3 Inspirational Books About Female Runners

Inspiration can push us to reach for lofty goals we set for ourselves and motivate us to be the best versions of ourselves. A great source of inspiration comes from the stories of inspiring individuals. In the running community, many of those stories were about men like Steve Prefontaine and others who smashed records and overcame all odds. If you are a female runner, or aspiring runner, looking for books about female runners, look no further! Relax, put your feet up and soak up the powerful stories of these lady leads. Or better yet, download the audiobook version and listen to it on your next run, if that’s your thing!

1. Let Your Mind Run

Top of the list is exactly where this author is used to ranking. Deena Kastor holds the American record for the marathon with an absolutely amazing time of 2:19:36. Kastor racked up victories as a high school and collegiate athlete, winning three California state high school titles and becoming a four-time SEC champ while attending the University of Arkansas. She has a bronze medal from the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece and multiple national championship titles in cross country.

It makes perfect sense that her book, Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory is a top recommendation. With so much promise before her, Kastor became her own worst enemy and almost ended her career due to how harsh she was on herself. She nearly drove herself to burnout. Readers will get an up-close look at how she overcame burnout caused by self-doubt and pushing herself too hard out of fear of losing. Kastor strengthened her mind and adapted her way of thinking to become positive instead of negative. The mental tactics learned in this book are insightful for all runners and will have you ready to put your running sports bra on and get back to running.

2. Out and Back

If you are in search of a book about overcoming injury and other setbacks, then Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival Against All Odds by Hillary Allen is the book for you. Hillary Allen is an ultrarunner, most famously known for her sky running. This intense form of running involves mountain ranges, inclines and a whole new level of difficulty. Allen was ranked first in the world in sky running when she suffered a nearly fatal fall during a race. Allen fell 150 feet off of the mountain ridge as she was just about halfway through the sky race. This fall resulted in many broken bones, including her ribs, both feet, both arms and fractures in her back.

Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival Against All Odds shows how perseverance, dedication and determination helped heal Allen mentally and physically. Allen fought to recover and to get back on the course. This book will inspire you to overcome any obstacles you are currently facing, on or off the racecourse. It is a perfect suggestion for an injured athlete working towards making a comeback.

3. A Beautiful Work In Progress

Those who are new to running or those who feel like they have hit a plateau in their training will draw motivation from Mirna Valerio’s novel A Beautiful Work In Progress. Valerio gives runners a motivational acronym to power through. Three letters, DNQ, helped her to focus on the positives and the amazing things she could do. Those letters stand for “Did Not Quit” and it is a mindset she encourages for all runners, from those lacing up for their first road race to those competing in their tenth ultramarathon. Valerio honestly and comically shares how she went from her first race to finishing ultramarathons.

Books can be a magical escape from reality, but they can also teach you lessons, instill values and provide motivation. Draw strength from the powerful female runners who have dared to share their stories so that you can know that you can be a successful runner, too. We can do great things. We just have to have the courage and dedication to stick with it!