I put “Mile Markers” by Kristin Armstrong on my Christmas list because Steena (@AHappyPace) was so enthusiastic about it. It was the first of my Christmas books (all running-related–imagine that!) that I chose to read.
As explained in the first chapter (“Warmup”), the book is based on the weekly blog posts she writes for runnersworld.com. I think I would have enjoyed the pieces more as blog posts–spread out in small doses over time–than I did reading them in a book. Maybe I should have limited myself to one chapter at a time, or read one entry at a time for daily or weekly motivation.
After a few chapters I had to put the book down for a while because I was getting jealous of her seemingly perfect life. I was jealous of her pack of running friends who live around the corner and meet at 5 am on weekdays for an awesome run before their kids wake up. I was jealous of her lifestyle as a work-at-home mom with the time and resources for running clubs, gym classes, book clubs, and church groups. (In a snarky moment I decided that she must get good alimony and child support from Lance.) I was jealous of her kids–even when my kids were in their nice pre-teen years they couldn’t have cared less about my running and never, ever wanted to run with me.
It got me thinking about my blog posts. If they were read one after another they might come off as annoyingly positive and overly-optimistic. Yes, I write about my running injuries and some of my other struggles, but I do not write about the things that really make me lose sleep at night. Being fair to Kristin Armstrong, I’m sure her writing was subject to a similar filter.
Judging this book by its subtitle (“The 26.2 most important reasons why women run), I have to say it is a well-mapped out course. There are lots of great insights, new perspectives to ponder, and motivational nuggets. I probably will keep this book out and flip through it from time to time when I need inspiration or a reminder of why I run.
If you are a woman runner, I think you will enjoy this book. Even if you don’t run, if you have another activity that gets you through the rest of the day (be it athletic or artistic), you might enjoy it. And if the only bright spot in your life is an occasional girl’s night out, you might be encouraged by the underlying theme of the power and importance of friendship.
Have you read Mile Markers?
What did you think?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Have not read it but looks like an interesting book…
cheers
I felt like you.. what an annoyingly perfect life she seems to have! I switched from that book to the more interesting "Going Long" also blogs from Runner's World, but much more diverse. It works much better as a book than Mile Markers does, I think. It will also take a lot longer to read.
I have a similar book pile on my counter, though it's only a few of the (dozens of) books on or about running I have. I see one that I don't recognize.. the little red book?? And have you read Once a Runner?
Always open to a good read. I need some books on my new Nook! Only book on there so far is the Bible. I had to make that the first. =)
That's funny that I had the same reaction to it at first, it made me feel so darn lonely! I happen to pick it back up and finish it right before the chicago marathon and it was good timing. I like her analogies about overcoming things in running and in life.
I need to read Going Long yet too, maybe I'll wait until your review for that.
Oh, thanks for the recommendation! Will add it to my list of books to read this year!
Haven’t read this book. I love all positive but sometimes it’s annoying and I feel like really?! Don’t you ever have a bad day? But you’re right, we filter our lives for others view well. I’m interested in this book now. I like running reads! I really enjoy the book Marathon Man. It’s like a story/look inside the mind of a real everyday runner.
Pingback: Books That Keep You Guessing - Got2Run4Me