Explainer | Best running books of 2022: Christmas presents for runners who love to read
- The genre of running literature grew massively in 2022 with some fantastic new books hitting shelves
- Give your runner friend the perfect gift this Christmas with these tales of suffering and triumph
Trying to buy a book for someone who loves to both run and read can be tough. They have probably read all the classics, like Born To Run and Eat and Run, already.
But 2022 was a great year for new books, if you want to surprise a loved one with a thoughtful gift this Christmas.
Solo: What Running Across Mountains Taught Me About Life by Jenny Tough
Tough ran across six mountain ranges on six continents: Tien Shan (Asia), the High Atlas (Africa), the Bolivian Andes (South America), the Southern Alps (Oceania), the Canadian Rockies (North America) and the Transylvanian Alps (Europe).
But this is far more than a simple running tale. It is a personal journey as Tough explores the emotions that are holding her back. This is part epic tale of adventure and part self-help.
We Can’t Run Away from This by Damian Hall
So many runners are drawn to their sport because it allows them to feel in touch with nature. But what if the sport itself is accelerating the climate crisis?
Hall, an accomplished ultra runner, examines the impact of running, with useful tips to reduce your climate footprint by changing your kit, travel and running habits. He also discuss the broader topic, and how maybe the solution does not lie with the individual.
Running on Veggies by Lottie Bildirici
Vegetarian or not, we can all benefit from vegetable-rich meals. For runners, it can be hard to find meals that refuel them after long runs, help them recover and boost their performance.
Bildirici’s cookbook is just the solution for runners looking to improve their diet with tasty plant-based meals that will take their performance to the next level.
Out of Thin Air: Running Wisdom and Magic from Above the Clouds in Ethiopia by Michael Crawley
Your literature-loving running buddy has probably already read Running with the Kenyans, the 2013 instant classic that follows Adharanand Finn living and running in Kenya, learning from the best runners in the world.
Well, with Out of Thin Air, you can gift your friend another book in a similar vein, which is just as exciting and full of amazing insights from runners in Ethiopia.
Best Day Walks by Lonely Planet
Guide book producer Lonely Planet has a wonderful “best day walks” series. For trail runners, those walks look suspiciously like some of the most incredible running routes in the world.
The series goes country by country. You can buy the books for Italy, Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Each one has 60 walks that range in length and difficulty.
If you know your friend or relative is planning a holiday, or even lives in one of those locations, these books are a fantastic way to open up a wealth of running opportunities for them.
Even if they are not visiting, the books fuel the imagination and make a great addition to the book shelf.
