The Perfect Run: A Guide to Cultivating a Near-Effortless Running State

by Mackenzie L. Havey

The "perfect" run--when you are in a full flow and feeling totally unstoppable--can be elusive, but this practical expert guide, by celebrated Runner's World writer Mackenzie Havey, will ensure you find it time and time again and boost your running performance in the process.

At some point in every runner's career they experience the “perfect” run. If you're one of the lucky few, it happens on a regular basis. Everything seems to just click. Your worries about the day and physical aches and pains melt away. Your body and mind are in complete sync and the run feels effortless. Research shows that not only do runners enjoy running more when they enter that higher-level state known as “flow,” they also perform better.

Even still, the path to achieving the perfect run remains mysterious. It often materializes in the unlikeliest of circumstances--in adverse weather or on a day when everything else seems to be going wrong. Conversely, when we try hard to create the right conditions for that perfect run, it often doesn't come about.

An intentional approach to your running practice can help lay the groundwork to getting into that “perfect run” headspace run after run.

This new book from the author of Mindful Running is a practical guide on how to cultivate the “perfect run.” It chronicles what the latest research on optimal experiences shows and offers stories from various notable professional and elite runners throughout, along with go-to exercises in each chapter.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Sports

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2020

Reviews

[MsChris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried, but I just could not get into this book. At 30 percent, I give up. It starts by describing the perfect run, and all along as I'm reading I'm thinking this should be a magazine article not a book, not sure how it's going to fill a book. And I think I was right, it should have ended as an article. It becomes repetitive and makes running much more complicated than it should be.

[Cian Aherne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished just in time for tomorrow’s marathon! Some nice little tips in it for beginners and a good reminder of what contributes to the beauty of running

[Owen Chengun · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok book. It was really well researched, but meant at times it felt like reading a research paper. Overall, there is a few valid points I’ve taken away, but certainly wouldn’t be reading a similar book anytime soon.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, repetitive as it sort of is; it has an approachable tone and sensible, thoughtful ideas from someone who cares about running. I'm fairly new to running, but I'm now running 5K distances and I found reading this helped inspire me on running days. It's not prescriptive and it's a gentle steering towards a mindset that's helpful not just for running but other life challenges.

I found this considerably more helpful and enjoyable than Running Like A Girl.

[Ramona Cantaragiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part of my attempt to understand runners and running culture. It has lots of info on how to maintain the proper headspace for a running experience that results in flow and also some useful advice on how to deal with hardships and to improve self-care.

[Erika Gartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

These concepts and ideas can be applied to other projects as well. I have been trying to move more. This book will help me with increasing that by analyzing and putting in perspective what I can do to improve.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mackenzie Have shares the science behind the 'perfect run' and offers suggestions how runners can achieve that flow state. I'll be sharing more on my blog. https://www.takinglongwayhome.com/202...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well-written, well-researched, and has inspired me to fully appreciate all of my perfect and imperfect runs!

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Mackenzie's stories of successful runners and how much mindset can improve the on going practice of running.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meditations on achieving flow and psychological resilience in running. Some great exercises to implement in running and everyday life.

[Mike Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting if not overly insightful. It makes more of a topic than there necessarily is

[Sarah Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Just couldn’t get into it! Felt like it was aimed at the elite!

[Michael Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nowhere near enough to fill a book to paraphrase Bilbo "feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread"

[Paul O'farrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit dull. Essentially this is a Runner’s World article stretched to book length without any necessity to do so.

[Nicoletta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non l'ho trovato ripetitivo come detto da altri, alcune informazioni utili a cui non ero giá arrivata di mio, scorrevole, piacevole.