What are some of your favourite running books? What do they mean to you? Here are a few of mine...
Once a Runner: A Novel: Parker Jr., John L.
If you only ever read one running novel, this is it. I don't think there's another novel out there that captures the spirit and meaning of running better.
“What was the secret, they wanted to know; in a thousand different ways they wanted to know The Secret. And not one of them was prepared, truly prepared to believe that it had not so much to do with chemicals and zippy mental tricks as with that most unprofound and sometimes heart-rending process of removing, molecule by molecule, the very tough rubber that comprised the bottoms of his training shoes. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials.”
Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine by Tom Jordan
Steve Prefontaine was the James Dean of American distance running. His charisma and courage inspired me as a 14 year-old to chase my running dreams, and still does to this day.
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Pre
In 1984 or thereabouts I purchased 'DeCastella on Running' . That book became my bible and took me from a 4hr marathon to sub-3hr marathons. I still follow his philosophy that 'the hardest part about running is getting out of bed'.