesting stories about women runners.
May 5, 2021
Quick read, a nice mix of personal stories.
August 8, 2021
As a runner I thoroughly enjoyed these feel good inspirational stories.
April 7, 2023
read
June 21, 2020
Sole Sisters is a simple book and so easy to read. It is a compilation of stories about women who run. Each chapter highlights a woman and explains what motivates her to run. There are many example from a woman who runs in honor of breast cancer to women who run just because they need something to do with their time as a mom. Regardless of the individual story, it was refreshing to read about their stories.
This is a quick read and would be good for anyone, especially, a woman who wants to start running. Each story is simple but real and reminds us all that we are capable.
This is a quick read and would be good for anyone, especially, a woman who wants to start running. Each story is simple but real and reminds us all that we are capable.
January 10, 2021
Why am inspiring way to start the new year. This book is full of short stories about women answering the question “why do you run?” This is just what I needed to remind me of why I love my hobby so much.
October 10, 2013
Ranging from a running group for Mom’s-Only to a late-blooming Olympian to a cancer survivor embarking on a 5K run with her sisters, Sole Stories is a collection of short essays that are engaging and inspiring. The women’s stories invoke a sisterhood mentality without becoming too clichéd—thankfully no bonding sessions over chocolate, wine, and shoe shopping. Instead, Lin and Warner show how running can be used as a conduit to friendships, discovering unknown strengths, and dealing with our demons.
For some, the running route becomes a confessional. Trudging along next to someone, all eyes straight ahead, with few distractions, “…running was like truth serum.” For other women, the run is a way to escape and to get their heads back on straight, “It was not so much a runner’s high as a runner’s clarity.” The familiar routes and repetitious movements allowed time to clear the mind of all the day’s clutter. Of course, running doesn’t have to be so serious all the time for everyone. Every year, in San Francisco, 13 women bungee cord themselves together to run in the “centipede division” of the annual Bay to Breakers race. A nun who took it 2 miles at a time on a whim eventually found herself sponsored by Nike and running in the first women’s Olympic Marathon Trials. Ellen Wessel created Moving Comfort clothing line because she just wanted a damn pair of shorts that fit!
I really enjoyed reading this collection and appreciate the lengths that Lin and Warner went to reflect women’s stories from all across the country and from every age group and level of running. The book is short and sweet and is a nice collection for the avid competitive runner to beginner.
www.calamusworks.com/blog
For some, the running route becomes a confessional. Trudging along next to someone, all eyes straight ahead, with few distractions, “…running was like truth serum.” For other women, the run is a way to escape and to get their heads back on straight, “It was not so much a runner’s high as a runner’s clarity.” The familiar routes and repetitious movements allowed time to clear the mind of all the day’s clutter. Of course, running doesn’t have to be so serious all the time for everyone. Every year, in San Francisco, 13 women bungee cord themselves together to run in the “centipede division” of the annual Bay to Breakers race. A nun who took it 2 miles at a time on a whim eventually found herself sponsored by Nike and running in the first women’s Olympic Marathon Trials. Ellen Wessel created Moving Comfort clothing line because she just wanted a damn pair of shorts that fit!
I really enjoyed reading this collection and appreciate the lengths that Lin and Warner went to reflect women’s stories from all across the country and from every age group and level of running. The book is short and sweet and is a nice collection for the avid competitive runner to beginner.
www.calamusworks.com/blog
March 2, 2017
A really nice collection of stories about women who run. The most inspiring to me as a novice runner was that these women are of all ages, abilities. Some of their stories, like Sister Marion, I've heard of through other channels and others (Shalane Flanagan and Catherine Ndereba) are well known, but all were interesting. A solid, quick read.
April 4, 2008
I was hoping for more. Now, granted, I am a tough critic because of my publishing insider status, so I'm jaded and suspect of pretty much any book that comes with a concept of a theme. However, I thought my skepticism of a collection of essays about women bonding through running would be balanced out by my own passion for running, and the romantic view I admittedly have of the sport, as both participant and spectator. Alas, that was not quite the case.
I started reading SOLE SISTERS several months ago, when I was training for the Disney World Marathon, but didn't pick it up again until this week, when I decided to approach it like a point-to-point run and Just Read It. Unfortunately, after about four essays, the stories of these real women began to blur together. Most of the women profiled were running through some traumatic event, and they leaned on the support of their all-women running groups to get through it. Perhaps these stories would have been inspirational if read one at a time, bit by bit.
The essays that were most interesting to me were the ones that focused on elite and champion runners. I loved learning more about Joan Nesbit Mabe, Cheryl Treworgy, Grete Waitz and Catherine Ndereba and her sister. The awared of rthe Quirkiest Runner goes to Colleen Cannon, who runs flanked by her two horses.
I started reading SOLE SISTERS several months ago, when I was training for the Disney World Marathon, but didn't pick it up again until this week, when I decided to approach it like a point-to-point run and Just Read It. Unfortunately, after about four essays, the stories of these real women began to blur together. Most of the women profiled were running through some traumatic event, and they leaned on the support of their all-women running groups to get through it. Perhaps these stories would have been inspirational if read one at a time, bit by bit.
The essays that were most interesting to me were the ones that focused on elite and champion runners. I loved learning more about Joan Nesbit Mabe, Cheryl Treworgy, Grete Waitz and Catherine Ndereba and her sister. The awared of rthe Quirkiest Runner goes to Colleen Cannon, who runs flanked by her two horses.
March 3, 2012
I devoured this book in about two hours. It's short and a quick read, but running is also one of those topics that I just tend to fly through. I really do wish it had been longer though!
This book consisted of stories of different real-life women runners, from elite world-record-setting marathon runners to middle-aged recovering addict moms. There was even a 7-year-old girl in one of the stories (who seemed to have an impressive natural talent even at that young age). I enjoyed hearing different people's perspectives on what running has given them--generally along the lines of "me time," and time for introspection and soul-searching.
One of my favorite anecdotes was about two Kenyan running sisters. Apparently, their school was 3 miles away, and there was no school bus and no other way to get there, so they both ran the 3 miles to school every morning, ran home for lunch (because there was no cafeteria like we have), ran back to school, and then ran home. So, 12 miles every day, and these were young schoolchildren. I almost wonder if this is often the root cause of so many great African runners--necessity (i.e. no other way to get to school)? Anyway I was struck by that.
The stories vary a great deal, and it seems like most runners (male or female) would probably find it interesting.
This book consisted of stories of different real-life women runners, from elite world-record-setting marathon runners to middle-aged recovering addict moms. There was even a 7-year-old girl in one of the stories (who seemed to have an impressive natural talent even at that young age). I enjoyed hearing different people's perspectives on what running has given them--generally along the lines of "me time," and time for introspection and soul-searching.
One of my favorite anecdotes was about two Kenyan running sisters. Apparently, their school was 3 miles away, and there was no school bus and no other way to get there, so they both ran the 3 miles to school every morning, ran home for lunch (because there was no cafeteria like we have), ran back to school, and then ran home. So, 12 miles every day, and these were young schoolchildren. I almost wonder if this is often the root cause of so many great African runners--necessity (i.e. no other way to get to school)? Anyway I was struck by that.
The stories vary a great deal, and it seems like most runners (male or female) would probably find it interesting.
October 19, 2012
I've been reading a chapter or two each night for a few weeks now as a way of inspiring myself to get back into running.
Each of the stories in this book are inspiring, but not in the way I expected. I guess I expected more "running did such and such for me," but what I took away from it was the beauty of female friendship through running. However, there was definitely a lot of "running did such and such for me," and yes, I am inspired to get back to running.
This is an easy read, an inspiring read, and if you read it, I suggest you read it the way I did - one story at a time, so you can savor each chapter.
I hope the authors write more books like this. I really liked it.
I stumbled across this book by happy accident. From this book, I found some others, which I plan to read, such as "Run Like a Girl."
Each of the stories in this book are inspiring, but not in the way I expected. I guess I expected more "running did such and such for me," but what I took away from it was the beauty of female friendship through running. However, there was definitely a lot of "running did such and such for me," and yes, I am inspired to get back to running.
This is an easy read, an inspiring read, and if you read it, I suggest you read it the way I did - one story at a time, so you can savor each chapter.
I hope the authors write more books like this. I really liked it.
I stumbled across this book by happy accident. From this book, I found some others, which I plan to read, such as "Run Like a Girl."
November 22, 2010
What a great book. It is filled with many stories about women who have never ran who have come together and have found a passion and friendship. The book was a great inspiration at really reminded me of all the woman I have helped to start in running over the years. I never really thought about, but I was always the runner who never wanted a partner, but always seemed to have one. Woman were always there asking to run and I always accepted. They have come and gone in my life, but I will never forget the look in their eyes when they complete their first 5k or mini-trialathon. What an amazing gift to see these women reach their goals and get to know themselves. These is a great book for anyone that runs or knows a female runner.
September 10, 2011
I really want to get back into running. So I keep picking up these motivational running books about women.
This one consists of several short-short stories about different women runners. The first story talks about two women who became friends and running partners. One had not run for 17 years and was now 34 years old and became an awesome runner. I haven't run for over 30 years, and it really does seem impossible to get there. I can barely jog -- and at the present I am a bit down as my back has not healed from a summer injury yet. I don't like being old and how long it takes to get better. I realize that riding my bike is much easier for me, but I really would like to run. Maybe I can join a beginners "Running Grandma's" group?
This one consists of several short-short stories about different women runners. The first story talks about two women who became friends and running partners. One had not run for 17 years and was now 34 years old and became an awesome runner. I haven't run for over 30 years, and it really does seem impossible to get there. I can barely jog -- and at the present I am a bit down as my back has not healed from a summer injury yet. I don't like being old and how long it takes to get better. I realize that riding my bike is much easier for me, but I really would like to run. Maybe I can join a beginners "Running Grandma's" group?
March 15, 2017
This book captured the idea that running has a greater psychological meaning. It is more than keeping fit, but the psychological benefits of running and the connection that it provides with other human beings is power and creates empathy and community.
What this book didn’t do wonderfully was tell a larger running story. No transitions and nothing that really sticks out afterward. It is a book you can quickly read and then forget about.
For a full review visit http://ireadalotofbooks.com/sole-sist...
What this book didn’t do wonderfully was tell a larger running story. No transitions and nothing that really sticks out afterward. It is a book you can quickly read and then forget about.
For a full review visit http://ireadalotofbooks.com/sole-sist...
February 1, 2008
Inspiring stories about running females. You learn about one of the centipedes in the Bay to Breakers run; a woman who runs with her horses and a whole lot of women who never ran in their life and suddenly after a divorce or a serious illness they decide to take it up and, damn it all, if they don't win the very first marathon they enter AND go on to compete in the Olympics.
A Christmas present from MA.
A Christmas present from MA.
August 24, 2010
Fun collection of short stories. I found some of the stories hard to really relate to as a "bad day mile of 5 MINUTES" is not something that will ever be in my vocabulary. The daily challenges and training obstacles faced by each woman throughout the book were truly inspiring: running to commemorate breast cancer survival, running professional series races only months after giving birth, starting a running group (aptly named "SeeJaneRun") for new moms...
Fast, fun, easy read.
Fast, fun, easy read.
March 15, 2011
I read this book to balance the extremely dry reading of a education book I was plodding through. Sole Sisters is the running equivalent to all those "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books. The short stories were quick reads. Some were inspirational, some I could relate to, and some reminded me that elite runners are regular people too. Not great writing, but something that definitely kept me engaged (or at least more engaged than that boring education book).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews