Running

A Love Story

By: Jen A. Miller

Narrated by: Randye Kaye

As the 2008 recession hit, Jen quickly found herself with a newly purchased home, a fading freelance business, and an alcoholic boyfriend. To avoid slipping into an even deeper depression, she took to the streets. What started as a silly assignment (running and reporting on a 5k) soon became an obsession (running 50+ miles a week training for marathons). Running gave Jen focus, discipline, and a way to block out negativity; it gave her the confidence that her relationships with men never had; it gave her hope and a way forward. Over the course of a few short years and hundreds of miles, Jen fell in love with running, and in doing so found a way to fall out of love with the wrong kind of men and back in love with herself.

Running: A Love Story chronicles Jen's inspiring transformation. Often witty and always thoughtful, Running: A Love Story aims to examine running from a repeatedly overlooked vantage point - that of a woman shuffling in the middle of the pack, who runs not for medals but for something more.

©2016 Jen A. Miller, c/o New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. (P)2016 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

so relatable!

loved it :) i grew up in new england and went to university of tampa and struggled with so many of the same things and running has made me a better me. such a great and relatable book.

Realistic

Very realistic, wish it was more positive, but running is difficult, so I get it.

Very Relatable

This book found me at the right time. I am going to look up her articles in

An ironic title

The writer spends much of the book not enjoying running it seems. Not until the end does she seem to find peace in it. As a runner, what I love about the sport is the incredible support and goodwill of runners and the entire running community which she doesn't seem to fit. She outright says she is angered by the crowd and even mentions a mother and child she wanted to run over in a race. That annoyed me. I've never felt that way nor do my fellow runners. We APPRECIATE the crowds. Those with no vested interest who get up early, stand in the cold just to cheer on mostly total strangers. I personally appreciate the crowds and if one steps out inadvertently in front of me, I smile and run around. The author here sounds like she'd just run them over. I have read several books written by runners both amateur and professional and this is my least favorite. If you aren't a runner, don't judge the sport by one author's opinion. I much preferred Chrissy Wellington's A Life Without Limits, Vanessa Runs The Summit Seeker, The Extra Mile by Pam Reed and other books such as Out There. If you are looking for a good book by an amateur runner I'd suggest My Year Running Dangerously. There were a few parts of the book that I enjoyed and it is written very well. The story just didn't catch my interest much, perhaps the author's attitude was what did it. My favorite person in the book is her mother. She is always there for her, rain or shine, even when Jen was not nice to her. Mother was there ready to support her and wrap her in a coat.

loved

loved loved loved this book! I started out just listening while I was training for my first half, but I just couldn't wait to hear what happened next. I was totally invested her the people and outcome of the eventual race!