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This Girl Ran cover art

This Girl Ran

By: Helen Croydon
Narrated by: Helen Croydon
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Summary

If you had told Helen two years ago that she would be getting up at six a.m. on Sundays to swim in a freezing reservoir and spending her Saturday nights unshowered and covered in mud in a pub, she would have spat out her champagne. But when everyone around you starts settling down, what else is a glamorous party girl to do but to launch herself into the world of endurance sport?

For someone who didn't even own a pair of flat shoes (and definitely no waterproofs), Helen would soon find she had a lot to learn.

Join Helen on her hilarious and soul-searching journey as she swaps a life of cocktail bars and dating for the challenges and exhilaration of triathlons, trail runs, obstacle races, long-distance cycles and ocean swims...and sets herself the seemingly impossible goal of qualifying as a Team GB triathlete.

©2018 Helen Croydon (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about This Girl Ran

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This Girl Writes Well ... and narrates brilliantly to boot

This is an extremely well written book about mostly the drive to push yourself to see how far your body can go in terms of running, cycling and swimming. Ms. Croydon is a born communicator putting her points of view across in a great story with passion and wit. When I said "about mostly" earlier I meant that her story is also about finding - without perhaps consciously meaning to - people to share the warmth and companionship and joy and then even someone to share love ... at just the right time. An excellent read - completely outside my usual reading zone - but This Girl Did Well!

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18 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

For some reason I couldn't like the author

The book was definitely not a bad one, but for some reason I couldn't like the author. I think I just couldn't symphatize with her because she's having all these realizations about life (that high heels are uncomfortable, that you can have a day out without drinking, that ever-changing social circles do not satisfy the need for connection,...) that I think should be obvious for anyone over 25. The book begins with her as someone who 'cannot' wear flat shoes, and ends with her becoming someone who 'cannot' understand people who ever wears heels. It seems to me that she was looking down from a high horse either way, and didn't learn that much after all.

The book was definitely easy to listen to and engaging, and I think Helen Croydon writes really well. I just couldn't like 'the narrator' and little remarks that I found superficial/arrogant made the book less enjoyable for me.

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13 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Promising premise and start, but authors attitude

Listened to this audiobook with my wife, who is in agreement with me about the author. Whilst it was in part a good story of transformation, the attitude of the writer grated on both of us. Not bothering to read pre-event information or turning up to races without essential kit recommended for her safety, because she “didn’t know where to buy it from” when she clearly knows how to use Google. Her attitude just seemed to be that someone else would help her / sort it out for her. Whilst being a beginner this is more acceptable, the fact she continued to not learn from her mistakes and just kept repeating them had us both rolling our eyes towards the end of the book. It’s a shame as it started out as a promising book

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable listen...

I’m at a similar point in my life to Helen at the start of the book, so much of the story resonates with me. I really liked the epilogue too and is a real life lesson for all of us, taking care of friendships is very important, as it will influence how we experience our lives.

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Honest Profound and Inspiring

Well read, well written audiobook.

Just finished the book and I am left feeling sad as I didn't want it to end. I have just manage to live vicariously through Helen and I have to say a massive thank you for that. I have felt the cold, anxiety and panic along with you while still sat in bed all warm and comfy. I am seriously contemplating triathlons now after reading this.

Helen has been honest with her feelings and I really appreciated this as I think we all probably feel a little lost in life at times. For this reason this book is not just for sporty types but explores deeper feelings.

At one point in the book (I won't give it away) Helen felt deeply upset. Who was with her. Well I was with her and all the people she wrote the book for was with her. She just didn't know it then. So Helen please revisit that moment and imagine all your readers with you cheering you on and having a pint with you afterwards. Xx

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

determination at its greatest. Great read

Im fairly new to running and similar to the author it is daunting when you first start out. everyone seems to be running faster and better than you. I could completely relate and it made me laugh. she is so right join a running group and just do it! great read very funny and motivational.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

OK...

I have an all too terrible habit of getting very het up someway through a book, mostly unleashing my not so much inner, but very definitely outer nerdness about rubbish narrators and Grammar, only to come back later, after 'martyring' on, to humbly beg forgiveness 'cos I am a huge pratt..'
Soooo.... I really hope I'll be doing that about this book...


Review on the review...
Yeah, I know, I'm a HUGE pratt...Helen really gets into the narrative, moreover, she makes me feel less feeble in life's journey, and not the only clueless one...I humbly beg your forgiveness..

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An ok read - but I struggled to sympathise and relate to Helen

I’m training to run my first marathon this year so am enjoying listening to peoples stories who are on a new fitness journey. Fair play to Helen - she’s a determined woman who excelled at everything she put her mind to - it’s very impressive.

However - if your like me (30’s, clumsy, ina but of a run and never been overly fit or sporty and looking for some like minded inspiration and parallels) I wouldn’t point to this book

Helen makes a point throughout the book to note how easily she completes and exceeds what she sets out to accomplish athletically - despite being ill prepared - that’s ok! She’s clearly fit and a talented natural athlete so fair play!
But it’s not just the less than humble referring to her own performance - but the quite harsh and unnecessary remarks about others - always relishing in over taking people with ease or looking down on those who race with slower time expectations.
There’s also quite a sense of entitlement when it comes to expecting others to perform tasks and organise things for her - even expecting an apology for ‘getting punched in the face’ during a swim (when actually it was her at fault for drifting so far out of her lane some one else coming the other way collided with her) - when it was her who owed the other person a sincere apology! - There’s many examples of this throughout the book.

This book unfortunately left me feeling a little disheartened with my own accomplishments - despite being on track for running my first marathon in September after almost a year of training - I will be absolutely no where close to Helen’s running times - however I will give my all and hope to finish proudly regardless or what the chip says.

(Running like a girl - Alexandra Heminsley is great though for a more down to earth and relatable read for those less accomplished and fit)

However I did listen until the end and am very impressed by Helen and took away some positives

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring and dull.

Gave up after a few chapters. This book really will only be interesting if you’re a keen runner or thinking of taking it up. But that’s only my opinion.
Am neither of those so just found it dull.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Yes she did indeed run and cycle and swim.

An enjoyable read. Perhaps a little too much on facts and figures for me though.

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