Books like Run! by Dean Karnazes

Christopher McDougall explores how the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico excel in ultra‑long distance running, revealing clues that could reshape training for contemporary athletes and shed light on the human running machine.

Ultramarathon Man chronicles the astonishing 262‑mile run of Dean Karnazes, detailing his extreme endurance, self‑training, and the foods he consumes while pushing the limits of human performance.

Three elite runners from three continents race toward the same goal: breaking the four‑minute mile in 1952, a feat once thought impossible.

"In her twenties, Alexandra Heminsley spent more time drinking white wine than she did in pursuit of athletic excellence. When she decided to take up running in her thirties, she had high hopes for a blissful runner's high and immediate physical transformation. After eating three slices of toast with honey and spending ninety minutes on iTunes creating the perfect playlist, she hit the streets--and failed miserably. The stories of her first runs turn the common notion that we are all "born to run" on its head--and exposes the truth about starting to run: it can be brutal. Running Like a Girl tells the story of getting beyond the brutal part, how Alexandra makes running a part of her life, and reaps the rewards: not just the obvious things, like weight loss, health, and glowing skin, but self-confidence and immeasurable daily pleasure, along with a new closeness to her father--a marathon runner--and her brother, with whom she ultimately runs her first marathon"--

A hard‑pressed teen from a working‑class background in a borstal discovers long‑distance running as an escape, only to use his talent to confront the system that seeks to profane his dignity.

Kristin Newman’s debut memoir follows her as she embraces a nomadic lifestyle, writing travel essays while forming fleeting, passionate encounters abroad, ultimately confronting her fears of commitment and finding freedom on her own terms.