Run to the Finish

Summary:

Run to the finish is a short look at how non-elite runners can make the most out of their sport and safely run well into their old age. It explores the author’s personal journey into running and the many ways she’s found to help her stay relatively injury free for years.

Review:

I’ve read several books on running over the last two decades of my life. Like many, this one is part memoir and part coaching advice. I thought she balanced the two well and didn’t feel “preachy” like some other books tend to do in this genre.

I am a fan of giving general fitness advice without prescribing a one size fits all program, which is difficult to do. While I wouldn’t say she nailed that perfectly, she did a good enough job here. She does give some very useful prehab and rehab routines that can help runners of all ages and stages experience longevity, but when it came to running workouts she gave a bit more generalized programming that you can adapt to your personal needs.

I think Brooks reminded me that the human body is more resilient than we often give it credit for. I had stopped running for several years after a particularly frustrating bout of I.T. Band syndrome that six months of physical therapy couldn’t sort out. She mentioned her own struggle with this issue and how she overcame it in due time and now has run dozens of marathons over the years. That gives me hope that my dream of completing my first 26.2 will still happen one day.

All-in-all this is a good book, but nothing revolutionary. If you’re new to running, it has some great advice in it. If you’re a long time runner who had to stop due to injury, like myself, it’s got some great advice on coming back and doing the work necessary to keep running for the rest of your life. Obviously, if you’re not a fan of running, I doubt this book would be on your to be read list, but I’d probably skip it.

Solid four stars.