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The Runner's Rule Book
Every sport has rules. Running is no exception. If you're curious, just visit the Web site of USA Track & Field, the sport's governing body, where you'll find detailed dictates on everything from disqualification to bib-number placement to the caliber of the starter's pistol.But what about the everyday rules of running? The unspoken ones that pertain to the lingo, behavior, and etiquette that every seasoned runner seems to know and every newbie needs to learn? Veteran runner Mark Remy and the editors of Runner's World magazine provide answers to these very questions and many more in The Runner's Rule Book.With 100+ rules that cover the basics of running, racing, track etiquette, and apparel and gear, including hilarious running commentary on running culture, The Runner's Rule Book will be the reference guide you'll turn to again and again for answers to your burning running questions.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2009
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334 people want to read
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January 21, 2013Anyone who is a runner, or even just thought about becoming a runner, should give this book a read!
October 21, 2017
Listened to this book while running. It answers some of the running questions I'm sure we all have thought about, but were not always keen on discussing. It strikes a good balance: it has just the right level of sillyness and bad jokes. Often I find myself somewhat annoyed by commentary in books and I believe this book has stayed on the correct side - although I can see where others come from when they disagree. Overall a short and fun read (or listen), so I would suggest any runner just to try it out.
January 29, 2016
Quick tongue and cheek list of rules to help new runners. I was put off a bit by the continuous mentioning of Runner's World and excessively using 'he' in examples.
June 22, 2021
1小時手冊。以下全是劇透...
不盡最大的努力，就是在浪費你的天賦。(Steve Prefontaine)
凡是值得做的事都不容易。
比在終點前一米處倒下更糟糕的，是過了終點還在那裡做俯臥撐。
如果被一隻喜洋洋甩掉，那實在有點丟人。
幾個跑者可以哭的時刻：
1. 完成了第一個馬拉松時；
2. 完成了第一個波馬時；
3. 第一次波馬達標時；
4. 差一點波馬達標時。
不盡最大的努力，就是在浪費你的天賦。(Steve Prefontaine)
凡是值得做的事都不容易。
比在終點前一米處倒下更糟糕的，是過了終點還在那裡做俯臥撐。
如果被一隻喜洋洋甩掉，那實在有點丟人。
幾個跑者可以哭的時刻：
1. 完成了第一個馬拉松時；
2. 完成了第一個波馬時；
3. 第一次波馬達標時；
4. 差一點波馬達標時。
December 22, 2018
A hilarious book on running, filled with tips, advice, and a lot of common-sensical things runners should and shouldn’t do. This book is a breeze to read, and very fun and funny.
March 25, 2019
Quick fun read for any runner!
March 8, 2010
Mark Remy is the executive editor of Runner's World magazine, which means he definitely knows his stuff. However, if you're searching for a comprehensive manual on running, The Runner's Rule Book is not that. Instead, it is a fun and funny series of "rules" that come with running as a noun (or as he technically notes, a gerund), as a lifestyle.
I read this book in under an hour. Each rule takes up one or two pages and is often no longer than two paragraphs. Some range from serious (Rule 1.14: Run Against Traffic, Rule 2.40: Respect the Rules of the Track, Rule 3.13: When in Doubt, Wear Gloves and a Hat) to hilariously absurd (Rule 1.32: Beware Ghost Trains, Rule 2.29: Pretend You're British, Rule 1.66: Dogs Are Harmless, Except When They Aren't). Regardless of how seriously Remy takes himself, each rule has a purpose.
Again, a hardcore runner might not learn much from this fun read, but they shouldn't expect to, despite the misleading "Everything" in the title. It's a great gift for runners both avid and casual (which is incidentally how I received this book) that is sure to draw out laughs.
I read this book in under an hour. Each rule takes up one or two pages and is often no longer than two paragraphs. Some range from serious (Rule 1.14: Run Against Traffic, Rule 2.40: Respect the Rules of the Track, Rule 3.13: When in Doubt, Wear Gloves and a Hat) to hilariously absurd (Rule 1.32: Beware Ghost Trains, Rule 2.29: Pretend You're British, Rule 1.66: Dogs Are Harmless, Except When They Aren't). Regardless of how seriously Remy takes himself, each rule has a purpose.
Again, a hardcore runner might not learn much from this fun read, but they shouldn't expect to, despite the misleading "Everything" in the title. It's a great gift for runners both avid and casual (which is incidentally how I received this book) that is sure to draw out laughs.
January 5, 2010
Great short little read mixing humor and real tips for being a runner and participating in races. Don't expect too much substance...this one takes about an hour to devour.
February 1, 2010
Damn that was funny.
October 16, 2024
**.5
Best as a stocking stuffer gift for a runner you don't quite know well enough to buy them anything actually useful.
Remy tries hard to both include useful information and also to be funny. Often trying too hard, leading to the inevitable consequence of neither being particularly helpful nor funny. He also endlessly and annoyingly plugs his employer (Runner's World).
There also isn't any recognition of issues that runners who aren't middle class white men face. He mentions the dangers of cars and dogs, but not the fears of women running alone, or the perils of "running while black." Let alone situations faced by people with physical disabilities or even common situations that half of the population experience on a regular basis, like menstruation, pregnancy, or finding a well-fitting sports bra. Not that a silly book like this needs to be a socially aware paragon of intersectional race and gender content, but it would have been measurably enriched with a slightly wider target audience.
Best as a stocking stuffer gift for a runner you don't quite know well enough to buy them anything actually useful.
Remy tries hard to both include useful information and also to be funny. Often trying too hard, leading to the inevitable consequence of neither being particularly helpful nor funny. He also endlessly and annoyingly plugs his employer (Runner's World).
There also isn't any recognition of issues that runners who aren't middle class white men face. He mentions the dangers of cars and dogs, but not the fears of women running alone, or the perils of "running while black." Let alone situations faced by people with physical disabilities or even common situations that half of the population experience on a regular basis, like menstruation, pregnancy, or finding a well-fitting sports bra. Not that a silly book like this needs to be a socially aware paragon of intersectional race and gender content, but it would have been measurably enriched with a slightly wider target audience.
March 16, 2022
A fast, funny read. More actual information than I expected here but mostly best for those who already have a few races under their belts.
Bumped it up to 4 stars because it's such a fast read but back down to 3 stars because it has some minorly body-negative moments like implying that some bodies 'shouldn't wear leggings' and a picture of a pace line-up where we are supposed to assume someone is erroneously lining up mostly because of their body size. It could have been a LOT worse on this end though, especially for something published 13 years ago.
Bumped it up to 4 stars because it's such a fast read but back down to 3 stars because it has some minorly body-negative moments like implying that some bodies 'shouldn't wear leggings' and a picture of a pace line-up where we are supposed to assume someone is erroneously lining up mostly because of their body size. It could have been a LOT worse on this end though, especially for something published 13 years ago.
June 9, 2018
A wonderful piece of fluff. Among the gems: "For Pete's sake, stand still at red lights". Most of all, a reminder not to take yourself too seriously, this is supposed to be fun.
It's slightly dated, was written at a time when a tweet was something you had to call a "tweet" and phones on runs weren't as common. Wonder if he's still anti phone. But holds up well
It's slightly dated, was written at a time when a tweet was something you had to call a "tweet" and phones on runs weren't as common. Wonder if he's still anti phone. But holds up well
June 15, 2018
This was a fun read with a few good laughs, but nothing life changing. I was familiar with Remy's style from RW articles, which is what made me pick the book up in the first place. He's a lighthearted writer with a firm grasp on his audience. Great for poolside reading, or if you're just getting into running.
February 4, 2017
Nice and short book on running rules. Not the serious manual how to run faster, but just fun and humorous! Most rules are just common sense, however some new runner could find it very helpful.
September 4, 2017
Tries too hard to be funny and is at best mildly amusing.
June 25, 2018
Fun little book about
Runners and running with fun
Little tips to help.
Runners and running with fun
Little tips to help.
October 17, 2018
Kinda dad-jokey.
October 18, 2018
Funny, very easy to read and makes me remember how much I love running
April 6, 2019
Entertaining read that I finished in one sitting. A lot of great nuggets that educate and motivate.
July 23, 2019
Super quick easy read. Feels like and odd gift you’d give a runner or some random coffee table book. I had grabbed a bunch of library books and this happened to be one of them. It was pretty funny..,
March 26, 2020
If you run it is worth reading. It’s a quick read and I enjoyed some of the humor.
June 16, 2021
70% running etiquette, 30% jokes. only interesting because i run.
June 15, 2024
Interesting. Worth a flick
July 30, 2024
A nice, fast read. Helpful running tips that pretty much cover what you need to get started and even advanced running.
November 12, 2024
ranges from the practical to the insightful to the entertaining.
March 2, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
A bit contradictory but overall enjoyable.
A bit contradictory but overall enjoyable.
February 23, 2017
The most funny running book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. 5 stars.
May 26, 2010
Full of lingo and etiquette-I absolutely recommend this book to any runner...if you are new to running, you will learn a lot, if you are experienced, it will make you belly laugh. Though a bit silly at times, Mark Remy cracks me up! It inspired me to read "Once A Runner" (OAR) by Quentin Cassidy and "Daniels Running Formula" by none other than Jack Daniels, two books he strongly recommends. Oh and I liked learning how to do a proper "farmer's blow", what "Fartlek" means (Swedish for "speed play") and that ice baths are stupid. Here I thought I was so smart all this time! Other gems: Who "Pre" is (Steve Prefontaine) a legendary track star who died in a car crash in 1975 at age 24. (See movies: Prefontaine and Without Limits). Quote: "Running is a beautiful--and beautifully simple sport. It clears the mind, strengthens the heart, and burns flab." Thing I will do from now on because I read this book--always carry ID when running. One more great quote (so true!) "The only thing worse than running out of energy a mile from the finish line is finishing the race with energy left over."
June 19, 2019
This book was funny but had some actual good running advice.
February 4, 2015
I made the mistake of reading this book in bed. The problem? This book is laugh-out-loud funny and my poor husband was trying to sleep! Luckily he forgave me when he picked up the book the next day and conceded that it was really very funny stuff. (Then he gave in and read the rest of the book for himself!)
As a newbie to the sport, I did learn just a few things reading this book -- mostly about using common sense, not taking yourself too seriously, and having fun. I definitely recommend this quick, easy, pretty-darn-clean read to all my runner friends.
As a newbie to the sport, I did learn just a few things reading this book -- mostly about using common sense, not taking yourself too seriously, and having fun. I definitely recommend this quick, easy, pretty-darn-clean read to all my runner friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews