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Why We Run [Paperback]

Robin Harvie (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
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Book Description

Publication Date: 1 Mar 2012
Everyone can run.

Whether it is a jog around the park on a Sunday morning, or lining up with 40,000 other people at the start of the London Marathon, all it requires is a pair of trainers and the open road. But where does that road lead and why do we run at all?

Robin Harvie ran his first marathon after a bet, but it wasn't until he had ventured 6,000 miles into the extreme world of ultra-distance running to the start line of the oldest and toughest footrace on earth, that he found an answer. As a hobby turned into a 120-mile-a-week obsession, so a way out of his daily routine evolved into a journey to discover who he was and what he was really made of.

Through the scorching heat of the desert and into the darkest hours of the morning, Why We Run reveals the beating heart of the brutal and profoundly intoxicating experience of running. If you have ever wondered what makes you lace up your trainers, and why you keep coming back for more, this is your story too.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: John Murray (1 Mar 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1848541775
  • ISBN-13: 978-1848541771
  • Product Dimensions: 13.7 x 19.7 x 2.1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 150,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Robin Harvie
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Product Description

Review

There is much to enjoy in this erudite, literary memoir (Observer)

Where the book truly excels is in its depiction of Harvie's internal landscape. He largely shuns training tips and inspirational advice in favour of a true memoirist's tone, exploring the reasons why he runs - grief, ambition, boredom - with an almost brutal honesty. These passages are as moving as they are illuminating . . . this is a memoir for anyone who has ever dreamed about reaching the outer limits of what they're capable of and, as such, it should be enjoyed by an audience far wider than just those who head home this evening wearing a medal (Independent on Sunday)

Harvie writes intricately on how such a limit-busting endeavour (the Sparthalon) made him understand himself, his journey into adulthood and his family (Metro)

His journey is undeniably a compelling one (Independent)

Harvie tells many more fascinating stories in this vein about everything from the suicidally dedicated marathon monks of Mount Hiel in Japan, whose initiation requires them to run a marathon a day for 100 days, to the danger of modern trainers (Mail on Sunday)

Every runner has a story, and Robin Harvie's is one of the most remarkable I've ever encountered. Why We Run is brilliantly written, deeply emotional, raw and honest. Robin scrapes away the superficial dermis and offers a rare glimpse into the mindset and motivation of a long-distance runner (Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathoner and NY Times bestselling author)

An astonishing memoir--wholly unlike any other writing about 'running' and 'obsession' that I have encountered. It is both eloquent and rawly emotional--candid to the point of pain, illuminating, and finally very touching. It will make all who read it, who are drawn to running, feel stirrings of true excitement, if just a bit tinged with dread! For Robin Harvie is a 'real' runner--and a 'real' writer, and though competition is not the point, as the memoirist makes clear, in this case he is an uncontested winner.' (Joyce Carol Oates)

An intensely personal journey, woven with memoir, philosophy, history and pain, Robin Harvie's debut is by turns compulsive, challenging and ultimately rewarding--a magnificent literary marathon in itself (Philip Hoare)

About the Author

Robin Harvie ran his first marathon in 2000 after a bet. Since then he has run 15 more.
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A good mix of a personal story, history and running philosophy 2 Mar 2013
By Daniel J. Weston
Format:Paperback
It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the style of writing but I found myself enjoying the book. I've seen that the book has had low stars on the reviews on Amazon but I tend to think that if people have a strong opinion they are more likely to leave reviews. There are probably a lot of people out there that have read the book, would have rated it a 4 or 3 but just haven't because their view isn't that strong.

Amongst other things I liked about the book is the fact that it included some history of running which meant I also learnt a lot about running. It also provoked me to think about why I run and what I think about when I run. The answers are not that complicated for me but thankfully Robin Harvie is a much deeper thinker and so it's a good read.

There are not many books I keep hold of to read again but I have kept this one and will read it again so for me it deserves a 4* review.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars i liked it 6 Jan 2013
By Frank
Format:Paperback
It skips about a lot dipping into running history, literature, geography and memoir and in that sense unlike most books people probably expect when they pick up a book about running. The historical and literary threads are nicely woven, kind of like Robert Macfarlane's work, which is a really interesting and credible approach. The memoir sections can feel a little indulgent, but... it's a memoir and the ending is a bit loose, but overall an enjoyable read. Couple of things did spring to mind 1) the astonishing patience of the author's (grieving) wife having her husband banging out 100 mile weeks with double marathons at the weekend and an ultra every 3 weeks. She must *really* love that guy. and 2) Not getting injured with that volume of training.
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12 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant account of an endurance running obsession 18 April 2011
By jamesadams
Format:Paperback
I read this in one go with great interest as I am too obsessed with endurance running. Robin Harvie's account really stands out from others in the same category (and I have read a lot of them) because of its honesty and very elegant writing style.

Robin is a "normal" guy who found himself deep in the world of ultra-running. It is very refreshing to read an account from this point of view which makes the book accessible for runners and non-runners alike.

He throws up lots of interesting thoughts on running itself, how easy it is to put one foot in front of the other but how hard and rewarding it is to endure it over long distances. What it takes to get drawn to something like the Spartathlon.

If you liked Feet in the Clouds or really want to find out what drives someone to want to run 153 miles in one go, the hours of training involved and at the same time admitting that you are not a super-human then you will really enjoy this book.

Be careful though. After reading you may find yourself looking at the race website with a view of signing up. Somehow all that suffering seems so appealing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Why I wish I hadn't bought this book
Robin Harvie's book tries to be too many things and doesn't really succeed at any of them. It is part personal journey, part running manual, part phiosophical meditation. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Shirley Ramone
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful meditation on distance running
I felt like I had picked through the last gems of books on distance running to no avail, but then I came across Robin Harvie's spectacular book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Midpack Biped
2.0 out of 5 stars Deeply disappointing
This is probably the most frustrating, disappointing book I've ever read.
I very much doubt that those who wrote the glowing reviews on the covers actually trudged their way... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Eric Baxter
2.0 out of 5 stars Awful self-indulgent nonsense!
This book is all over the place. Badly written, too much use of a thesaurus, the word entymology and other people's quotes after quotes!! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Chris
1.0 out of 5 stars Self indulgent
I very rarely provide reviews, but so silly and self absorbed is this book that I felt compelled to warn others. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tim Griggs
3.0 out of 5 stars A form of worship....
Lets get one thing straight...I am a runner...there i've said it and I have been running for a long time over 25 years so I am no spring chicken :)) In fact as I write this I have... Read more
Published 7 months ago by RT Twinem
2.0 out of 5 stars boring
this is pretentious and overwritten but worse than that it is just plain boring it is an interesting subject matter but not in any way covered by this book
Published 8 months ago by tigmum
1.0 out of 5 stars Silly and very pretentious
Silly is the best word I can use to describe this book. Frankly I can't believe that the author managed to get it published. Read more
Published 8 months ago by AK47
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
I didnt know what to expect when my wife first purchased me this book, after i came home one night wanting to "Forest Gump" it around the UK..... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. S. B. Edwards
4.0 out of 5 stars Well-thought out musings on an impossible subject!
I think that all of us who run, and run a lot, appreciate how difficult it is to articulate why we run. So I admire the bold attempt here. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A. J. Humphreys
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