Book review - Why we run, a story of obsession by Robin Harvie
'If you have ever wondered what makes you lace up your trainers, and why you keep coming back for more...' So ends the back page summary of this book. A good hook for a good book.
I think I know why I run, but it is always good to read what someone else thinks. The book was also a tale of Robin's attempt at the Spartathlon and I was interested to read how he had made the journey to attempt one of the hardest races in the world.
What I actually discovered, along with his account of the Spartathlon, was a great summary of many other running books I have read. It contains quotes and lessons from Richard Askwith, Scott Jurek, Roger Bannister, Haruki Murakami, James Fixx, Dean Karnazes, Paula Radcliffe, Emil Zatopek, Chris McDougall, and Alan Sillitoe. I was surprised there was no George Sheehan however.
Other authors quoted include some of my favourites such as Roger Deakin, Antoine Saint-Exupery, Henry David Thoreau, Richard Mabey, William Feinnes and Sara Maitland.
The book itself is quite rambling, but only in the sense that it weaves a number of narratives together including his personal story, a tale of grief examined, the Greek run and a potted history of running. That's no bad thing. At times it felt quite self-indulgent, but I don't think that can be helped when telling a personal narrative. I did note some profound insights including:
"the draw of the intoxicating freedom and self-empowerment that I would later discover to be at the heart of the richness of the running experience."
"All runners feel a sense of pride when they return to the map plotting a recently covered route, their fingers travelling along roads, over fields and following paths that only those on foot can take. 'I did that. On my own.' No matter the distance covered or the time on the road, the pleasure of empowerment that comes with the accomplishment of a challenge is always profound and rewarding."
"...becoming ultra-distance runners involves a merging of consciousness and landscape, whilst offering up the possibility of going beyond the limits of our knowledge. The transformation is in the act of running itself."
I would recommend this book as a good way to learn about the major figures in running, in particular the marathon and ultra marathon. It also gives honest and clear explanations about what it can feel like to enter into running as opposed to simply doing it. Finally, it is a meditation on life through the metaphor of running.
Read this if you want to know about all the main running based stories out there without buying dozens of books. Or buy this if you want to find out what all the other books are so that you can buy and enjoy them individually. It is an excellent reference for, and reflection on, running.
