Book Review: To Be a Runner

Book Author: Martin Dugard
Review by Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

As soon as I heard about the author of this book, I knew the name sounded familiar. I checked my book log and yes, back in 2004 I read his New York Times bestseller “Into Africa”, about the epic adventures of Explorer Dr. David Livingstone and his search for the source of the Nile back in 1866, and Henry Morton Stanley’s quest to find him after two years of silence. This was his first of multiple NYT bestsellers. A great book, but this is not what this post is all about.

The author is a well-known writer; accomplished, lifelong runner and successful high school coach. According to the book, he has run a 2:41 marathon and in Athlinks.com you can see a 3:05 in New York back in 1993. He run in High school, college and kept alive his love for the sport despite a few hiatuses here and there when life got on the way. He has also participated in triathlons, adventure racing, Spartans and multiple other competitions.

The book is structured in nine sections, each one with three, four or five small essays touching on an experience, a thought, a goal or just rambling about whatever. Each essay is no more than five or six pages so even if you are not an avid reader, you can go through the book with ease and really enjoy it.

From running with the bulls in Pamplona, to high school running meetings and from adventure racing to getting back into shape or breaking a personal best; there is a chapter here for everyone. As an accomplish writer, Dugard has many amazing running quotes in this book. If you have followed my Instagram feed, @foultips, you have appreciated my love running quotes. I lifted more than a handful of the from this book, which you will find at the bottom of this writing.

I highly recommend “To Be a Runner”. It is worth the time and the money. My only suggestion is to read just one chapter a day, takin your time to enjoy it, digest it and feel empathy for the thought conveyed. I made the mistake of reading it during the quarantine, so I rushed through it and did not get the most out of it. So it is back in the “to read” pile for a second round.