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Chasing the Runner's High
Chasing the Runner's High is the story of how Ray Charbonneau pushed his addiction to running up to, and then past, his limits. Ray shares what he learned, what he should have learned, and what he still has to learn from running.
Marshall Ulrich, four-time winner of the Badwater Ultramarathon, says the book "provides a hard look into the mind of a runner, offering advice that can only be had with experience and hard fought miles underfoot."
It's a great read for runners or for non-runners who want to better understand their running friends!
Marshall Ulrich, four-time winner of the Badwater Ultramarathon, says the book "provides a hard look into the mind of a runner, offering advice that can only be had with experience and hard fought miles underfoot."
It's a great read for runners or for non-runners who want to better understand their running friends!
- GenresSportsNonfiction
258 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2010
About the author
Ray Charbonneau
13 books8 followersRay Charbonneau is the author of a number of books on running. That number is currently five. He’s also the editor of The 27th Mile, a benefit anthology for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
Ray has run more than thirty marathons and ultramarathons, including one and a half 100 mile races, without winning a single one. But there's always tomorrow.
Ray lives in Arlington, Massachusetts, with his wife and their two cats. You can often find Ray and Ruth out on the streets running, but Felix and Phoebe stay inside.
For more information, visit y42k.com.
Ray has run more than thirty marathons and ultramarathons, including one and a half 100 mile races, without winning a single one. But there's always tomorrow.
Ray lives in Arlington, Massachusetts, with his wife and their two cats. You can often find Ray and Ruth out on the streets running, but Felix and Phoebe stay inside.
For more information, visit y42k.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 18, 2010
Best book on running ever!
(OK, I wrote it.)
(OK, I wrote it.)
Read
December 14, 2020As a runner, and writer, Chasing The Runner's High is a gift, a book I might have killed for in high school, certainly begged for, because books like these weren't written then, or at least published, and so there was little to read about my most compulsive of compulsions, much less any way to know whether other people were like this. And yet, it's more than that as well, because ultimately this is a book about addiction and craving and all we will do to fill that kind of void. Which makes Chasing The Runners High both much less and much more than a running book at the same time. Which is to say, that Chasing The Runners High is a book that is also ultimately about gaining control over your life by being less in control, being in balance by focusing on all of the elements of who we are at the same time, and finding pleasure in something that once was, but no longer is, allowed to dominate your every thought.
March 24, 2026
Chasing the Runner’s High by Ray Charbonneau is a deeply honest and compelling look into the mind of a runner pushed to his limits—and beyond. This isn’t just a book about running; it’s a powerful exploration of passion, obsession, growth, and self-awareness.
What makes this book truly stand out is Ray’s raw honesty. He doesn’t just celebrate the highs of running—he dives into the struggles, the lessons learned the hard way, and the ongoing journey of understanding himself. It feels real, relatable, and incredibly human.
The insights are both inspiring and thought-provoking, whether you’re an experienced runner or someone who’s never laced up a pair of running shoes. Endorsements like that from Marshall Ulrich only reinforce the depth and authenticity of Ray’s story.
This book gives you a new appreciation for what drives people to push their limits and what they discover along the way. It’s motivating, reflective, and genuinely impactful. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys personal stories of perseverance and self-discovery!
What makes this book truly stand out is Ray’s raw honesty. He doesn’t just celebrate the highs of running—he dives into the struggles, the lessons learned the hard way, and the ongoing journey of understanding himself. It feels real, relatable, and incredibly human.
The insights are both inspiring and thought-provoking, whether you’re an experienced runner or someone who’s never laced up a pair of running shoes. Endorsements like that from Marshall Ulrich only reinforce the depth and authenticity of Ray’s story.
This book gives you a new appreciation for what drives people to push their limits and what they discover along the way. It’s motivating, reflective, and genuinely impactful. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys personal stories of perseverance and self-discovery!
June 23, 2012
Ray certainly did chase the runners high and fueled my chase for the same. Reading his play by play of training for and running in the Vermont 50 and the Vermont 100 made me consider them as options. Well Ray and a couple of other runners competing in the Vermont 50 this year who said, well you can walk parts of it, you don't have to run the full 50 miles. Perhaps some day.
He did touch on the aspect of running, and chasing that high, and drinking that I have been evaluating in my own lifestyle. Thank you Ray for the eye opener there!
Ray also discussed clothing and gear. The most important being good shoes, and then add from there.
This is an open and honest memoir about the love of running and the love of excess and the love of finding the sweet spot of moderation. Even if you aren't a runner, and just know or love a runner, reading this book may gain you some insight into what makes them tick.
About me: I fall in the 'racer' category, competing only with myself, however I do find thrill in passing another runner, or 'chicking' a guy. I am a solid middle of the pack runner, and as one of my engineer friends said "While you came in last, you did beat two non finishers and statistically your times indicate you have every right to run these races" I will never win and have no designs on wining a race (ok maybe in a fantasy) only improving from the last time I ran the race. I have become a clothing and gear junkie. One of my girlfriends teases me I have more running out fits than regular clothes. My husband laughs at me when I scramble back in the house because while I remembered my GPS watch I forgot both the house key and my water.
He did touch on the aspect of running, and chasing that high, and drinking that I have been evaluating in my own lifestyle. Thank you Ray for the eye opener there!
Ray also discussed clothing and gear. The most important being good shoes, and then add from there.
This is an open and honest memoir about the love of running and the love of excess and the love of finding the sweet spot of moderation. Even if you aren't a runner, and just know or love a runner, reading this book may gain you some insight into what makes them tick.
About me: I fall in the 'racer' category, competing only with myself, however I do find thrill in passing another runner, or 'chicking' a guy. I am a solid middle of the pack runner, and as one of my engineer friends said "While you came in last, you did beat two non finishers and statistically your times indicate you have every right to run these races" I will never win and have no designs on wining a race (ok maybe in a fantasy) only improving from the last time I ran the race. I have become a clothing and gear junkie. One of my girlfriends teases me I have more running out fits than regular clothes. My husband laughs at me when I scramble back in the house because while I remembered my GPS watch I forgot both the house key and my water.
February 23, 2011
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
It's important to know before going into it that Ray Charbonneau's Chasing the Runner's High is not for everyone; in fact, it's a very specific guide geared almost exclusively to his fellow runners, one that has its general moments but that is mostly focused on very specific looks at clothing, exercises, routes, and other practical information that runners must think about when approaching their sport. As such, then, as a non-runner I found myself often drifting off during the wonkier parts of this manuscript, and as a self-published title it also has the common problem of going on much too long about subjects that few will care about (for example, an entire sub-chapter just on the various events that his Boston-based running club sponsors each year); but still, I found the more general information to be entertaining enough, and for sure written at a professional level that's worth your time. I couldn't even begin to attest whether the actual information in this book is helpful or not, but it's at least worth a look for all of you who are more versed on the subject.
Out of 10: 8.0
It's important to know before going into it that Ray Charbonneau's Chasing the Runner's High is not for everyone; in fact, it's a very specific guide geared almost exclusively to his fellow runners, one that has its general moments but that is mostly focused on very specific looks at clothing, exercises, routes, and other practical information that runners must think about when approaching their sport. As such, then, as a non-runner I found myself often drifting off during the wonkier parts of this manuscript, and as a self-published title it also has the common problem of going on much too long about subjects that few will care about (for example, an entire sub-chapter just on the various events that his Boston-based running club sponsors each year); but still, I found the more general information to be entertaining enough, and for sure written at a professional level that's worth your time. I couldn't even begin to attest whether the actual information in this book is helpful or not, but it's at least worth a look for all of you who are more versed on the subject.
Out of 10: 8.0
January 23, 2013
This is a bit of a slog, even though I think his angle of compulsive running is quite interesting. It feels like the author would have benefitted from an editor to chase him back to the point of what he was trying to say. In particular the sections on gear rambled on and on and ON. And I adore reading about gear! He just wasn't saying much but in the wordiest way possible.
I did enjoy his thoughts on the reasons he ran, how he set about to do some of the things he has done and the fall out. But so much of it could be tightened up and whole other sections need to be expanded (details about T-shirts but we skim over adventure runs and who people are). This is a book that was a quick and interesting read but could have been much better with some guidance.
I did enjoy his thoughts on the reasons he ran, how he set about to do some of the things he has done and the fall out. But so much of it could be tightened up and whole other sections need to be expanded (details about T-shirts but we skim over adventure runs and who people are). This is a book that was a quick and interesting read but could have been much better with some guidance.
July 23, 2021
If you're a running addict you may need to find sources of non-impact runner highs. Ray's books are a great way to get that.
What my ratings mean:
5 – I felt this book was an exemplar in its genre/field. That does not mean I agree with everything it says (or the moral of the story). It is likely to be a book that will change my thinking about a topic.
4 – A very impressive book for its genre/field. It probably didn’t change me or my thinking though.
3 – An enjoyable way to spend the time reading it.
2 – This was a pain to read. It was probably difficult to finish.
1 – Life’s too short and/or I’m not smart enough to get the point of this book.
What my ratings mean:
5 – I felt this book was an exemplar in its genre/field. That does not mean I agree with everything it says (or the moral of the story). It is likely to be a book that will change my thinking about a topic.
4 – A very impressive book for its genre/field. It probably didn’t change me or my thinking though.
3 – An enjoyable way to spend the time reading it.
2 – This was a pain to read. It was probably difficult to finish.
1 – Life’s too short and/or I’m not smart enough to get the point of this book.
August 1, 2012
The book starts off slow and ends slow but there is actually a story in the middle somewhere, where the author discusses the toll that he paid for years of ultrarunning. It was a bit of a slog to get through this book as the writing is not great but I found it worth the effort overall.
I do think the author downplays the role of alcohol in his rate of injury though. Clearly drinking that much was not going to beneficial to the body in any manner, and then stacking 50 miles races on a dehydrated and hungover body is not very smart. In short don't take any training advice from this guy.
I do think the author downplays the role of alcohol in his rate of injury though. Clearly drinking that much was not going to beneficial to the body in any manner, and then stacking 50 miles races on a dehydrated and hungover body is not very smart. In short don't take any training advice from this guy.
October 8, 2014
Great overview of all things running woven into an interesting narrative.
March 10, 2013
Nice running book. Entertaining and informative. Good book Ray!
April 15, 2014
Extra half star cuz I'm in this book.
February 13, 2016
Nice to read a book on running by an "average" runner - makes it easier to relate to.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews