Re-Read Book Series: The Complete Book of Running
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| This classic remains in my library of running books |
“Typically, a person begins running in search of fitness - to lose weight and to look and feel better (although an occasional person takes up running in order to find an outlet for unused energies). After several months or years, he or she gradually begins to spend far more time running than the requirements of fitness alone would dictate. Finally, he or she realizes that something in running has a unique salutary effect on the human mind. This aspect of running is what makes this book such an incongruous combination of elements. Who ever heard of a book that dealt with both transcendence and jockstraps? Yet running cannot be adequately or accurately described without giving equal attention to the physical and the psychological.”
James Fixx, author of The Complete Book of Running
As I mentioned previously, I did indeed sign up for the Vancouver International Marathon taking place on May 5th. I'm writing this post on the first week in January; which coincides with the first week of training for my race and 17 more weeks to go.
I'll be using quotes from my library of running books to help guide my training. The first quote is from The Complete Book of Running by James Fixx; which I bought as a 20-year old at a bookshop in Coquitlam Centre Mall. At this time, I didn't consider myself a runner, yet I'd heard about running as a sport(?) / lifestyle(?) and wanted to know more. One of the ideas I take from this quote is that, when training for a marathon, you're doing it for more than the "requirements of fitness alone would dictate" - psychological factors must also be considered. Therefore, my marathon training program will attempt to give equal attention to the physical and psychological.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Stay tuned for more...
James Fixx, author of The Complete Book of Running
As I mentioned previously, I did indeed sign up for the Vancouver International Marathon taking place on May 5th. I'm writing this post on the first week in January; which coincides with the first week of training for my race and 17 more weeks to go.
I'll be using quotes from my library of running books to help guide my training. The first quote is from The Complete Book of Running by James Fixx; which I bought as a 20-year old at a bookshop in Coquitlam Centre Mall. At this time, I didn't consider myself a runner, yet I'd heard about running as a sport(?) / lifestyle(?) and wanted to know more. One of the ideas I take from this quote is that, when training for a marathon, you're doing it for more than the "requirements of fitness alone would dictate" - psychological factors must also be considered. Therefore, my marathon training program will attempt to give equal attention to the physical and psychological.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Stay tuned for more...
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With news articles about races selling out quickly and younger runners taking up the sport, I think it is safe to say that we are in the midst of another "running boom" in 2025. I began running during the seventies "boom" for which, The Complete Book of Running, was a best seller.
After re-reading this book yet again, I have to say that mindfulness and running is a central organizing theme that brought runners together during the seventies. For instance, I recently learned that in the early days of the New York City Marathon, a mass Transcendental Meditation session was offered to race participants on Saturday, with the marathon taking place the next day. The Complete Book of Running also emphasizes mindfulness. For example, chapter two is called, What Happens to Your Mind - Exploring the Brain-Body Phenomenon. In this chapter, author, Jim Fixx, discusses needs which get fulfilled when we run. These needs still ring true today:
*The need for movement
*The need for self-assertion
*The need for alterations of stress and relaxation
*The need for mastery over ourselves
*The need to indulge ourselves
*The need to play
*The need to lose ourselves in something greater than ourselves
*The need to meditate
*The need to live to our own rhythms
In comparison, if I had to make an educated guess, I would say the social side of running and online presence serve as central organizing themes for the current running boom. By the social side of running, I am talking about being part of a running group - doing workout runs and going to races with group members. And by online presence, I am talking about following fellow runners online - sharing pictures, information, and results. With this online presence, could The Complete Book of Running achieve the same degree of mainstream success and iconic cover as it did in the seventies? I think not.
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Thanks for reading!
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