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President’s Letter

Thursday, February 9th, 2023

Happy summer, Lone Star Runners!

 

The temperatures are rising, the air is humid- it is definitely June in the Panhandle! As many of you are probably running early in the morning or late at night, I am sure some are spending some of their time by the pool when they can- which is the perfect time to get in some summer reading! If any of you are obsessed about running like I am, you might enjoy reading about running as well. For this month, I thought I would share some mini-reviews of my most favorite running books I have read to date; so, in no particular order, here they are:

 

  1. Choosing to Run: A Memoir by Des Linden

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one, particularly the ending. I love reading about resilience and the results of determination. While some of you may have run Boston, it is a dream for many others: reading about one’s experience through it, and winning, was incredible. Memoirs are always interesting- you learn about someone’s own experience through their point of view.

  1. Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman

I really loved this book- I immediately asked around to see who I could let borrow it next. I did not know much about Lauren Fleshman, other than the name. I started running at a young age, and thankfully, I had wonderful coaches and good experiences growing up with running, but this is not the case for all young runners. Learning about her business she created was also super interesting.

  1. Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run by Kristin Armstrong

Another book I loved- the way this book was set up felt genius to me. Each chapter was based around a reason, and finished beautifully. I found this book to be super relatable. I definitely did not want it to end.

  1. 26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career by Meb Keflezighi with Scott Douglas

Meb. What an incredible runner. I never tire of watching him run. Even if you haven’t ever run a marathon, I would add this to your list. The chapters are focused on the marathons in his career, but the lessons within each were valuable to me.

  1. Run Forever: Your Complete Guide to Healthy Lifetime Running by Amby Burfoot

Another great book by a Boston champion. I have been running for about 25 years, and I hope to be able to run for as long as possible. I respect and admire Amby, my running friends, and other runners that are running into their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. Amby provides practical advice for running as you age- some of the information I had heard before, some of the information was new ideas for me.

  1. Everything Running Book: From circling the block to completing a marathon, training and techniques to make you a better runner by Art Liberman

I included this in my list because I think it would be a great book for beginners and people who are looking to start running.

  1. Going Long: Legends, Oddballs, Comebacks, & Adventures (Runner’s World)

Written by several editors of Runner’s World, this book is a collection of short stories or articles. Some of the stories were more captivating to me than others, but I really enjoyed reading this. My favorites included “Chasing Justice” by Kenny Moore, “Duel in the Sun” by John Brant, and “Dogged” by Steve Friedman.

  1. Run Fast. Eat Slow.: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes: A Cookbook by Shalane Flanagan & Elyse Kopecky

There are so many delicious recipes in this cookbook and in Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow.: Quick-Fix Recipes for Hangry Athletes: A Cookbook, also written by these runners. My favorite recipes include the minestrone and the berry crumble. I appreciate that there are different ingredients I have not used much or at all in my cooking, and that they included a list of kitchen staples and tools that are important for many of the recipes in this cookbook.

  1. Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor

This was another inspiring memoir. I loved it!

  1. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall

This is probably one of the most popular books on the list- this was mentioned by a few of the LSRC Runners of the Month last year as their favorite book. I actually won this as a door prize at one of our old club races, Oktoberfest, several years back, and I sure am glad I did. I struggled to find the words to describe this book: it made me laugh, it left me completely inspired: all wrapped up in a well-written story of a grand adventure.

 

While I did not include it on the list of books, I have been a long-time subscriber of Runner’s World, and I really enjoy many of the articles I have read over the years. If there are more fantastic running books that I have left of, please reach out and let me know, for if nothing else, I would love to add them to my list of books I would like to read. If there is anything running-related you would like to read about in these newsletters, like shoe reviews or running workout ideas, please email me at katie.mcomber7@gmail.com. I am always open to suggestions. Stay cool- happy running, and reading!

 

Katie Rodriguez

LSRC President