5 Books That Influenced Me As a Runner and Cyclist

Well it is summer time and that means people are spending a lot more things like reading and running. Runners like myself probably like to combine the two activities by reading about running or listening to audio books during long runs. This has inspired me to make a list of the books related to running or running nutrition that have inspired me. I have listed my top 5 in no particular order and have also listed 5 honorable mentions! Here they are...


1) Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports by Tim Noakes, MD, DSc

This book helped me re-evaluate my knowledge, beliefs and practices related to my personal hydration, and how I evaluate and treat dehydration, heat illness and muscle cramps. This book also has some great insight into how unique we (humans) are as a species and how evolution has given us some remarkable talents related to endurance.

2) The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing by Dr. Phillip Maffetone

This is a great book for people interested in heart-rate monitor training or a method of training that avoids risks associated with over-training or the negatives of endurance sports. This book's name doesn't lie seeing that it addresses everything from adrenal fatigue to ideas about footwear. While this book could have benefited from citations it wasn't meant to be a scientific manuscript and shouldn't be used as a one-size-fits-all prescription for training.

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

If you haven't heard of this book then you probably live under a rock. This book is associated with barefoot running but in reality that is not what this book is about. This book is really about how we as humans are built (born) to run. This book should be viewed as a source of inspiration for people who think they weren't made for running and not necessarily as purely scientific either. There are some great characters in this book that are now legends ranging from Caballo Blanco aka Micah True (RIP), Barefoot Ted, and Scott Jurek. It has also made a legend of a people, The Tarahumara of Mexico.

4) Anatomy for Runners: Unlocking Your Athletic Potential for Health, Speed, and Injury Prevention by Jay Dicharry, MPT, CSCS

This book was released last summer and I have previously reviewed this book here on the blog. Nevertheless, it is still worth mentioning and featuring considering the amount of people that suffer injuries every year while attempting to run for health and wellness.

5) Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running by Peter Larson and Bill Katovsky

This is another great book that was released last summer. I hadn't written a review for it before this list but I wish I had gotten around to it. I really enjoyed this book because of the way that the authors presented research, ideas, and opinions related to running form and footwear. It was a very interesting presentation of information was definitely done in a "fair and balanced" way. If you struggle with running injuries then #4 and #5 books on this list would be a great place to start and great way to learn a lot of pivotal information very quickly. These two authors are well known in the running community and I was happy they teamed up for this book.

Honorable Mentions

The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living: An Expert Guide to Making the Life-Saving Benefits of Carbohydrate Restriction Sustainable and Enjoyable / The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance by Jeff S. Volek, PhD, RD and Stephen D. Phinney, MD, PhD

These two books definitely compliment each other and I would consider The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance to be more of an addendum to Low Carbohydrate Living. These two authors and researchers showcase how and why an endurance athlete can excel in health and performance on a low-carb diet. I am not saying that this is the best and only way for endurance athletes to eat but it is definitely an overlooked and misunderstood dietary choice. There is a growing boom of low-carb athletes and some are doing great things with this approach. An example of one athlete would be Timothy Olson who just won back to back performances at the Western States 100mile ultra-marathon in 2012 and 2013.

Never Wipe Your Ass with a Squirrel: A trail running, ultramarathon, and wilderness survival guide for weird folks by Jason Robillard

This is a great place to start if you are like me and are a city slicker that wants to get more into trail running, ultra-marathons and other related tom-foolery. Even if you are used to being in the great-outdoors I would consider this a great way to learn about trail running and ultra-marathons from somebody who has been there and done that.

Once a Runner: A Novel  by John L. Parker Jr.

This is a classic must-read for runners. However, I think this is the type of book that would only be inspirational or enjoyed by people that are already runners. I don't think I would have enjoyed this book as half as much if I hadn't been inspired to become a runner by other sources.

Running Water by Abraham Louis Clark

This is a great book to read even if you aren't a runner. This is a 1st person narrative about the authors own trip across America. Abraham Louis Clark ran solo and unsupported across the US in attempt to raise money for charity and had many unique experiences along the way. Oh yeah, and he pushed a baby stroller the entire time to carry his stuff. This was one adventure that I loved to read about but wouldn't want to embark on my own.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running  by Haruki Murakami

This is really a memoir that is full of inspiration, philosophy, insights and life stories experienced by the author. The author highlights his love for writing and running and how they work together. This is a book that I would like to read again now that I have become a "blogger". I read it before I started this blog and perhaps it would have been higher on my list if re-read it now.

Categories: anatomy for runners, big book of endurance training and racing, books for runners, Born to Run, endurance athletes, endurance books, low carb running, once a runner, running water, tread lightly, waterlogged