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    Running Like a Girl: Notes on Learning to Run
    Running Like a Girl: Notes on Learning to Run
    Running Like a Girl: Notes on Learning to Run
    Audiobook6 hours

    Running Like a Girl: Notes on Learning to Run

    Written by Alexandra Heminsley

    Narrated by Elizabeth Sastre

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    In her twenties, Alexandra Heminsley spent more time at the bar than she did in pursuit of athletic excellence. When she decided to take up running in her thirties, she had grand hopes for a blissful runner’s high and immediate physical transformation. After eating three slices of toast with honey and spending ninety minutes on iTunes creating the perfect playlist, she hit the streets—and failed miserably. The stories of her first runs turn the common notion that we are all “born to run” on its head—and expose the truth about starting to run: it can be brutal.

    Running Like a Girl tells the story of how Alexandra gets beyond the brutal part, makes running a part of her life, and reaps the rewards: not just the obvious things, like weight loss, health, and glowing skin, but self-confidence and immeasurable daily pleasure, along with a new closeness to her father—a marathon runner—and her brother, with whom she ultimately runs her first marathon.

    But before that, she has to figure out the logistics of running: the intimidating questions from a young and arrogant sales assistant when she goes to buy her first running shoes, where to get decent bras for the larger bust, how not to freeze or get sunstroke, and what (and when) to eat before a run. She’s figured out what’s important (pockets) and what isn’t (appearance), and more.

    For any woman who has ever run, wanted to run, tried to run, or failed to run (even if just around the block), Heminsley’s funny, warm, and motivational personal journey from nonathlete extraordinaire to someone who has completed five marathons is inspiring, entertaining, practical, and fun.

    “Not simply a book about running—it’s about discipline, self-knowledge, emotions, and relationships, and should inspire even the most committed couch potato.”—Daily Mail (UK)
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateOct 8, 2013
    ISBN9781490606996
    Author

    Alexandra Heminsley

    Alexandra Heminsley is a journalist, broadcaster, and ghostwriter. She is the books editor for Elle UK and a contributor to the BBC. She lives in Brighton, UK.

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    Reviews for Running Like a Girl

    4/5

    80 ratings8 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Best for:Women interested in distance running.In a nutshell:Author Heminsley shares her journey to becoming a long distance runner, and what she’s learned along the way.Worth quoting:“After a while though I began to realise that no one was really watching.”Why I chose it:I’ve been running half marathons for about 14 years now, but this year I decided to get a running coach to see if I can improve my time. Then I saw this book and decided why not pile on.What it left me feeling:Inspired but also a bit annoyed.Review:There’s so much in this book that I like and relate to, but also a fair bit that I found frustrating.Let’s start with what I liked about this. The first chapter is all about Heminsley running the Royal Parks Half marathon in London. I’ve run that one three times and am currently training for it now. So right away I was captured. She then jumps back in time and talks about how she got into running - by choosing to run the London marathon (a thing I will never do - marathons are too much training for me). She talks about the challenges she’s had getting motivated, but also the great moments she’s had in training and races.There are a lot of great tips in this book for new runners - tips about shoes, and training, and sports bras (I actually bought a bra she recommended - I’m testing it out next week). She talks about the elitism in some aspects of the community, but the welcoming nature of other aspects. She shares her experiences of hitting the wall, of being bored, of not wanting to get out for that next training run. She also talks about the emotion of finishing a race. I’m a solidly middle runner - usually finishing half marathons with the rush of people doing 1 h 50 - 2 h 10 minute times. But I don’t run to compete against anyone - I run for myself. And in every race there’s usually a moment where I think ‘this is absurd, why am I doing this, I want to go home.’ And then I hit the end of mile 13 and there’s only about a tenth of a mile to go and the emotions just hit. It’s an amazing feeling, whether I’ve gotten my best time ever or whether it’s my worst. Just finishing is fucking cool. As is the work I put in to get there.She’s also right that there’s a really running community, and it can be wonderful. Last weekend I ran my first park run - free events every Saturday morning in parks all over the UK. They are clearly runs, not races. They do a welcome to first timers, ask if there are any tourists in. There are marshalls volunteering to keep us on the route. At the end, we do find out our place and we get a banana, and some people go off to get coffees together. It’s just so lovely - what for so many of us is indeed a solo activity becomes communal.But there are aspects I really don’t like about this book. Heminsley seems to have some opinions about gender that I found frustrating - like this line “As my body changed and my sense of what it was capable of started to shift I developed a more masculine side to my personality and, dare I say it, a competitive streak.” Huh? Is this meant to suggest that being competitive or capable is a ‘masculine’ trait all of a sudden? Like, what does that even mean? She also talks about ‘embracing her masculine side’ helping her become better woman. How is running or racing masculine? Literally, I don’t get it. Things like this come up a couple of times, and what knock this book from four stars to three for me.Also a minor CN for weight loss / body shaming. I understand that weight loss and appearance are obviously a motivator for some people, I wish there’d been a little more thought put into throwing out those ideas (she also has a kind of bizarre offhand observation about a man’s body that gave me pause and bummed me out). I’d love for books like this to not talk about weight or appearance, but I know that asking a lot. Recommend to a Friend / Keep / Donate it / Toss it:Keep for the tips.
    • 4/5
      If you're *not* a runner and could use a memoir to help the idea marinate in your mind, this is a great book. Heminsley goes through the highs and the lows, making it the idea seem possible. I really wanted to get out and move: I got some clothes, new sneakers, made the pump-me-up playlist, I felt ready! Then I got a flu that left me barely able to stand, then the snow fell and my sneakers wouldn't help me. Due to the book realistically discussing the process, I still want to go out. How often can you say that things happen and you still want to proceed?

      While there were some great tips on running, the organization is terrible and the tips are not all encompassing. If you want to whet your appetite, this is a great memoir of an average female runner. If you need and instruction manual and reference, this is is not it; I went running to the bookstore to get a running guide. That said, I am still happy that I bought this book; jury is just out on whether it is a read-and-pass-on versus a keeper.

      EDIT: I ended up keeping it, if you are interested.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this immensely. Funny, honest, and super relatable.

      EXCEPT who in their right mind just up and runs a 5k right off the bat?! I'm doing a couch-to-5k program right now and I'm proud of myself for running 5 MINUTES at a time!

      ...Anyway. I may never be a marathon runner, but this book did actually make me feel like I could do it if I wanted to.
    • 3/5
      I'm not a self-help book person, I don't like being told what to do. I also don't really like watching other people be better than me at stuff/ do things I can't. Yet I love the way this author writes (and reads, in the audiobook) about herself. It's funny, wry and inspiring, like an autobiography but with tips about running. It's the mix that makes it readable for me. I can't run, but I walk, and this was something to listen to while walking, to inspire me to walk more.
    • 4/5
      A very enjoyable read for a relative running novice like me, but I did want to sigh a little when I reached the end of Chapter One. Running 5k in 35 minutes, when this is pretty much your first ever stepping foot outside the house to run, is a pretty damn impressive time. Anything under 40 minutes is a good start. Readers: don't let Alexandra's relative youth and speed put you off!A witty light read of her running story constitutes part one; part two is more a history of women running marathons and running tips.
    • 3/5
      I don't think I will ever want to be a runner but I like that Alexandra thinks I could! This book is not filled with the mechanics of running but does give a glimpse into the head of a new runner.
    • 1/5
      This book got so much press in the running community about how inspiring it was that I bought it, ready to love it. However, it is self-indulgent and whiny. I don't find self-centered and lazy people inspiring and couldn't stand listening to the justifications for the author's petty whining.
    • 5/5
      Made me miss my tracks and gave me an itch to run again. As I picked it up hoping it would obliterate my fitness motivation crisis, it delivered with honours.