It's now been almost three full weeks of
not running. Much longer, and I'll have to buy a new domain name -
www.WillNotRunForChange.com. Don't quite like the ring of that one though.
So when days on my ass become weeks on my ass become months on my ass, how do I occupy my mind?
Living Vicariously
The longer I go without actually running, the more I need to fill that hole by watching movies or reading books about other people running. Below is a sampling of my favorite running movies (they exist!), and a couple of books that are next on my list :
Run For Your Life -- A Judd Ehrlich documentary about the story of Fred Lebow, an avid marathoner, an avid New Yorker, and the founder of the
New York Marathon. A colorful Transylvanian immigrant, Lebow was president of the
New York Road Runners for 20 years and was memorialized in 1994 with a
statue on Central Park East. This movie could make anyone want to run the NYCM.
Saint Ralph -- A fictional "dramedy" about a troublemaker named Ralph at a Catholic private school whose mother falls into a coma. He is told it will take a miracle to save his mother, and soon thereafter hears his cross country coach say that winning the
Boston marathon would take a miracle. Making the connection, he sets out to become a world class marathoner and opens everyone's eyes to the possibility of miracles. Cheezy, but inspirational.
Spirit of the Marathon -- Another documentary, and the first non-fiction feature film to fully capture the drama of the legendary event. The film follows six people as they prepare for the 2005
Chicago Marathon, including two first-timers, two recreational veterans, and two world-class athletes. It covers the gamut of stories behind the marathon, showing that anyone with the will can tackle the challenge, but not everyone will succeed.
My Life on the Run -- Bart Yasso's witty memoir recounts the more than 1,000 races he competed in during his 30+ years as a writer for
Runner's World magazine, including adventures in places like Antartica and Nepal. Along with practical advice on how to remain a runner for life, he includes advice on running in unfamiliar locales, and the best places to go for exotic marathons. Haven't read it yet, but the possibility of marathoning all over the world is one of the reasons I love running.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running -- This is the one I know the least about, but has been given the most enticing reviews. Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer and seasoned long-distance runner, and his latest book combines his two passions into a series of essays on topics he thinks about during his runs, from diary entries and reminiscences to life advice. This one is a perfect candidate for my iPod during long, mind-dumbing stationary bike workouts.
Now let's just hope that my leg heals soon because quite frankly, there just aren't that many books and movies about running, and this list covers most of them...
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