More Fire: How to Run the Kenyan Way

by Toby Tanser

An Essential Book for Runners of All Abilities
All of the Author’s Proceeds Go to Shoes4Africa to Support the Construction of Children’s Hospitals in Kenya
Kenya has produced the greatest concentration of world-class runners, and fellow athletes have long been intrigued by their remarkable success. Toby Tanser has devoted much of his professional career living and training among Kenyan runners in order to better understand the unique status of East African athletes. In More Fire: How to Run the Kenyan Way , the author builds upon the success of his acclaimed Train Hard, Win Easy , the first book to provide insights into the Kenyan "magic" that so many runners and coaches had sought. Instead of special foods or secret techniques, Tanser found that Kenyan runners simply trained incredibly hard, much harder than anyone had realized. By adapting their training regime—which includes three workouts a day—and following their example, runners, whether novices or champions, are able to improve both their performance and enjoyment in running. For those training for a marathon or any other distance race, this book is both practical and inspirational. Divided into four parts, the book begins with a description of running in Kenya, the landscape, the physical conditions, and the people; the second part concentrates on details of Kenyan training camps, training methods, and their typical training diet; the third profiles individual runners and coaches from the past and present, with each explaining their approach to running so that readers can gain further insight into their methods. The book ends with a discussion on how the reader can adapt Kenyan training practices for their own running requirements. More Fire: How to Run the Kenyan Way is essential reading for runners of all levels and experience.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2008

Reviews

[Theresa Connors · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book 3 stars because the writing lacks focus. The subtitle, "How to Run the Kenyan Way" leads one to believe this is a training manual. It was mostly a history of distance running in Kenya, a plug for Shoe4Africa, and some training plans and comments on training thrown in. There were also mini race reports along the way about notable races and athletes. Interesting information but disjointed, as if the author could not decide what kind of book he wanted to write.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting set of observations of great Kenyan runners, their training groups, a few highlighted races (incl. the world x-c champs in Mombasa when Bekele dropped out and Tadesse won in incredibly high heat/humidity), and some historical and cultural info.

Huge letdown on the matter of the subtitle. I had high hopes that there was some sort of secret ("eat ugali and win like me!") that could easily transform a late-middle-aged paper-pushing bureaucrat into a champion endurance athlete, but alas it turns out that, at least according to 1996 Boston Marathon winner Moses Kiptanui:

"There is no substitute to hard training, and more hard training" (p. 128)

Don't know that I can replicate the high altitude, the running 3x/day around multiple naps, the group training camps, the genes, etc., but I guess one thing I could try to borrow more often is their emphasis on running on natural surfaces (in Kenya, mainly dirt roads, but i assume same would work with grass fields, dirt trails etc.) rather than hard asphalt ("tarmac" in most quotes in this book).

[Lee Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult read. Apart from the typographical errors, bad grammar, and poor punctuation, it is still a good read if you’re so inclined.

This is a hot topic in today’s running world, and hidden away in this book with the tiniest typesetting I’ve ever seen are some clues. Extensive biographies of the stars that made Kenyan running there dominant force it is today (book was published in 2008), it is good for that reason if nothing else.

You will not be able to implement Kenyan running unless you’re a very elite runner—that’s the simple truth. These runners are highly talented—far above the average runner’s skill set. I enjoyed the book and if you’re interested in the Kenyans, you will too.

[Roberto Rigolin F Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much "more Fire" within these superhumans doing their thing: running with excellence. It happens that they are from the same country, which has been dominating the sport for two decades. They run using the whole body together with overpowering mindset both shaped by simple and challenging life. They don’t even use heartrate monitors and there is no predictions that the westerns, with all their technology, will at least replicate their best performances soon. Beautiful see simplicity reigning supreme within human helms often full of unnecessary necessities (reusing Twain’s words).

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book to flip through, reading a little here and there to pick up ideas and inspiration. It's style, layout, structure are too dense to be read cover to cover. Nevertheless an interesting book.

[Jerry Granzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provided excellent insight into what it is like to be a runner in kenya. I felt as though I was there.

[Michael Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great anecdotes about the lives of amazing athletes!

[Danny Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanser gives great insight into the Kenyan way of life, perspective and philosophy when it comes to running. Reading this book, I believe that it is their circumstances and mentality that is brought about through those circumstances that bring about success. The glimpses of training are cool and should be given credence.

[Arunaabh Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring stories, poorly formatted and lacking a flow. 3 stars just because the Kenyans mentioned in the book deserve that.

[fatih karakurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

deleted wrong comment (intended for another book)

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting topic, but the book has a lot of writing/editing issues. The writing also lacks focus.