Run For It: A Woman's Guide to Running for Physical and Emotional Health

by Karen Bridson

This book shows how women can change their lives with running. Running can help combat stress, depression, PMS, menopausal systems and more.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2002

About the author

Karen is an award-winning journalist specializing in women's issues and is the author of three women's health books. A former crime reporter who has been specializing in women's issues, health, pregnancy and parenting for the past eight years, Karen has a particular talent for personal essay-style columns. Over her 17-year career as a newswoman, Karen has published in many national newspapers and magazines including Shape Magazine, Runner's World Magazine, Maclean's Magazine, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, The National Post and The Montreal Gazette, among others.

As a "born-again feminist," she is the co-founder of Third Wave Feminists Toronto, a consciousness raising mothers' group and the creator of Pregnancy Fitness Awareness Day. Since the birth of her son Adlai almost five years ago, she has been a student of feminist theory, reading every title she can get her hands on. She is the author of surprisingly feminist The Secrets of Skinny Chicks: How to Feel Great in your Favorite Jeans when it Doesn't Come Naturally (McGraw-Hill, 2006), Nine Months Strong: Shaping Up for Labor and Delivery and the Toughest Physical Day of Your Life (Lifeline Press, 2004) and Run for It: A Woman's Guide to Running for Emotional and Physical Health (Burford Books, 2002).

Karen has won a number of journalism awards, including back-to-back Toronto Police Media Awards for Best Editorial (writing in a personal, engaging tone is what she does best) while covering the police beat, and was honored as the best in her class in newspaper journalism when awarded a scholarship from Canada's largest daily newspaper, The Toronto Star.

Reviews

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the better books on running in my local library. It covers all the general things you expect from a running book for beginners but includes discussions of issues just for women, too. And it's focused around running to improve your health and feel better emotionally and physically, not just getting faster and winning races like a lot of these books. The emotional focus seemed to be on reducing stress, though there were discussions of depression and anxiety, too. Worth a read for a woman who's starting to run.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a lot of the same information nearly every other running book has--what to wear, when to run, get ready for races, etc. But it had a lot of the emotional aspects as well, like running to stay sane. It gave me motivation to keep running during a week when I really needed it. So if you're looking for some info on running in general or just something to help you get through your runs for the next week, then try this one out.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers lots of bases, and has good advice and commonsense plans... although some things seem either slightly outdated or maybe just under-researched (like how your foot should strike heel first and roll up onto the toes as you stride)

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great running book for women. Offered great training tips for my first marathon!

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic info, but a good read for a beginner.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dated but good info. The training charts for various distance races are awesome!