The Reading Runner's Christmas Wish-list

Books about running, yea! Some funny, some educational, all inspiring. For me, anything I read about running motivates me to run. Whenever I'm in a run funk and just haven't felt like getting out the door, I can just pick up an issue of Runner's World, or read a bit from one of these books and I'm eager for my next run.

Today, I want to share with you some of my favorite running reads that you can pick up for the awesome runners in your life or add to your own wish-list.

1. Runner's World Magazine - Even if your favorite runner already has a subscription, you can still buy their next renewal, it will just extend the time from the end of their current subscription (my subscription is up in two months btw...)

2. Eat & Run by Scott Jurek - I devoured this book by record-breaking ultra runner Scott Jurek. Jurek's book fits nicely into the memoir category, you learn a lot about his life and a lot about running. You also follow his journey to becoming a vegan and he shares a recipe in each chapter.

Finding Ultra

3. Finding Ultra by Rich Roll - Another one that I breezed through in just a couple of days. Roll's book is similar to Jurek's in many ways, they both share how they came to be vegans, for one. Despite the title, Roll is not an ultra runner, he's an "ultra-man" triathlete. In Finding Ultra, Roll share's how he overcame addiction, and being overweight during middle age (is 40 middle age?). Roll can come off arrogant at times, but it's still a great read.

4. Train Like a Mother by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea - I love all of the "Mother Runner" books but this is the one I keep going back to over and over. It has training plans (I've used them, they're great), tips, and stories from other running mamas.

5. Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald - I learned so much from this book. What I like about it is not so much in the how, but the why. Fitzgerald teaches you how much weight, and specifically body fat, is affecting your race times and helps you find your optimal weight.

These are all books that I have read and recommend, there are plenty of other running books that I have not read yet and in a another post I'll share my own wish-list of running books. There are many other humorous running books out there (Onward! comes to mind) that I've read, and while I enjoyed them at the time, they just didn't stick with me, so I didn't mention them here, but if you'd like to know which of those I've read let me know. 

What running books do you recommend?