The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer

I’m so glad this book finally exists! After benefitting from David’s coaching myself for four years, it is awesome that his and Megan’s wisdom and scientifically grounded coaching principles have a wider audience.David and Megan have been writing for Trail Runner magazine for years, and their easy conversational writing style is even more fun in full-length book form than in those little thousand-word nuggets.More than that, though, they’ve got an important message, and they’ll drive it home through anecdotes, jokes, hardcore scientific knowledge, and a healthy dose of all-caps messages from their joyful dog Addie.What’s the message? Every life, and every running life, comes with an inevitable expiration date, so find ways to love the daily process of training — and living. Joy lies in the journey, not the finish line.Seems a little too Hallmark-card for you? No worries, flip ahead to part 2 (pausing to enjoy the puppy pictures) and dig into some serious exercise physiology. This stuff works. After four years of David’s coaching, I’m still setting PRs in every distance from 5k to 50k, and I’m running more (and more durably) than ever.Who should read this book? Runners looking for a new way to tackle a big hairy goal. Runners who want to regain their running joy and mojo. Runners who are just starting out. Runners dealing with injury or disappointment. People who like puppy pictures and goofy jokes. Anyone who enjoys a good romantic comedy disguised as a how-to running book.Pick up a copy, give it a shot, see if it works for you. Because I think Megan and David are on to something special here, and their message is about more than just running.

I first started running in my early 30s and loved it. But I got bad bronchitis about 4 months in, and it was winter in Michigan, and I was in a healthcare training program that was crazy demanding, and I ended up stopping. Then I moved on and life happened. 20 years later, in search of better health, a way to stack the deck against my family history of cancer, and just trying not to kill people on a daily basis, I turned back to running. I worked at it for months, and although I lost a bunch of weight and gained fitness, I had trouble recapturing the joy I had found in running decades before. I felt the issue was somehow in my thought processes, not so much in the running itself, but wasn’t sure how to get where I wanted to go. I bought a number of books trying to find the answer, including Deena Kastor’s book, and the two by Gary Dudney (these came close, but no), all of which were good, but didn’t quite get me there. Then I read The Happy Runner. This. This is what I was looking for.I’ve read this book twice now, highlighted passages, dog-eared pages, and transferred sections into my running journal. It hits all the buttons on being a little kinder to yourself (that inner critic is a bastard), motivating yourself, negotiating setbacks, and staying positive and realistic. And the concrete training tips helped a lot, too, being both more accessible than some of the more technical books out there, and at the same time, helping make those a bit easier to negotiate, too, by explaining some of the material a bit differently.I have already recommended this book to two running friends, and mentioning it in a runners fb group I’m in. I can’t recommend it enough. It has made a difference in my running on a real level. And I only wish I were “elite” enough to justify getting these two as virtual coaches.

Very long and wide dimensions, like a 250 or so page, thin book. Looks like almost like a magazine with its size but with more pages, of course. Not sure how helpful it will be (gift for a depressed run enthusiast). It basically says to be grateful and enjoy the small things in life. Not much practical running advice but it gives life advice. Dog comments in CAPITIAL LETTERS and has very cute, innocent comments.

Much more than just exploring the HOW of running and offering training tips and techniques, this book explores the WHY of running. The best training techniques, if not motivated by a good "why", may yield some temporary results but will not make you a better runner and person in the long-run. This book has helped me explore my motives for running, ponder and refine my running and life goals, and develop strategies to become not only a better runner, but also a more kind, loving, positive, and selfless person. Even if you are not a runner, you will find much in this book to help you as you move toward whatever goal you should decide to pursue!And for those who are looking for practical running and training tips, you will also find that in Part 2. And as a runner who is coached by Megan, I can attest that these methods absolutely do work! While results are not the most important thing, anyone could peruse my UltraSignup page and figure out when I joined the SWAP team!More important than faster times and better running results though, The Happy Runner principles, which also guide the Roches' coaching techniques, have helped me make the journey from an attitude of perfectionistic, self-deprecating dissatisfaction (whereby I told myself I was never enough) to joyful self-acceptance, which also makes me better able to accept and love others!Like I said, this book will change your life!

Esse livro trata a longevidade no esporte da corrida, através da auto-aceitação e positividade. Possui vários conceitos bem-explicados sobre treinamento de corrida, e dicas para evitar lesão e overtraining. Livro muito bom por abordar assuntos raramente abordados em outros livros de corrida. Recomendo.

This is a great book for the beginner all the way to advanced.Rather than focusing on the nuts and bolts of training, the book emphasizes the approach. Therefore the approach can be applied to runners of all experience levels. In fact, the approach is so universal that cyclists, swimmers or athletes of any other sport can take lessons.To be honest, I was skeptical on the book at first. But reading David's columns and listening to some interviews I know that he understands something that a lot of others in the industry ignore. So I bought the book anyways. It's a quick read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read it for yourself and unlock your own personal best, inside and hopefully on race day as well!

Todo corredor deberia de leer este libro, es muy motivacional! El tamaño es un poco raro, mas grande que un libro promedio, al igual que la letra tiene un tamaño mucho mas amplio.

Took a bit to get into. Worth it though. I like the philosophy and the training ideas. I notice I do thrive with the speed workout style they advocate. Now to build speed endurance.

I really liked this book, both the content and how it has been written. Perhaps not for everyone (cat people?) this book has a good combination of info, stories and training principles as well as jokes.