Going Long: Legends, Oddballs, Comebacks & Adventures

by David Willey (Editor)

For more than 40 years, Runner's World magazine has been the world's leading authority on running—bringing its readers the latest running advice and some of the most compelling sports narratives ever told. From inspirational stories such as "A Second Life"(the story of Matt Long, the FDNY firefighter who learned to run again after a critical injury) to analytical essays such as "White Men Can't Run" (a look at what puts African runners at the front of the pack), the magazine captivates its readers every month.

Now, for the first time, the editors of Runner's World have gathered these and other powerful tales to give readers a collection of writing that is impossible to put down.

With more than 40 gripping stories, Going Long - edited by David Willey - transcends the sport of running to reach anyone with an appetite for drama, inspiration, and a glimpse into the human condition.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Fitness, Anthologies, Health, Adventure

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2010

Reviews

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book on my Kindle because I like to read about running, especially when I train for races.

This book is a collection of articles from Runner's World, and that's basically the best way to describe it. The articles are written by different writers, but they are similar in style. This is both good and bad. It's bad in that they are edited into mediocrity, and it's good because when you jump from story to story it's not as jarring. Several of the articles were really good, and a few were just plain boring. It was a weird mix. I didn't like that I'd read a few of them already just by having read the magazine off and on for the last few years.

Not a bad running book to read, especially if you don't already read Runner's World, but expectations should be kept low.

[Pierre Fortier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inégale rétrospective que quelques uns des meilleurs articles parus dans la magazine Runner's World. Article après article, c'est la même formule ou presque qui revient, sauf le nom de l'athlète. Décevant.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent collection of stories about runners of all types, persuasions and personalities. It took me a while to read the whole book because I was listening to it while running on the treadmill to give myself some motivation and inspiration. In that manner, the stories here have done a fabulous job in highlighting that “we don’t merely watch the elites run. We run ourselves, for all kinds of reasons. Running is often called "the people’s sport," in part because it’s such a short leap from our regular lives.”

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

It didn't take me nine months to read it. I dipped in and out of the collection between other books. It's a solid, if slightly uneven, collection of stories that have appeared in Runner's World or are about Runner's World personalities i.e. Amby Burfoot. Personally I enjoyed the "behind the scenes" pieces on the icons - Boston Billy, Tommy Leonard, Joan Benoit the most. But introductions to people like Matty Long were wonderful in their every man relatability. A good read.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite chapters
#1 Secrets of the Tarahumara
The man who taught me everything (John J Kelley by Amby Burfoot)
Following Terry Fox (Canadian raises money for cancer research after losing leg to cancer by running across Canada, he never finished but is also never forgotten)
Chasing Justice (Mamo Wolde Ethiopian marathon champion wins 1968 Mexico City Marathon, then jailed without charge or trial, by Kenny Moore)
An Army of a Run

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable (if you are a runner); this anthology of articles from Runner's World is definitely pretty neat. I occasionally found myself wishing they had added a post-script to various articles to give "the rest of the story."

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many great stories, I loved the first page of Finding my stride by Benjamin Cheeverss and the whole "Good race" part.

[Paul Curley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book made up of several separate stories. Worth a read.

[Billy McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great majority of works in this collection are wonderful human stories, giving insight into the meaning and fulfillment that people from a wide variety of people find in running. Among my favorites were all three of Kenny Moore's contributions, John Brant's articles about Team Hoyt and Terry Fox, Charles Butler's article about Matt Long, and Michael Perry's article about Ryan Hall. The one work that I found to be downright awful was Stephen Rodrick's account of his trip to Marathon, Greece prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics. Rodrick's article was one of the most repellently cycnical works I have ever read, and he seemed unable to control himself from spewing tenously related (and sometimes nonsensical) similes onto the page at every opportunity. In sum, this collection contains perhaps equal parts great, inspiring works and simply good works, as well as one pretty terrible work. For the most part, this is a great collection for someone who wants to broaden her perspective on running, or who simply enjoys stories of exceptional human spirit.

[Koji Kawano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going Long is a compilation of short but inspirational stories from Runner’s World Magazine about exceptional runners. Not all of them are distinguished or decorated runners. There are stories about everyday runners who have never placed in a race, whether it is an Olympics or local 5K run. But all 34 stories have motivational pull that every runner or wanna-be-runner will be benefited from reading. If I have to pick my favorites, they are Life and Limb by Bruce Barcott and Leading Men by Kenny Moore. Life and Limb is a story about Tom While, who... Read more.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so close to amazing, but it contained a few stories that just didn't do it for me. The rest were amazing. It made me want to run and some days even got me out the door. I'd like to read stories like this to inspire me everyday. I highly recommend this to runners. I had a particular connection to some of the stories about the Boston Marathon and the Olympic trials and the Prefontaine Classic. I knew running had touched me, but it was neat to find out that I'd touched running in some of those places.

Gotta run.

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful collection of short stories that combines fantastic writing with a compelling topic - the training for and the completion of the run. there were few in here that did not captivate my spirit and motivation. I felt particularly inspired by those featuring women runners and runners overcoming great obstacles. a good reminder that the biggest obstacle to overcome in running lies between our ears. my heart particularly warmed to two stories set in familiar locales: Westchester County, NY and Warwick, NY.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of articles from the magazine Runners World. If you enjoy running, or just enjoy good writing about people doing crazy things, I can't recommend it enough.

But if you're considering being a runner -- if you're wondering what running is like -- you should probably read something else. These are some pretty unusual and extreme cases. People winning the Boston Marathon (kids! don't try this at home!), people losing limbs and coming close to death. Triumph, tragedy, and more sore muscles than you can throw a stick of Body Glide at.

Fun and fascinating.

[Harshan Ramadass · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's just me I suppose, but running is an addictive, joyful activity for me-I'd expect something similar from the writings too. Although well written, I don't want to read someone getting maimed, run over, or read about life struggles. As much as I admire about challenges of all those brave protagonists, my expectation was to read some exciting duels in the sport, or something crazy or positively uplifting.Boston 82 story was excellent , but that piece was the real oddball in an otherwise sorrowful ensemble.

[Cherie · Rating 1 out of 5]

C- I'm not sure why I even bothered to get this out from the library. We all know Runner's World articles are BORING. Maybe 1/5 of them are okay. This book is full of boring, tediously written articles, most of which I've read already (and remember, since most were in the very recent years). I skimmed, skipped a bunch of articles. Yawn. Go out on a run and if you can't, take a nap. It's better than reading this book.

[Andreas Michaelides · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like running stories or stories about running then this is your book.
if you want to get inspired because you want to start running or you are already a runner but you start to have second thoughts of why are you running then this is the book for you, it will make you start running like the wind and it will reenforce you in keep running.
I loved all of the stories and I learned a lot from them.

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great gift idea for any runner. Gave this to my FIL for Father's Day, read it when he lent it to my husband to read. I wish there were more "funny" articles but that is just what I am drawn too. Lots of inspiring stuff. A little on the life consuming side (which is something I do not support) but what do you expect from people who have won the Boston marathon?

[Genea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a runner, this book has plenty of interesting and inspirational stories—though there are a few that may just fall under strange.

I've been reading Runner's World for several years and I'm glad that some of my favourites made it to this book. It's good to know that I can go back and reread some of them whenever I feel like it.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven collection of content previously available on Runner's World.
The better stories are worth the full purchase price of this book for non-subscribers to RW.
I just skimmed the bad ones, and so, have not actually "finished" the book.
Some stories eventually became full length biographies, like the NYC firefighter. But it's worth noting not many good runners are good writers (cough).

[Michel B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compendium of the 'best stories' published in Runner's World magazine. Some stories, I'd read/heard many I hadn't. NOT A GOOD BOOK IF you've been a runner for 20 years and have read Runner's World Magazine since that time... you'll probably have read all those stories. But if you're new to running and/or haven't read that magazine, then it's quite good.

[Staci S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Can't put it down. All of the stories are great, and I love that I can choose whichever type of article suits my mood. Perhaps I want an adventure story, or the story of an inspirational runner. Excellent book!

[Masafuera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars because: previously published content, also bad writing in the later half of the book.

I have to admit to tearing up at some of the earlier stories, though. Very inspiring. Just not a "good" book in my eyes because of the uneven quality.

[Shuva · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of running, this is a wonderful anthology of stories about running, runners and beyond. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even if it took me a few months to read off an on. Worth passing onto a fellow runner.

[Rob Rausch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories were uneven, but mostly good. My primary problem is that most were only from the past few years of Runners World, and already very familiar to me.

[Kattie Capozza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great compilation of stories from Runner's World for anyone who runs, is thinking of running, or just likes the sport.

[Joshua Graning]

A collection of longer Runner's World writings. Pretty good so far. Wish they would have branched out beyond their pages.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of inspiring short stories around running. Since they were short stories it was easy to have a gap from when I picked up the book to read it again.

[Trish Ruhland · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a great book, I need to buy it.

[Olivierco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirty real stories, previously published in Runner's world, mostly about competitive runners. I enjoyed the book even if I only run for fun.

[Susannah]

Inspirational for runners.