notoriouszoe's review against another edition
4.0
Even though the structure irked me (the New Jersey race recap shouldn't have been broken up as the start of each chapter--too out of context), I couldn't put it down. I've read her New York Times articles, so I was already familiar with her writing, but there was more about her personal life in this book than I expected. It kept me engaged. I like that she's a normal person who also runs marathons (not an elite Olympian, or anything). It makes me want to go back and try the Hansons brothers marathon training plan again for a future race, perhaps.
kerickertful's review against another edition
5.0
I love running. I love stories about personal journeys with running. The audiobook narrator was irritating to me.
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
4.0
Some reviews criticize this for being so much about her relationships and not enough about running, but I really liked reading about her relationships. None of us run in a vacuum, we bring our full selves to it. Daily life experiences are going to impact our running (and vice versa).
k8iedid's review against another edition
5.0
We all get into running for different reasons. I enjoyed how the author (disclosure: a friend) shared her messy truth about life and relationships, and how running helped her get through the good and the bad.
hoperu's review against another edition
2.0
I have read Miller's writing in the NYT and Runner's World and liked it; this, not as much. While this claims to be a love story about how she falls in love with running, most of the book is spent on three of Miller's long-term relationships with men, two of which are pretty psychologically abusive, and her attempts to change herself to please the men. Running factors into those attempted changes, and much of the time she is talking about running in the book makes it sound like another abusive relationship. The joy and release she claims to get from running are mentioned less often than the pain and sorrow she feels. The various races she describes, apart from the primary one that is used as a frame for the chapters, are more examples of her lack of judgement about her abilities and limits than they are testaments to her love of running.
I am glad that she seems to be finally happy and able to truly enjoy running at the end, but this book did nothing to make running seem at all appealing, and I say that as someone who enjoys running.
I am glad that she seems to be finally happy and able to truly enjoy running at the end, but this book did nothing to make running seem at all appealing, and I say that as someone who enjoys running.
coachkevin's review against another edition
3.0
A book about running: 1star. A how-to stay in abusive/toxic relationships: 5 stars. Further into the book becomes less about running and more about how she falls for horrible men. Highlights along the way include popular feelings about running and thoughts during races everyone has that are unrealistic but true.
herlifewithbooks's review against another edition
3.0
A nice, light-ish memoir to listen to on audio. Definitely more Love Story than Running, so be warned.
lizbusby's review against another edition
3.0
Just a mediocre running story and a mediocre love story. Was okay.