Running is a track and field sport. It is a competition and training for sports that involve running or endurance. As a sport, it is divided into competitions according to distance, and sometimes includes hurdles. Perseverance can also be improved with meditation.

Best Books About Running

People do running to keep themselves fit. Sportsmen do it for the sake of sport and competition. Running daily helps you develop grit and perseverance. There are some inspiring best books about running to read. If you are in search of some good running books then you have come to the right place. We have compiled a list of some best books about running which are not only suitable for readers but are also good for beginners and training purposes.

1. Rise and Run

Rise and Run: Recipes, Rituals, and Runs to Fuel Your Day: A Cookbook is the number one best book about running. It is about your daily morning exercise and diet. This book is written by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Shalane Flanagan is a 4-time Olympian and NYC Marathon Champion, whereas Elyse Kopecky is a New York Times best-selling cookbook author, educator, and inspirational speaker. This book is a good training manual for athletes and everyone else.

Rise and Run: Recipes, Rituals, and Runs to Fuel Your Day: A Cookbook has 11 Chapters. It was published in 2021 by Rodale Books. It has 288 Pages to read. It is available in several formats.

Length: 288 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Spiral-bound

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.9 out of 5


2. Born to Run

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen is the number two best book about running on our list. This book is about foot injuries caused to runners repeatedly in comparison to the Tarahumara Indian tribe in the Mexican Copper Canyons who run barefoot miles without any injury. The writer of this book is Christopher McDougall, who is an American journalist by profession.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen has 32 Chapters. It was published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. It has 304 Pages to read. It is available in several formats.

Length: 304 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


3. Endure

Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance is about various theories concerning how the brain and body work together to either limit or stretch the boundaries of human endurance. The author of this book is Alex Hutchinson. The author is a journalist who writes about the science of endurance for Runner’s World and Outside magazine.

Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance consists of 13 Chapters. This book was published by HarperCollins Publishers. It has 336 Pages to read. It is available in several formats.

Length: 336 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.6 out of 5


4. 80/20 Running

80/20 Running: Run Stronger and Race Faster By Training Slower is authored by Matt Fitzgerald. This is one of the best books for running and jogging. Matt Fitzgerald is a certified sports nutritionist. This book explains the science and research behind the proposed 80/20 rule of running. This book is a hands-on guide for runners of all levels. You’ll discover how to transform your workouts to avoid burnout.

80/20 Running: Run Stronger and Race Faster By Training Slower comprised of 13 Chapters. This book was published by Penguin Publishing Group in 2014. It consists of 272 Pages. It is available in a few formats.

Length: 272 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback, Audio CD

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.5 out of 5


5. 26 Marathons

26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career is authored by Meb Keflezighi and Scott Douglas. Meb Keflezighi is an American marathon runner. This book is great to read for those who are thinking about running a marathon. It will not only motivate you to start running but also help you prepare for it. The book highlights the author’s personal story and how he overcame the challenges of training to run 26 marathons in his lifetime.

26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career consists of 26 Chapters. This book was published by Rodale Books in 2021. It consists of 256 Pages. It is available in several formats.

Length: 256 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback, Hardcover

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


6. The Perfect Mile

The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It is a book written by Neal Bascomb. The book tells the story of three runners who set out to break the four-minute mile barrier in 1954. The book takes you on a journey of how Roger Bannister, John Landy, and Wes Santee became some of the best runners in history. It also discusses how they struggled with their own personal demons as they prepared for their historic race against each other. The story is told from the perspective of those who were closest to it – people like Chris Brasher, who first conceived the idea of a four-minute mile attempt; Chris Chataway, who would be one of Bannister’s pacemakers; and David Wain.

26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career consists of 18 Chapters. This book was published in 2004 by Mariner Books. It consists of 344 Pages. It is available in several formats.

Length: 344 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback, Hardcover

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.6 out of 5


7. Science of Running

Science of Running: Analyze your Technique, Prevent Injury, Revolutionize your Training is a book written by Chris Napier. The writer of this book is a physiotherapist and running coach. The book is about the science of running, how to prevent injuries, and how to become a better runner. The Science of Running analyzes running technique, injury prevention, and training methods. It offers new insights into the biomechanics of running techniques that can help runners avoid injury and improve performance.

Science of Running: Analyze your Technique, Prevent Injury, Revolutionize your Training has 10 Chapters. This book was published in 2020 by DK. It consists of 224 Pages. It is available in 3 formats.

Length: 224 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Paperback, Flexibound

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.6 out of 5


8. Finding Ultra

Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their health and fitness. In this book the writer, Rich Roll tells the story of his journey from an out-of-shape attorney to one of the fittest men on the planet. After hitting rock bottom, Rich made a commitment to change his life. He started by overhauling his diet and began to train for endurance events. Rich’s story is inspiring and motivating. He proves that it is never too late to make a change and achieve your goals.

Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself consists of 10 Chapters. This book was published in 2013 by Harmony publishers. It consists of 400 Pages. It is available in several formats.

Length: 400 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback

Latest Version: Revised and Updated Edition

Rating: 4.6 out of 5


9. Eat and Run

Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness is a book about running in which the writer Scott Jurek tells the story of how he became a vegan ultramarathoner. Jurek grew up in a small town in Minnesota, where he spent most of his time outdoors. He was a talented athlete, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already competing in ultramarathons. Jurek became a vegan in college, and he credits his plant-based diet with helping him to achieve his running successes. This book offers advice on how to eat a healthy vegan diet and provides recipes for some of the author’s favorite vegan dishes.

Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness consists of 21 Chapters. This book was published in 2012 originally by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishers. It has 272 Pages to read. It is available in several formats.

Length: 272 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.6 out of 5


10. Shut Up and Run

Shut Up and Run: How to Get Up, Lace Up, and Sweat with Swagger is a book about how to start running and stick with it. The author, Robin Arzon, is a running coach and personal trainer. The book begins with Arzon’s story of how she went from being a self-proclaimed “couch potato” to a marathon runner. She offers tips on how to start running, how to stay motivated, and how to deal with injuries. The book also includes recipes and fitness tips.

Shut Up and Run: How to Get Up, Lace Up, and Sweat with Swagger comprises 11 Chapters. This book was published in 2016 originally by Harper Design publishers. It has 192 Pages to read. It is available in two formats.

Length: 192 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Hardcover

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

So that was our take on what we found to be the best books about running. Hope this helped you find what you were looking for. Wish you the best. Cheers, Team Ranking Books.