Girls Running: All You Need to Strive, Thrive, and Run Your Best

by Melody Fairchild, Elizabeth Carey

Running can shape a young athlete in healthy, positive ways for the rest of her life. Girls Running offers the guidance and tools girls need to thrive on their running journey, right from the start. With straight talk on training, physiology, menstruation, sports nutrition, a winning mindset, body image issues, gear, team-building, and competition, Girls Running educates and empowers young runners to achieve their potential and love running more. Inspired by high-school phenom Melody Fairchild’s groundbreaking running journey, and with the coaching insight from Fairchild and coauthor Elizabeth Carey, Girls Running is a valuable toolkit for middle- and high-school runners. Backed by science, research, and over 100,000 miles of experience, this resource answers the most timely and sensitive questions that girls face when their bodies change and the miles increase. Girls, parents, and coaches will see ways to navigate puberty, mental health, eating disorders, and the pressures of competitive running. Girls Running is a go-to guide for everything girls need to know to run better―and love the journey while doing it!

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Self Help, Sports

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 26, 2024

Reviews

[Taylor Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It was so helpful by giving training recommendations, running gear recommendations, and overall just great advice. This book also showed me ways to deal with pre-race nerves. It was overall very beneficial and probably my favorite running book I have read. Thanks to my friend for lending it to me!

[victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Super informative, and as a girl runner, I got great tips and ideas! Good read, 5 stars

[Nazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ultimate running companion! This book contains lots of helpful information, for all ages, but is geared to teens. I love this text because it stresses moderation and relying on personal intuition.

[cady🥶]

i forgot i read this book this year. my coach wanted me to read if

[Roxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girls Running: I read this during cross country season to learn more about how to enjoy and have success in running. I thought there was a lot of very helpful information in this book and I would definitely recommend it to any female athletes/runners. It provides good insights on all areas of being a runner such as training, nutrition, mental toughness, ect. The golden line I chose was “Carbs are especially important before and after you exercise because they provide efficient energy and kick-start your body's repair processes” (Fairchild and Carey 127). I chose this line because it was new information to me and because of this book that I started implementing more carbs into my pre exercise routine.

[Cher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish this had been around when I was a teenager! so much more helpful than the books aimed at adults that run casually, do occasional road races, or run marathons (I don't think my joints can handle me running marathons. Racewalking, maybe). This is a good one for people taking running particularly seriously and with competitive streaks.

Heck, even though I'm now in my 30s, I find it more helpful as someone that still competes as a submasters athlete- most of it is applicable (other than the need to worry about puberty- I just cringe seeing the damage I did when I was young because of overtraining and ignoring things like amennorhea)

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm decades beyond girlhood but wish I'd started running then instead of at the age of 39. Anyway, this was a sweet and informative read that's a great resource for teenage girls and young adult women getting started on their running journeys. The thing that distinguished it from other running books I've read recently was actually the chapter on periods and how where you are in your cycle can affect your athletic performance. Very interesting and helpful information.

[Katie Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girls Running is such an empowering, practical guide for young athletes finding their footing in the sport. I love how it goes far beyond just training plans and race tips and really focuses on the whole runner. Body changes, nutrition, periods, mental health, confidence, and team dynamics are all talked about honestly and without shame. As someone who has gotten into the running game later in life, I would have loved to have had this resource as a young lady.

[Cindy Kuzma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dream team of runner/writers has compiled a guide to healthy running that's targeted toward young athletes—but honestly, I got a lot out of it as an adult, too. They expertly weave science and story to explain physiology and psychology, and how to navigate them both to become a whole, healthy person who can get the most out of the sport and of herself.

[Elizabeth Randell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great, comprehensive resource this is! The information is presented in a chatty, friendly manner, with respected research to back it up. This would be a great gift for a young runner, parent of a young runner, or coach.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly written for teenage girls that are competing competitively. Since I am a noob with this whole running thing, I picked it up. A lot of the puberty/team/coach stuff didn't relate to me, but there were a few things I was able to glean from it.

Half marathon is in 3 weeks! 🤞

[Abby o · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a nutrition professional who specializes in the intersection of sports and eating disorders, this is one of the ONLY books I have read with no problematic food judgements or fatphobia within its nutrition content. I feel safe recommending this book to any young female runners!

[Rachel Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for runners!!!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for high school/college athletes! So much great info that I would have loved to have had starting out.

[Charlotte Corrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant! Super informative and offers great hints and tips for improving your running as a teenage girl! I’ve incorporated some of the ideas into my training and I’m definitely seeing results. If you’re a running girl, definitely worth reading this treat! 🏃🏼‍♀️🌹