Why Running Matters cover art

Why Running Matters

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Why Running Matters

By: Ian Mortimer
Narrated by: Ian Mortimer
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

A memoir about the meaning of running from renowned historian and author of The Time Traveller's Guides.

You might run for fitness. You might run for speed. But ultimately, running is about much more than the physical act itself. It is about the challenges we face in life and how we measure up to them. It is about companionship, endurance, ambition, hope, conviction, determination, self-respect and inspiration. In this yearlong memoir, which might be described as a historian’s take on Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, the celebrated historian Ian Mortimer considers the meaning of running as he approaches his 50th birthday. From injuries and frustrated ambitions to exhilaration and empathy, it is a personal and yet universal account of what running means to people and how it helps everyone focus on what really matters.

©2019 Ian Mortimer (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Running & Jogging Sports Inspiring Physical Exercise
All stars
Most relevant
Overall, I would class this book as a background book. You probably need to like running regularly and also like numbers. I listened to it on several training runs for the Paris Marathon. Good going Ian for your achievement, and you might have encouraged me to try a park run one day. I even signed up for a barcode. Would I listen again - no, but it certainly got me through some good 50 miles :)

You have to be a runner

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What a book. I am a self confessed running bore, and my long suffering wife and most of my friends can’t understand why. This book describes how I feel, the reason why and the meaning. The euphoria I felt when I ran the Brighton Marathon to the disappointment to not getting a time I wanted, even when it was a “good time”. I can’t recommend highly enough especially if you want to understand why we run and why Park Run matters. Totally excellent, I will recommend to anyone and everyone I meet!

This is exactly how I feel about running!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a great book, read in a very engaging way by the author. So inspirational to listen to while you’re running — and so many great lessons to learn. Thoroughly recommend.

A year of runs

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was a great listen. I have listened and read a number of books about running that all have another agenda, overcoming great adversity, promoting veganism etc.however I liked that this book focused on running and what it can mean for everyday normal people. The link to family life was a nice touch and the flow of the story following the author throughout a year.

Great listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a really good listen for anyone that’s into running, especially parkrunners. I loved hearing about Ian’s relationship with his children and the bond they share going to Parkrun every week. I hope one day my child and I have a similar relationship.

Heartfelt Running Book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews