I am not a runner. I’ve had times when I thought I might be — thought I might be able to establish a habit. I like the results and the convenience, but honestly, it just bores me!
That said, I enjoy reading memoir, and I’ve even read a couple of running memoirs. I also enjoy immersive travel experiences, so Run the World seemed like a book I’d enjoy.
I did enjoy it well enough, but I have to admit that I did a fair bit of skimming on the running parts. If you are a runner yourself, specifically a competitive runner, or if you are a fan of the sport, then you will love those parts. It was interesting that Becky Wade took a year to investigate and experience other running styles and cultures. She made friends along the way, and described her surroundings so beautifully. I have added St. Moritz to my travel bucket list after reading about her time in Switzerland.
Not only did she make friends, but she collected recipes! As she stayed with different running enthusiasts and competitors along the way, she not only became well versed in their style of training and running, but the way they fueled up and splurged as well. She shares recipes for things like Kenyan Ugali bread, which I’d love to try, and Ethopian Kolo snack mix, and sweets like Scandinavian pancakes and Anzac cookies from Australia.
Another personal item of interest: She’s from Texas went to college in my hometown and currently trains here as well, so that was interesting. As populous as my city and state are, there aren’t many books set here.
Find out more at the TLC Book Tours Page.
I’ll have to take a look at this- my daughters are doing a marathon this fall! I wouldn’t run if it weren’t for my MP3 player: it’s the only time I get to listen to music. Thanks for the review.
Yes, being a fan of the sport, you’d enjoy it! She actually was specifically training for her first competitive marathon, or if that wasn’t her intent in the beginning, that’s how it ended up, so your daughters would probably enjoy it for sure.
The recipe part appeals to me – I love learning about recipes from different parts of the world. And getting to travel to so many places … what an amazing opportunity!
Thanks for being a part of the tour.