Running is Flying: Aphorisms, Meditations, and Thoughts on a Running Life by Paul E. Richardson

Overview

Running is hard work, yes. But it should also be fun and exhilarating. At its best, it recaptures the joy we experienced before running was recast as punishment or penance, when we would sprint out of the shadows in a darkened cul-de-sac to kick a can, chase someone on the playground, or race our dog along the beach.

While that joy can be easy to find (remember finishing your first 5k?), it can be monumentally difficult to sustain. Humor helps.

The intent of Running is Flying - a collection of over 60 aphorisms, thoughts and meditations on the running life - is to provide encouragement, levity, and perspective to a sport that has a tendency to take itself a bit too seriously.

Wonderfully illustrated by British artist Paul Cox, Running is Flying makes a great gift for the runner in your life, even if that runner happens to be yourself.

My thoughts:
I read this one morning after showering and before my children got up, it was one of the few days we didn't need to do anything too early and I decided to relax a bit.  It was published by Runner's World and is a very quick read.  Each two page spread has an illustration and a one or two sentence caption.  Funny things like, "Never trust a runner with clean shoes." or "You know you are running to fast if all butts around you look better than your own."  Some of my other favorites were: "Never wear a shirt for a race you haven't run."  "Yes, Virginia, people did run before BodyGlide.  They did it with blisters."  "Ibuprofen may be more portable than ice, but you can't make a gin and tonic with Advil."  And lastly, "DEDICATION:  Paying to run a  race even when no shirt is involved."  I have run two races that offered a glass instead of a shirt and I took that option, unless we break it the glass should last longer than the shirt.  Some days it is hard to make myself get out of bed to either go outside to run or to get on the treadmill, it is so much nicer just to stay in bed, but there really is a reward for doing it and now I will have some funny sayings going on in my head while I do it!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781609612214
• Publisher: Rodale Press, Inc.
• Publication date: 2/28/2012
• Pages: 144

Meet the Author

Paul Richardson is the publisher and editor of Russian Life. He runs every other day, which can be rather challenging in Vermont weather. His half-marathon personal record is 1:45:13. He lives in Montpelier, VT.