Motivating Books to Read

If you can find a copy, "The Self-Made Olympian" by Ron Daws. I found one in a used book store years ago. It's a great look back to the early days of running and an average guy who just worked hard and made the olympic team.

Oldie but goodie: Lydiard's "Running to the Top"

Newbie but goodie: Reilly's "Chasing Ghosts"

One to help with training and one just for entertainment and motivation. Both enjoyable reads for anyone who considers themselves a runner at any level.

what does OAR & ATC stand for?

Once a Runner and Again to Carthage by John L. Parker

"To Be a Runner...." by Martin Dugard. It's a memoir about his experiences as a runner and coach. Some good stories in there.

If you're just looking to be motivated, "The Quotable Runner" has some great tidbits of inspiration. If you're looking for a story, the classic Once a Runner always gets the job done. A similar feel is the newer Chasing Ghosts. If fiction isn't your thing "The Greatest about Geb is a good read about a great runner.

My sister-in-law gave me Lynn McConnell's book "Champions of Time", about the '36 Olympic 1500. Interesting, old world kind of book that talked about each of the players and the 4 years leading up to the race. Really got me thinking, considering the training and surfaces they raced on, about just about all of the preconceptions I have about the 1500.

The Men of Oregon is a terrific read about Bowerman and how he built the Oregon program.

"How I Burned My House Down Smoking Crack" -

J.D. Salamander

Great read.

Any of the Walt Disney bios. Dreams and wishes....

A Seperate Peace.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Since Once a Runner has always been my favorite, when I heard Chasing Ghosts compared to the John L. Parker classic, I decided to give it a read. It was definitely a worthy choice and comparison and a highly recommended read.

Running with the Legends

More Fire

Train Hard, Win Easy

I have to add Again to Carthage. Once you get past the part where he isn't running (ok, it sets up the comeback) it is great. When he describes running and life in general at his little cabin it really motivates me.

Can I ask everyone who's ever struggled to find one of these books to go to the Amazon store, search for them (which invariably brings up either 'unavailable' or some very high priced reseller), and click the link to say they'd like to see it on a Kindle?

A few dozen clicks from letsrunners may cause Amazon to chase the authors and get permission to re-publish it, meaning that classic running texts will be available for evermore.

You can read them on a PC/laptop or an iphone/ipad if you don't have a Kindle, and the authors might get a dollar or two as well.

It would be great to see some of the out of print running classics make it to e-reader format.

Jack Daniel's Running Formula

Something new, ereader available. Enjoy.

https://www.amazon.com/Racing-Shadows-James-K-Dill/dp/1627202420

Not sure anyone who asks others to inspire him to begin something as important as reading is a very good candidate.

Maybe it's like writing or cooking or painting: all else fails just jump in.

I can't remember either learning to read (don't think learning was part of it,) but I was reading comics at age three, or learning to live reading since then. I'll read a tuna can or road sign or anything else with print. Later you tend to go to written and spoken words for info, entertainment ( a superflous term to me), wisdom, and yucks. up to you.

A modern test:

Your smartphone indicates you have mail or a response to avoid or tweet: you are reading, say The Splendid And the Vile, by Eric Larson:

You then: 1. blink and return to your book (paper in my case), or 2. pick up the cell?

No brainer.

Just do it.