kiirsttyb's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. I didn't learn much new but it was interesting to hear the stories of the greats and how they discovered their love of running. The concept of breaking the story down to 26.2 miles was a nice spin and a very easy read giving me a few things to think about.
bigfriendlygeek's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been something of a lifeline. Okay, that might be overselling it a little, but I haven't been doing well the last month or so. My mental health has been at the lowest it's been for a while and not much was helping to improve it - so I returned to what proved to be a real life-changed for me a couple of years ago. Running. Even though 2020 was a mess of a year, I'd managed to go from someone who didn't run at all in 2018 to someone who ran a fair bit in 2019 to someone who managed to run 1,150km, finish 30+ virtual races including 10 half-marathons and the virtual London Marathon. I think back to it now and it's still a bit surreal and feels like a lifetime ago now.
However, in 2021 my body protested from all the physical exertion and my exercise regime went from running 3 to 5 times a week to virtually nothing in no time flat. Weight piled back on and I could barely run a bath let alone a marathon. While I tried things like Peloton, which helped for a bit, nothing really connected with me like the escapism and simplicity of running. So I turned to this book for inspiration to get me going again.
And it's worked - sure, it's still early days but I'm back out regularly and while just trying to do 5km is challenging things are getting gradually easier. Or less awful, lets put it that way. And this book has helped massively - partly because I've been alternating between reading the paperback and having the audiobook playing while I've been running. Turns out having someone talking about their love of running narrating while you're running is a great motivator. Plus, it helps that Vassos writes - and narrates - with such enthusiasm, wit, passion and self-deprecating humour that you can't help but enjoy it. Plus his enthusiasm is infectious, which is only enhanced by the people that he's got to contribute stories to the book - including a lady (whose name, much to my shame, eludes me right now) that started running at 60-years old and broke records. That's the sort of thing that encourages me to get back into running at 41-years old and it doesn't matter how I feel about my body or myself - because I've done this before and I can jolly well do it again.
I said to myself that even though I'd done the virtual marathon - which was an amazing experience and I even got a Guinness World Record participation certificate from it - I wanted to do the actual London Marathon route itself and I still do. And that means I need to get back out there and start doing what I've already done before. Run. Doesn't matter if I'm not quick, doesn't matter if my form isn't the best, or if I might need to take it a lot slower and steadier than last time. What matters is that I can - and will - do it. Because as Vassos' book tells you - it doesn't matter who you are, what age you are, or what body type you are - if you can lace up some trainers and step out the front door, then you can run.
However, in 2021 my body protested from all the physical exertion and my exercise regime went from running 3 to 5 times a week to virtually nothing in no time flat. Weight piled back on and I could barely run a bath let alone a marathon. While I tried things like Peloton, which helped for a bit, nothing really connected with me like the escapism and simplicity of running. So I turned to this book for inspiration to get me going again.
And it's worked - sure, it's still early days but I'm back out regularly and while just trying to do 5km is challenging things are getting gradually easier. Or less awful, lets put it that way. And this book has helped massively - partly because I've been alternating between reading the paperback and having the audiobook playing while I've been running. Turns out having someone talking about their love of running narrating while you're running is a great motivator. Plus, it helps that Vassos writes - and narrates - with such enthusiasm, wit, passion and self-deprecating humour that you can't help but enjoy it. Plus his enthusiasm is infectious, which is only enhanced by the people that he's got to contribute stories to the book - including a lady (whose name, much to my shame, eludes me right now) that started running at 60-years old and broke records. That's the sort of thing that encourages me to get back into running at 41-years old and it doesn't matter how I feel about my body or myself - because I've done this before and I can jolly well do it again.
I said to myself that even though I'd done the virtual marathon - which was an amazing experience and I even got a Guinness World Record participation certificate from it - I wanted to do the actual London Marathon route itself and I still do. And that means I need to get back out there and start doing what I've already done before. Run. Doesn't matter if I'm not quick, doesn't matter if my form isn't the best, or if I might need to take it a lot slower and steadier than last time. What matters is that I can - and will - do it. Because as Vassos' book tells you - it doesn't matter who you are, what age you are, or what body type you are - if you can lace up some trainers and step out the front door, then you can run.
scarpenter's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The format was really interesting - each chapter starts with a mile of Vassos' Ironman marathon, followed by stories of his running, and finishes with a few words of wisdom from an athlete, sports scientist etc.
Vassos has some amazing running tales and this is a really inspiring, enjoyable read. His writing also makes him come across as just a genuinely nice bloke!
The only slight criticism I have is how he says he just runs for pleasure and isn't especially good, but clearly he is a great runner, hitting distances and speeds I can only dream of! He is also in a position to race in amazing places and receive the best training and medical advice, so he is not your average runner!
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the second one.
Vassos has some amazing running tales and this is a really inspiring, enjoyable read. His writing also makes him come across as just a genuinely nice bloke!
The only slight criticism I have is how he says he just runs for pleasure and isn't especially good, but clearly he is a great runner, hitting distances and speeds I can only dream of! He is also in a position to race in amazing places and receive the best training and medical advice, so he is not your average runner!
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the second one.
rharris9585's review against another edition
3.0
Infrequently I will participate in my local Parkrun so am admittedly yet to be bitten by the running bug. I feel a little better (..less guilty) once I've done a run, but loathe breathing out of my backside for the 30 minute duration. It was therefore a little difficult to imagine enjoying running as much as Vassos Alexander does - and he really does - it comes across very well, despite his own suffering in the process too.
Chapter structure was a real issue for me in this book - part triathlon, part current training, part celeb memoir - so I found it didn't flow as well as it perhaps could. However, it did have the power to motivate out of bed on Saturday and into another Parkrun.
Chapter structure was a real issue for me in this book - part triathlon, part current training, part celeb memoir - so I found it didn't flow as well as it perhaps could. However, it did have the power to motivate out of bed on Saturday and into another Parkrun.
cathreohorn's review against another edition
4.0
I first learned about Vassos from the parkrun podcast, Free Weekly Timed. His enthusiasm for running in this book was tangible, and made me want to get out and try to get started in running. Normally, I see running in a workout, and I absolutely dread it. And I just want to treat it like any other skill - but his enjoyment is so sincere that I think I'd like to try it properly. So I think I'll have a crack at the couch to 5k programme, maybe...
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