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Why We Run: A Story of Obsession
Everyone can run. Whether it is a jog around the park on a Sunday morning, or lining up with 40,000 other people at the start of the London Marathon, all it requires is a pair of trainers and the open road. But where does that road lead and why do we run at all? Robin Harvie ran his first marathon after a bet, but it wasn't until he had ventured 6,000 miles into the extreme world of ultra-distance running to the start line of the oldest and toughest footrace on earth, that he found an answer. As a hobby turned into a 120-mile-a-week obsession, so a way out of his daily routine evolved into a journey to discover who he was and what he was really made of. Through the scorching heat of the desert and into the darkest hours of the morning, Why We Run reveals the beating heart of the brutal and profoundly intoxicating experience of running. If you have ever wondered what makes you lace up your trainers, and why you keep coming back for more, this is your story too.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2011
31 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Robin Harvie
3 books7 followersRobin Harvie is an atheist, publisher and author of Why We Run: The Story of an Obsession. He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 19, 2013
I picked this up because the overall concept sounded interesting, but IMHO, the author hasn't a clue as to how to tell a compelling story, or to present background or tangential information in a manner that properly integrates into the overall narrative. I read the first few chapters, and became increasingly impatient with the author as he kept jumping around...I kept expecting him to say "hey look, a squirrel!" since he seemed to be deep within authorial ADD territory.
And for the record? Going out on a long run with no water, no gels or other source of calories, no phone, no money, and no real idea where you're going? The distance runners that I know would classify that under the heading "stupid." Had the author NEVER experienced a bonk before?
As I said, I read the first few chapters, then, thoroughly annoyed, skimmed the remainder, through his attempt at the Spartathalon. I'm putting this on my "Abandoned" shelf, rather than claiming credit for reading. But I'm still posting a review, to warn off others.
The book I read after this was 50/50 by Dean Karnazes. Now there's a book on running (and ultrarunning) where the author--and/or co-author--can tell a story, keep you reading, and still go off on tangents as they please.
And for the record? Going out on a long run with no water, no gels or other source of calories, no phone, no money, and no real idea where you're going? The distance runners that I know would classify that under the heading "stupid." Had the author NEVER experienced a bonk before?
As I said, I read the first few chapters, then, thoroughly annoyed, skimmed the remainder, through his attempt at the Spartathalon. I'm putting this on my "Abandoned" shelf, rather than claiming credit for reading. But I'm still posting a review, to warn off others.
The book I read after this was 50/50 by Dean Karnazes. Now there's a book on running (and ultrarunning) where the author--and/or co-author--can tell a story, keep you reading, and still go off on tangents as they please.
January 9, 2012
This book is definitly written to a specific audience, and being in that audience I rather enjoyed it. I will say though, that I have no conception of if he is rehashing thoughts common in other novels in the running genre since this is the first book of its kind that I have read.
He starts off with an apology in about how he frames the story with his growing up which I was somewhat mollified by since I didn't actually like a lot of his personal life. His father-in-law dies and there is a whole lot about that and then about the troubles his mother-in-law has adapting to this and maybe I am a terrible person but I didn't care. It didn't help that his descriptions of time and place got a bit murky so I had trouble following who was where and doing what.
He also has a relationship with moving bodies of water that I didn't really understand and then he does this funky thing where he will quote people and use italics to add emphasis and write afterward 'italics added'. This irritated me on a technical level as the standard way of referencing such an alteration is to say 'emphasis added'.
He has a couple of observations that are worth noting:
Observes that swimmers are separated from the world more than other athletes and are even more alone in their own heads. An observation as a runner and not (yet) a triathlete to be interesting.
I also found his consciousness in a handful of scenes that his running is separating him from not just friends who don't share his interest in running but also his wife. Indeed he tells the story of another great runner who runs obscene distances on a regular basis who after a year his wife divorced him, and then he later makes a nod to the other ultra runners he meets at various races who are having all sorts of marital difficulties.
The best part of the novel is all the history the author sprinkles in:
He explains that the origin of homesickness was in 1688 from Johannes Hofer as a medical condition from the Greek nostos: return and algos: suffering. Johannes observed great nations of Europe perpetually at war, and soldiers might spend years at a time fighting in foreign lands knowing they may never see home again. When wounded and close to death they were sent home to die with their families where they made remarkable recoveries, only to be sent back to the front lines. The symptoms of such were 'continued sadness...even palpitations of the heart, frequent sighs, also stupidity of the mind".
Greeks recognized beauty in motion and running to be a primeval action so uncomplicated it was celebrated for its purity. The author has some good descriptions like this one: the "very picture of economy as his legs moved as easily as milk pouring from a jug".
The 1930's was all about the 4 minute mile, which 1935 scientific research data on human structural limits said was impossible. Stating that the fastest a human could cover the mile was 4:01:06.
Victorians were brought up with the Greek ideals of mens sana in corpore sano "a sound mind in a sound body".
Explores the thought that the bravest of us are actually the most cowardly, since the truly brave have no need to prove themselves, it is only the coward who needs this affirmation.
490 BC, Darius, ruler of Persia, the mightiest empire in the world sent an army of 25,000 men west to conquer Greece. They conquered Ionian islands and Eritrea and sailed for Attica. Herodotus 'Histories' gives the most contemporary account in which Pheidippides, a messenger, was sent from Athens to Sparta (152 miles) to ask for Spartan aid in fighting the Persians. Pheidippides arrives sometime the next day but the Spartans refuse. Pheidippides returns to Athens with the news but after they beat the Persians at Marathon he raced to Athens once again and in Plutarch's account offers the words "Rejoice, we conquer." and promptly dies. The author points out that for a pro messenger this 330 mile journey was indeed epic but not unique.
1980 RAF wing commander John Foden angry no one knew if Pheidippides run from Athens to Sparta could be done. His first attempt at it failed, but for the second attempt he planned better, enlisted ultra-runners as a support team, and did more training. He started his run at the Agora in Athens and finished at the statue of King Leonidas in 37 hours 58 minutes, losing 14 lbs along the way. Modern day race called Spartathalon and must be completed in under 36 hours.
1894 minor French Baron Pierre de Coubertine founded International Olympic Committee an announcement that was greeted with little enthusiasm. He based his idea on 4 principles: games as religion, the striving for perfection, glorifying the beauty of the philosophic act of the games, and to represent a chivalrous elite' and of course a four-yearly truce. The first modern Olympics were held in 1896, though the first recorded Olympiad was in 776 BC when Apollo beat Hermes in a foot race.
In antiquity the allotted training time was 10 months. Later 324 AD Emperor Theodosius gave an edict banning the games as a pagan festival. In the modern version Coubertine ignored the animal sacrifices and heavy drinking.
The author of course covers how the marathon was extended to 26.2 miles thanks to the British Royal family.
Emil Zapotek first to take training ultra seriously. He would run 20 miles in the winter through the forest in army boots, and when it got too cold he would throw his laundry in a bath tub, throw on his boots and stomp on it for hours until water poured down the hall. When he put his running shoes on in races he practically flew. Zapotek founded the notion that to set records you had to train on the edge of human endurance.
Swedes and Finns loved the marathon as it offered a metaphor for the vast empty Nordic landscape.
Ethiopians unlike Europeans in that they hardly sweat, conserving water deep in tissue and are not bulky to be sprinters but distance runners. They have higher VO2 max capacities and transport oxygen with 89% efficiency compared to 81% with Europeans. They are built shorter and lighter and have a different ratio of muscle fiber conductive to endurance training.
Athlete derives from Greek word meaning 'to compete for a prize' but also from a word meaning 'I struggle, I contest, I suffer'.
Mensen Ernst, a Norwegian seaman born in 1795 in 1832 followed Napoleon's route to Moscow from Paris. 1,760 miles in 13 days 18 hours, an average of 120 miles a day.
Rosie Swale Pope was widowed on her 57th birthday and set out on a run around the world. Covering 21,000 miles from Europe-Russia-Siberia-North America, a journey which took 5 years and 53 pairs of sneakers.
Nike Cofounder Bill Bowerman started the whole cushioned running shoe movement in 1962. Saw all the great runners ran with their feet under them and wondered if runners could gain a bit of extra distance if they could extend their stride out in front of them to land on their heel and pull themselves forward.
There is a sect of Japanese monks who live high on Mt. Hiei in a monastery founded in 1787. Monks there must undergo a 100 day term of haikogyo which consists of a midnight run covering 40 km from which they must return between 7-9 am everyday. They must also complete a 54 km run with a senior priest.
After this they can petition to complete 1,000 day term which takes 7 years. It consists of 2 100 day terms of 84km daily runs everyday in 16-18 hours. After day 700 these monks must survive 9 days with no food, water, sleep, or rest. Only then are they declared to be daigyoman ajari or "saintly master of the highest practice". Since 1885 only 46 monks have achieved this title.
The part of the novel I found most profound that has changed the way I think about running and distance was this:
He opens the novel with a story about how he got lost running one time. He includes a description about the lines of salt on his gear making it starch-stiff, details I took pleasure in relating to. He uses this story to propound his theory that runners are really "domestic creatures" saying "most days we step onto the pavement knowing exactly where and how far we are going to run, and we know too well that we'll be back in time to shower before dinner".
He goes on to say the to really run long distances you have to let go of the idea that you are going to cover a certain distance. You should be able to go out and maybe you are going to cover 5 miles or maybe you are going to cover 55. I found this fascinating. I should be able to start a marathon with no preconceived notion of the distance to cover and instead just run.
He starts off with an apology in about how he frames the story with his growing up which I was somewhat mollified by since I didn't actually like a lot of his personal life. His father-in-law dies and there is a whole lot about that and then about the troubles his mother-in-law has adapting to this and maybe I am a terrible person but I didn't care. It didn't help that his descriptions of time and place got a bit murky so I had trouble following who was where and doing what.
He also has a relationship with moving bodies of water that I didn't really understand and then he does this funky thing where he will quote people and use italics to add emphasis and write afterward 'italics added'. This irritated me on a technical level as the standard way of referencing such an alteration is to say 'emphasis added'.
He has a couple of observations that are worth noting:
Observes that swimmers are separated from the world more than other athletes and are even more alone in their own heads. An observation as a runner and not (yet) a triathlete to be interesting.
I also found his consciousness in a handful of scenes that his running is separating him from not just friends who don't share his interest in running but also his wife. Indeed he tells the story of another great runner who runs obscene distances on a regular basis who after a year his wife divorced him, and then he later makes a nod to the other ultra runners he meets at various races who are having all sorts of marital difficulties.
The best part of the novel is all the history the author sprinkles in:
He explains that the origin of homesickness was in 1688 from Johannes Hofer as a medical condition from the Greek nostos: return and algos: suffering. Johannes observed great nations of Europe perpetually at war, and soldiers might spend years at a time fighting in foreign lands knowing they may never see home again. When wounded and close to death they were sent home to die with their families where they made remarkable recoveries, only to be sent back to the front lines. The symptoms of such were 'continued sadness...even palpitations of the heart, frequent sighs, also stupidity of the mind".
Greeks recognized beauty in motion and running to be a primeval action so uncomplicated it was celebrated for its purity. The author has some good descriptions like this one: the "very picture of economy as his legs moved as easily as milk pouring from a jug".
The 1930's was all about the 4 minute mile, which 1935 scientific research data on human structural limits said was impossible. Stating that the fastest a human could cover the mile was 4:01:06.
Victorians were brought up with the Greek ideals of mens sana in corpore sano "a sound mind in a sound body".
Explores the thought that the bravest of us are actually the most cowardly, since the truly brave have no need to prove themselves, it is only the coward who needs this affirmation.
490 BC, Darius, ruler of Persia, the mightiest empire in the world sent an army of 25,000 men west to conquer Greece. They conquered Ionian islands and Eritrea and sailed for Attica. Herodotus 'Histories' gives the most contemporary account in which Pheidippides, a messenger, was sent from Athens to Sparta (152 miles) to ask for Spartan aid in fighting the Persians. Pheidippides arrives sometime the next day but the Spartans refuse. Pheidippides returns to Athens with the news but after they beat the Persians at Marathon he raced to Athens once again and in Plutarch's account offers the words "Rejoice, we conquer." and promptly dies. The author points out that for a pro messenger this 330 mile journey was indeed epic but not unique.
1980 RAF wing commander John Foden angry no one knew if Pheidippides run from Athens to Sparta could be done. His first attempt at it failed, but for the second attempt he planned better, enlisted ultra-runners as a support team, and did more training. He started his run at the Agora in Athens and finished at the statue of King Leonidas in 37 hours 58 minutes, losing 14 lbs along the way. Modern day race called Spartathalon and must be completed in under 36 hours.
1894 minor French Baron Pierre de Coubertine founded International Olympic Committee an announcement that was greeted with little enthusiasm. He based his idea on 4 principles: games as religion, the striving for perfection, glorifying the beauty of the philosophic act of the games, and to represent a chivalrous elite' and of course a four-yearly truce. The first modern Olympics were held in 1896, though the first recorded Olympiad was in 776 BC when Apollo beat Hermes in a foot race.
In antiquity the allotted training time was 10 months. Later 324 AD Emperor Theodosius gave an edict banning the games as a pagan festival. In the modern version Coubertine ignored the animal sacrifices and heavy drinking.
The author of course covers how the marathon was extended to 26.2 miles thanks to the British Royal family.
Emil Zapotek first to take training ultra seriously. He would run 20 miles in the winter through the forest in army boots, and when it got too cold he would throw his laundry in a bath tub, throw on his boots and stomp on it for hours until water poured down the hall. When he put his running shoes on in races he practically flew. Zapotek founded the notion that to set records you had to train on the edge of human endurance.
Swedes and Finns loved the marathon as it offered a metaphor for the vast empty Nordic landscape.
Ethiopians unlike Europeans in that they hardly sweat, conserving water deep in tissue and are not bulky to be sprinters but distance runners. They have higher VO2 max capacities and transport oxygen with 89% efficiency compared to 81% with Europeans. They are built shorter and lighter and have a different ratio of muscle fiber conductive to endurance training.
Athlete derives from Greek word meaning 'to compete for a prize' but also from a word meaning 'I struggle, I contest, I suffer'.
Mensen Ernst, a Norwegian seaman born in 1795 in 1832 followed Napoleon's route to Moscow from Paris. 1,760 miles in 13 days 18 hours, an average of 120 miles a day.
Rosie Swale Pope was widowed on her 57th birthday and set out on a run around the world. Covering 21,000 miles from Europe-Russia-Siberia-North America, a journey which took 5 years and 53 pairs of sneakers.
Nike Cofounder Bill Bowerman started the whole cushioned running shoe movement in 1962. Saw all the great runners ran with their feet under them and wondered if runners could gain a bit of extra distance if they could extend their stride out in front of them to land on their heel and pull themselves forward.
There is a sect of Japanese monks who live high on Mt. Hiei in a monastery founded in 1787. Monks there must undergo a 100 day term of haikogyo which consists of a midnight run covering 40 km from which they must return between 7-9 am everyday. They must also complete a 54 km run with a senior priest.
After this they can petition to complete 1,000 day term which takes 7 years. It consists of 2 100 day terms of 84km daily runs everyday in 16-18 hours. After day 700 these monks must survive 9 days with no food, water, sleep, or rest. Only then are they declared to be daigyoman ajari or "saintly master of the highest practice". Since 1885 only 46 monks have achieved this title.
The part of the novel I found most profound that has changed the way I think about running and distance was this:
He opens the novel with a story about how he got lost running one time. He includes a description about the lines of salt on his gear making it starch-stiff, details I took pleasure in relating to. He uses this story to propound his theory that runners are really "domestic creatures" saying "most days we step onto the pavement knowing exactly where and how far we are going to run, and we know too well that we'll be back in time to shower before dinner".
He goes on to say the to really run long distances you have to let go of the idea that you are going to cover a certain distance. You should be able to go out and maybe you are going to cover 5 miles or maybe you are going to cover 55. I found this fascinating. I should be able to start a marathon with no preconceived notion of the distance to cover and instead just run.
April 21, 2018
A more accurate title would be 'Why Robin Harvie Runs' and that is only sporadically interesting. He is overly concerned to show how well read he is and this means that there's too much off-topic pseudo philosophizing.
November 28, 2012
This wasn't really what I was expecting, and not in a good way. It's a personal account of one man's progress from non-runner to ultra-marathoner. Along the way we are given extensive glimpses through the windows of his earlier life and contemporary trials and tribulations. The narrative doesn't really flow and is frequently very convoluted. One paragraph he is describing the endeavours of runners a century ago, the next he jumps into the middle of his own race. It often comes across as overly melancholic, as though he's constantly beating himself up for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, given the amount of build up and training he puts in for the Spartathlon, I think he let's himself and the rest of us down in the denouement.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2021
I enjoy books on distance running. This book contains running history and philosophy, a multitude of quotations in addition to a family history which at times feels like a Scandinavian noir. Oh, and plenty on the river Thames. Some of the history sections are interesting - the Japanese marathon monks for instance, but I was mostly interested in his own running experience and the sections that dealt with his training and races. These parts came across well and proves he can write, although I'm surprised there's no mention of any background interest in philosophy, how does he know all this stuff? I'm also surprised at the omission of his having any injuries and how he dealt with time off running, which seems unusual. I know distance runners are probably are a little selfish and introverted by definition, but Harvie comes across as completely self absorbed. His continual search for 'something' sat uncomfortably with me. It seemed he ran a lot of the time for escape, to reach some transcendental state whereby he no longer existed in this world. I thought the unraveling of his family history throughout may reveal a reason for this, but disappointingly there was no closure here. It also seemed at times he was writing for some kind of recognition for how much effort and discomfort he has been through, which he appears aggrieved not to have received closer to home. There's no fun described in here, and if this is what ultra running and pushing oneself to the utmost limits is about, count me out. No answers here for me.
May 3, 2024
Skim read tbh, didn’t enjoy, wasn’t what I thought it’d be
March 21, 2014
I've read a few of these books recently, exploring the phenomena of 'why people run'. This was beautifully written but was very personal, almost self-obsessed and because of that I just didn't care. I would have liked to have read more about the guy's training regime than his personal story of his family, mildly interesting though that was. Plus there was again more of the history of running and legends which have been written about so often before - to be honest I don't think anything can come close to Richard Askwith's brilliant 'Feet in the Clouds'. I think I compare all these running obsession books to that - he set the bar so high.
January 21, 2013
One man's story of running long distance; some funny moments but I didn't have patience for all the side stories, background memoir, and a lot of the excess stuff. DNF
June 7, 2025
For anyone who's ever run for fun and then questioned all their life choices - this one's for you.
Warning: may cause spontaneous signing up for a marathon.
#onemoremile
Warning: may cause spontaneous signing up for a marathon.
#onemoremile
Read
June 5, 2021I'm delighted to see that i'm not alone bij getting very tired of this book. No promotion to the sport itself because of the complete failures the man make on his preperation. In his writing he must be thinking that he really is a great writer or novellist or a specialist at the least. This is really a book that steps so much away from the line page by page that it's nearly impossible to find this line back again.
May 26, 2023
This is a fascinating and wonderfully written account of why we run, the personal reasons and philosophies behind running. This is an idea I’ve only recently gotten to grips with, and this book is perfect for anyone who runs or who wonders why anyone would put themselves through that. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
January 3, 2025
Relatable journey of rationalising self inflicted pain through running to reach a state of purpose. Liked how the author explored his own ideas on facing the unknown with examples from famous writers and adventurers, while developing his own mindset throughout the book. Slow at times but so are ultramarathons…
May 14, 2017
This really is a story of pure obsession. I didn't find it uplifting, actually it felt like such a lonely journey, but I definitely related to some of his feelings with my new found hobby but doubt I'll ever feel the need to compete in any events like the grueling Spartathalon!
January 17, 2021
10% decent content, 10% thinly veiled self-aggrandisement, 80% irrelevant self-indulgent waffle.
June 3, 2021
Enjoyable on the whole, could be a little pretentious at times and there were some droning paragraphs about indirect family members.
August 23, 2022
Enjoyed in parts and found it frustrating to read in others. The analogies of the meandering River Thames could be easily applied to the book as much as to running!
December 28, 2022
A book of two halves , was really tough going at the beginning but finished strongly. The boy can definitely write ,enjoyed it
March 13, 2025
Decent book, with some interesting insights into why we run. I found the repeated use of quotes a bit jarring in places, but the parts the author wrote themselves were good.
June 10, 2025
Gets off to quite a slow start but really enjoyed the last 50-60% of it.
May 16, 2012
Devoured this in a couple of days. I like books about the nature of running, but much like Haruki Murokami's effort, I feel like this is another close but no cigar.
Harvie's book is interesting. He starts out thinking about the nature of distance running, reflects on his own experiences and history of running and then focuses particularly on ultra marathon running. The book builds an culminates in an attempt at the Spartathon, an absurd sub-36 hour, 150 mile race supposed in the footsteps of Pheidippides (the greek messenger, the 1st Marathoner).
There's a lot of interesting stuff here, all sorts of stuff about the Greeks, the modern Olympics and some fascinating trivia, but somehow as a book it doesn't quite come together. It feels like something rushed to copy. Harvie starts out with some really interesting ideas about running as an exploration of fear, and an exploration of pain...yet never quite follows it up. He quotes large numbers of poets, writers and artists on their reflection of nature; particularly on the Thames and the Lake District where he goes on long runs, but you feel like sometimes he's just trying to pad out the book with not entirely relevant or properly though through ideas. If your going to talk about the sublime, you need to put that particular word in the context of God (or Godlessness). Harvie wisely notes the relationship between ultra distance runners and troubled backgrounds/obsessive behaviours, but then falls short at seeing those in himself and so although he writes about his past and a recent family bereavement I don't feel he's tapped into that truthfully enough.
Ultimately he fails to complete the Spartathon, and it's a better book because of that, in failure he is more reflective. Distance Running is a largely introspective activity. I'm left feeling that after all those miles, Harvie could have come up with something a little more thought through.
Harvie's book is interesting. He starts out thinking about the nature of distance running, reflects on his own experiences and history of running and then focuses particularly on ultra marathon running. The book builds an culminates in an attempt at the Spartathon, an absurd sub-36 hour, 150 mile race supposed in the footsteps of Pheidippides (the greek messenger, the 1st Marathoner).
There's a lot of interesting stuff here, all sorts of stuff about the Greeks, the modern Olympics and some fascinating trivia, but somehow as a book it doesn't quite come together. It feels like something rushed to copy. Harvie starts out with some really interesting ideas about running as an exploration of fear, and an exploration of pain...yet never quite follows it up. He quotes large numbers of poets, writers and artists on their reflection of nature; particularly on the Thames and the Lake District where he goes on long runs, but you feel like sometimes he's just trying to pad out the book with not entirely relevant or properly though through ideas. If your going to talk about the sublime, you need to put that particular word in the context of God (or Godlessness). Harvie wisely notes the relationship between ultra distance runners and troubled backgrounds/obsessive behaviours, but then falls short at seeing those in himself and so although he writes about his past and a recent family bereavement I don't feel he's tapped into that truthfully enough.
Ultimately he fails to complete the Spartathon, and it's a better book because of that, in failure he is more reflective. Distance Running is a largely introspective activity. I'm left feeling that after all those miles, Harvie could have come up with something a little more thought through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2012
Lets get one thing straight...I am a runner...there i've said it and I have been running for a long time over 25 years so I am no spring chicken :)) In fact as I write this I have just returned from running the Stroud Half Marathon in a time of 1 hr 38mins...and I am a little disappointed with this...that follows on from the Bristol Half Marathon some 3 weeks ago where I was tripped at the 3 mile stage...had to spend 20 mins with the local St Johns Ambulance receiving treatment...but still as all true runners would do...I finished...so I understand the obsession that Robin Harvie has and I can acknowledge his achievements and his need to run. I did enjoy his book and his preparation for the seemingly impossible Spartathlon ( and indeed it did prove elusive )I understand the pain, the obsession and the general feeling of euphoria that goes with each run good or bad ( I suspect I have completed in access of 200 races, mostly half marathons )I understand the loneliness and the need to find one's space in a world addicted to self. I enjoyed his little side trips into the world of Turner, the first Nike Bowerman running shoe, the acknowledgement of running guru James Fixx, and his meeting with the great Rory Coleman who turned his life around simply by running. If I was to take a quote for my running experience I would however refer to a book which in some ways is a running bible "Holistic Running" by the renowned Joel Henning "It is indeed a form of worship, an attempt to find God,a means to the transcendent...I have power, power that propels me cross country,puts me intimately in touch with nature, strengthens me....I own the day!....
March 8, 2012
I admire what Robin Harvie tried to accomplish with this book. Unlike many running memoir books, he didn't just make it about himself; he made a genuine effort to position his own passion for running in a greater historical context, and address the psychological reasons that drive people to cover improbable distances on foot. He interspersed enough of his own story to keep a loose narrative frame for the book, even as he drifted off into rambling histories of other runners, other races, etc. However, with the exception of some great sections in the latter half of the book, this failed to really capture my imagination. Too many stretches were filled with flowery, overwritten prose that was too abstract to be meaningful. (Some of it was acceptable; I've also read a good deal of running memoirs that have the opposite problem - too many concrete details, and not ENOUGH introspection, e.g. "I ran 50 miles and ate this many gels and covered this many feet of vertical elevation and then won the race, the end.") The second half of the book was, by far, the stronger half. There were a number of sections, moments, and even single sentences that summed up so well the emotional highs and lows of endurance running. If you can make it through the meandering first half, the second half of the book - while certainly not flawless writing - is worth the read for any long distance runner.
July 6, 2012
I was really looking forward to reading this book as it was recommended as a fabulous read for anyone like me, who loves running. The book is littered with quotes from various famous elements to attempt to draw on what Robin Harvie's mind was thinking when he decided to enter the Spartathlon, a race like no other, that follows the path of Pheidippides, an ancient Athenian long distance runner, who in 490 BC, before the battle of Marathon, was sent to Sparta to seek help in the war between the Greeks and the Persians. A race stretching 250km to be completed in less than 2 days. Harvie talks, philosophises, queries and reasons his way through almost 300 pages, which quickly became very tedious and repetitive; only briefly touching on his experiences of the race itself and running as a sport/hobby/interest. He reserves his idolising for famous runners, artists, wrtiers, philosophers. Not what I wanted to read at all. Imagine my utter irritation therefore, having persevered and got to the end of the book to discover that after all that pain he put the reader through ... he didn't complete the race!! Grr. Think I will stick with Dean Karnazes.
August 29, 2012
It's interesting book that could be much, much better if the author didn't go too much in some details. First half of the book is full of uninteresting stuff like author's family history (why should I care and what does it has to do with the running?) or the mental state of his wife's mother. I understand that some of this stuff has been important part of the authors life at the time, but it's not for the reader.
Also, very big part of the book is compound of some philosophical texts that are usually not very interesting and are simply too much. Sometimes they have a purpose, but more no than yes.
Second part of the book is much better. We get very interesting overview of the Olympics history, good stuff about entering the world of ultra marathon distance running and the preparation for the Spartathlon.
I would like that the author focused more on how running effected his life in general, for example, work, everyday behaviour, etc. There are parts like that, but not enough...
Overall, it's a good book, but only if you are really into running and into a lot of philosophies :)
Also, very big part of the book is compound of some philosophical texts that are usually not very interesting and are simply too much. Sometimes they have a purpose, but more no than yes.
Second part of the book is much better. We get very interesting overview of the Olympics history, good stuff about entering the world of ultra marathon distance running and the preparation for the Spartathlon.
I would like that the author focused more on how running effected his life in general, for example, work, everyday behaviour, etc. There are parts like that, but not enough...
Overall, it's a good book, but only if you are really into running and into a lot of philosophies :)
June 15, 2013
This was the most analytical book I've read about running. I'm a long-time runner and was a bit overwhelmed by the depth and breadth that Harvie carved out to talk about his obsession. But he's an ultra-marathoner and perhaps the characterization is a fair parallel.
In a way it inspires me to want to ratchet up my program to at least consistent marathon running (I've run two). I love running half-marathons and feel challenged by that distance. Maybe it's time to push the limit again.
My favorite quote from the book: "Just close the front door behind you and be off in any direction, since all you need are your two feet and the open road. The beauty of motion, the ecstasy of freedom from a hurried, over-sophisticated world, requiring little financial cost and limited innate skill: this is the privilege of the running experience."
In a way it inspires me to want to ratchet up my program to at least consistent marathon running (I've run two). I love running half-marathons and feel challenged by that distance. Maybe it's time to push the limit again.
My favorite quote from the book: "Just close the front door behind you and be off in any direction, since all you need are your two feet and the open road. The beauty of motion, the ecstasy of freedom from a hurried, over-sophisticated world, requiring little financial cost and limited innate skill: this is the privilege of the running experience."
December 8, 2011
This book is interesting because its conclusion is not what the reader anticipates going into the first chapter. Based on his own experience of training for and running the Spartathlon, a recreation of Pheidippides’s legendary journey from Sparta to Athens, Harvie takes the reader on a philosophical journey as he hits the bricks along the River Thames. The result is a beautifully written text—so much so that the actual training and racing almost seems secondary to the insights Harvie gains through the process. This certainly ranks as one of the most beautifully written books related to the topic of running. However, some readers will feel a bit deflated by the conclusion. Perhaps the author will continue the story (and triumph) in a sequel.
July 22, 2016
Being injured and unable to run I've taken to reading about it (call it a form of torture). This book tries to reflect deeply on why we choose to run long distances. Frankly I didn't find the book succeeded in its aim, the author was trying just a little too hard to be philosophical & in the end I sometimes just didn't get it (e.g. the discussion regarding his Mother-in-law's state of mind). The writing is not bad, and I did enjoy the last chapter which described the author's attempt at the Spartathlon & where he finally draws together a more coherent conclusion, but frankly there was not enough of the enjoyable bits for me to like this book. I'm afraid I would not recommend it (even to a runner).
November 2, 2013
I was a little disappointed, because i hoped that the writer in the end would accomplish his goal of finishing Spartathlon. But in the end of the book the reasons that led to that decision seemed to me fair enough.
Generally it's a nice book with explains what the writer he thinks about running and primarily of the long distance running, and the connections he does with running and life.
It a was a little bit tiring that he was jumping from one subject suddenly to anoother but in the end all of them was conflicted in one universal truth.
Maybe this book is better suited for someone that allready has tried to run some long distances or an ultramarathon, so it's easier to comprehend what the writer want to show and say.
Generally it's a nice book with explains what the writer he thinks about running and primarily of the long distance running, and the connections he does with running and life.
It a was a little bit tiring that he was jumping from one subject suddenly to anoother but in the end all of them was conflicted in one universal truth.
Maybe this book is better suited for someone that allready has tried to run some long distances or an ultramarathon, so it's easier to comprehend what the writer want to show and say.
April 27, 2014
Robin Harvie does a good job of examining the reasons that he runs, and therefore the reasons that some of us run. In the process he looks at running, especially ultra-marathon running, through history. He uses his own preparation for running the Spartathlon (a non-stop, 36 hour race between Athens and Sparta) to muse on his own personal reasons for undergoing this trial, as well as the reasons that people have tackled such challenges over time. Erudite and with numerous digressions into history, this is no training manual, but an exploration of the sort of damaged psyche that needs the catharsis of a 250km run. I enjoyed it, and it makes a great companion volume to works such as Running with the Pack (Mark Rowlands) and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (Haruki Murakami).
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