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Running Man
- A Memoir
- Narrated by: Charlie Engle
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
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Summary
A compulsively listenable, remarkably candid memoir from world-class ultramarathon runner Charlie Engle chronicling his globe-spanning races, his record-breaking run across the Sahara Desert, and how running helped him overcome drug addiction and an unjust stint in federal prison.
After a decade-long addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol, Charlie Engle hit bottom with a near-fatal six-day binge that ended in a hail of bullets. As Engle got sober, he turned to running, which became his lifeline, his pastime, and his salvation. He began with marathons, and when marathons weren't far enough he began to take on ultramarathons, races that went for 35, 50, and sometimes hundreds of miles, traveling to some of the most unforgiving places on earth to race. The Matt Damon-produced documentary Running the Sahara followed Engle as he led a team on a harrowing, record-breaking 4,500 mile run across the Sahara Desert, which helped raise millions of dollars for charity.
Charlie's growing notoriety led to an investigation and a subsequent unjust conviction for mortgage fraud. Engle would spend 16 months in federal prison in Beckley, West Virginia. While in jail he pounded the small prison track, running endlessly in circles. Soon his fellow inmates were joining him, struggling to keep their spirits up in dehumanizing circumstances.
In Running Man, Charlie Engle tells the gripping, surprising, funny, emotional, and inspiring story of his life, detailing his setbacks and struggles - from coping with addiction to serving time in prison - and how he blazed a path to freedom by putting one foot in front of the other. This is a propulsive, raw, and triumphant story about finding the threshold of human endurance - and transcending it.
What listeners say about Running Man
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- MR P G JEREMIAH
- 21-09-16
Brilliant!
Much more than simply a book about running. an Incredible human being...... telling a fascinating story. Very well narrated.....you won't put headphones down.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Marcus
- 04-11-16
Inspiring
Inspiring story from a man who has lived life to the full... I'm now going out for a run. Brilliant.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Mr Doinks
- 09-01-19
A Fantastic Listen
Charlie Engle shares his story and it is for me and I've listened and read a lot, about tales of adversity, adapting and overcoming hardship. The best audio book I've listened to. It's moving, well written and offers a fascinating and captivating insight into Charlie's life - drugs, running ultra marathons, addiction and ultimately winning. If you are reading my review, please get the book. Honestly you will not regret it.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Bhoy1888
- 23-06-19
Excellent and inspiring.
I found this book after listening to David Goggins and the likes. A thoroughly enjoyable read/listen with an honest outlook on his life and consequences.
I have been trying to get myself to do a triathlon but constantly making excuses why I haven't. If nothing else it's reminded me that I should just get off my ass and continue to run, strive for more.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Mr Me
- 11-10-16
Brilliant
Great biography; engaging, honest and inspiring. Just waiting to be made into a film. Highly recommended.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anthony
- 05-10-16
An Inspiring book
This isn't a book that's an easy listen, but well worth it. He has had a complex life so far, having not known anything about Charlie before starting, the odd google search was useful throughout for me. It was gripping, gruelling and challenging funny at times and raw at others...brutally honest about addiction and his flaws and thoughts on life. Made me want to get some running shoes...
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2 people found this helpful
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- Claire
- 11-07-21
I did enjoy this but...
I enjoyed the story but found myself having little or no empathy for the author. It took me a while to warm to him and truth be told I got the feeling the book was an opportunity for him to get his side across and as such felt a little defensive. He has certainly lived an interesting life and achieved a great deal. I considered giving up on this a few times but stuck with it and I'm neither glad or regretfull that I did.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 27-03-21
Are all Ultra runners ex addicts?
I really enjoyed this audio book and i absolutely raced through it. I sometimes feel guilty about having a couple of beers and a bag of peanuts whilst watching netflix but Charlie Engle's early years of addiction sure put that in perspective... how did he get away with it and not get killed or injured or something. I loved all the adventure trips stories, running across the Sahara etc, making the documentaries and of course his brush with the law. it does appear incredulous that a guy like Charlie engle could go to jail for 21 months for exaggerating income on a mortgage application after the financial crash... who didn't do that back then? But there are many examples of what can happen when the system gets hold of you and what can happen when you dont have funds or the right connections to help.Do all these guys and gals have these addictive on the edge personalities that makes them want to traverse the edge so closely all the time... is that a requirement to be an ultra runner? im definitely going to try and push myself a little harder and do a half marathon in the coming weeks but dont expect to see me on the Bad Water starting line anytime soon.... eemmhhh i could ask David Goggins to be my PT..🙂🙂
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1 person found this helpful
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- David L. Hamilton
- 04-10-16
Great story of a colourful life
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to a colourful life. As a runner's book, maybe others focus more on the challenges of running whereas this book covers his life, addictions and running. Enjoyed it...
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-02-24
Honest, engaging and insightful
From commutes, to long runs to cooking, this book was a real ‘page turner’. From tragedy to triumph on repeat - the adventures and overcoming adversity in equal measure were extradorinaiy. One man’s story of how resilience, support, belief and a lot of running shoes, can conquer his inner demons.
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