The Roches have completely changed my upcoming years of training, between pages 120 and 160. Indeed, I will choose and pace every single training run differently. I will not spill the magic sauce here, because I don’t think I would’ve understood it without reading the meandering pages before. I first needed to buy into the idea of the most important thing is to not get injured, and to deeply appreciate every outcome as part of a full life process.
This isn’t a normal, typical training book. Do have patience with it. The Roches are real, accomplished runners and coaches. The style is maximally informal and conversational, which could cost credibility, except for the Roche’s accomplishments, testimonials and credentials. However, this might be honest but doesn’t make me yearn to continue: “ The one place we are the worlds foremost expert is in our own ignorance.“ (p. xviii) Then “we sketched out all the answers about the meaning of life (cut for space)“ (p. xx) har har. The humor gets even better as I adapt to expect it — analyzing life stress in terms of a pizza party, perfect.
Keys: know why, be kind, be grateful for today because it all ends. Advice for meaningful life, as much as for athletes.
“You may become a little happier and a little speedier.… You might find yourself not caring about your results much at all, starting a friendship with the insecurity monster between your ears. You live, your love, your run, and you die. The whole time, no matter what, you are enough, unconditionally. ” (p. Xxiii)
The picture selections are pretty great, but they only decorate chapter beginnings. Even more would have been that much more engaging, and presumably not that difficult to add.
Some real gems in the prose. If everything were easy, “we’d all share a high fives and ride off on our pet unicorns.” (P91) “Heat is often just love with anger management issues.” (P120)
“Belief isn’t about thinking you’ll win a gold medal, it’s about thinking you can keep growing even when you’re handed evidence to the contrary. But here’s the really cool part. If you really truly buy into yourself, and work strategically in pursuit of your goals, those long-term dreams have a magical way of becoming reality.” (P205)