Olympian Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano team up to share their personal quest and a unique running philosophy that breaks the mold of traditional running books. By tapping into the transformative power found in the distance run, Running the Edge inspires readers not only to push their limits as runners, but as human beings in a relentless pursuit of excellence in everything. Borrowing from philosophical notions ranging from humanistic psychology and Buddhist monks, all the way to adrenaline junkies, Alcoholics Anonymous, and even the World of Warcraft, Goucher and Catalano take readers on a pilgrimage of self discovery and personal improvement. Six mirrors guide the way as Running the Edge methodically leads readers to a heightened awareness of their own personal attributes, and compels them to break free from the curse of normal and the chains of average by "running the edge" towards their maximum potentials. Interlaced with rich storytelling along with personal insights offered from elite runners: Alan Webb, Amy Yoder Begley, Chris Solinsky, Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, Kara Goucher, and Paula Radcliffe, the book reads at a brisk pace worthy of its subject matter. Although there is a sharp focus on running, the principals and tenets outlined in Running the Edge could be equally applied to almost any passionate pursuit in life. Even non- runners will find the stories and philosophies enlightening, uplifting, and motivating. Fans of the book Running With The Buffaloes by Chris Lear will find an older more introspective Adam Goucher. He pulls no punches as he draws on his faults and short comings both as a runner and as a person. He recognizes the mistakes he has made in his training and life and uses that awareness to propel him forward in a quest of self improvement.
Running the Edge
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I live in Boulder, domain of runners but also of Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle and other New Age-y, self-help-y, laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank-at-our-neuroses types. I'm not a fan of this stuff, or of the self-help, self-love and self-improvement movements or pop psychology in general. The ideas of "because I deserve it" and other Oprah-esque cloakings of hedonism are big turn-offs. I (and I'd wager many middle- and upper-class Americans) actually do plenty for ourselves. It's other people we should be focusing on.
That said, I do believe that while perfection isn't possible and happiness isn't reached via a check-list or a particular spiritual practice or a set of goals, improving one's character IS a worthy process to embrace. That's where Running the Edge: Discover the Secrets to Better Running and a Better Life comes in.
Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano were teammates on the University of Colorado cross-country team made famous (among runners anyway) by the book Running With the Buffaloes. Goucher went on to become a professional runner and an Olympian, while Catalano coached runners and taught. In the introduction to this book, they say they wrote it because "both of us realized that as good as our lives were, we could do better."
Though non-runners won't relate to a lot of the material here, becoming a better runner is really only a sub-point. The point is becoming a better person--in your family life, your education and other facets--by examining yourself in what Goucher and Catalano called the "six mirrors," among them initiative and personability. There are exercises at the ends of the "working" section of the book to help you do this.... Read more ›
That said, I do believe that while perfection isn't possible and happiness isn't reached via a check-list or a particular spiritual practice or a set of goals, improving one's character IS a worthy process to embrace. That's where Running the Edge: Discover the Secrets to Better Running and a Better Life comes in.
Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano were teammates on the University of Colorado cross-country team made famous (among runners anyway) by the book Running With the Buffaloes. Goucher went on to become a professional runner and an Olympian, while Catalano coached runners and taught. In the introduction to this book, they say they wrote it because "both of us realized that as good as our lives were, we could do better."
Though non-runners won't relate to a lot of the material here, becoming a better runner is really only a sub-point. The point is becoming a better person--in your family life, your education and other facets--by examining yourself in what Goucher and Catalano called the "six mirrors," among them initiative and personability. There are exercises at the ends of the "working" section of the book to help you do this.... Read more ›
27 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I couldn't get past the first 75 pages of this self help book disguised as a running book. I love running and really respect the authors as runners. If this book were just a motivational book about running I think I could have stomached it. But the authors spend most of their time lecturing the reader about how to life your life and how to be exceptional in all aspects of it. I'm sorry, but outside of running, what have the authors done to convince us that they know anything more about life than anyone else. Basically this book finds a hundred ways to repeat the mantra "Carpe Diem". Enough already, I get it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Burger
Format:Paperback
Running the Edge is a wonderful read that puts yourself into perspective, not only as a runner but as a human. They utilize running as a tool to help better the many aspects that our lives have, insinuating that if you put forth as much effort as one has to reach your maximum potential in running into the all the other parts of your life, then you can realize your true limits and live to the fullest. They expose themselves to the reader with inspiring stories that will make you laugh, choke you up and think in depth. Reading Run the Edge will remind you to keep listening to that little voice inside of you that says "just keep going" even when there seems like no light admist all the darkness. Pick it up, read it and discover the edge of your own potentials to become the distance maven.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Longboat
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book's best parts deal with why running is so important to runners, why we run, and the common bonds between all runners. Some very good stories from Adam and Tim are highly entertaining. Some inspiring portions work very well.
The primary focus is a basic self-improvement theme for running and life. Definitely not a short-cut approach. Certainly it's good to be reminded of what we could and should do, and I took some of those reminders away from the book.
However, the approach is pretty simple, and appears to be aimed at high school runners. I'd certainly recommend it for HS XC & track runners. For an adult... not so much.
The primary focus is a basic self-improvement theme for running and life. Definitely not a short-cut approach. Certainly it's good to be reminded of what we could and should do, and I took some of those reminders away from the book.
However, the approach is pretty simple, and appears to be aimed at high school runners. I'd certainly recommend it for HS XC & track runners. For an adult... not so much.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By M. Stein
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is definitely on the fluffy side, so I'd skip it if you're looking for concrete training information. I imagine that some people would find it inspirational, but to advertise the book as containing "secrets to better running" is a bit misleading.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By DGJ
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
How to take your passions and drive for running and apply to the rest of your life. The book takes you through some psychology on self-examination of your different "life stories" including running, career, education, family, and passions and teaches you to view yourself honestly. If you do the exercizes in the book, you get a good picture of yourself in each of these areas and the authors show that you can apply the same disciplines you have in your running to the rest of your life.
The authors are very open and honest I felt like I got to know them personally in a way. There were some lessons and humor all through the book.
The authors are very open and honest I felt like I got to know them personally in a way. There were some lessons and humor all through the book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I liked the personal stories, but other than that, it felt like they floated on top of the subjects and didn't dig in. I don't have any more motivation or information after reading the book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I received Running The Edge in the mail, I couldn't wait to dive into it. However, I was in the middle of a move, renovation and starting a new company. And so it sat in my "to read" pile for quite some time. I tried to pick it up and read but I always felt as if the book needed my full attention. I shouldn't have felt this way.
Once I really started reading the book I was so motivated I couldn't put it down. Not only was I motivated to keep reading, I was motivated to try new workouts, to excel in my businesses, etc.
While the book does focus on running, its not filled with workout plans, diets to follow or show advice. This is a book for your whole body and soul.
What the book does cover is how to find your inner motivation. Whether your goals is a 5k or a marathon this book contains motivational techniques to allow you to take either the first step or the next step.
So many times in life we hang back, afraid to fail and therefore we never start. However, this book makes you hold a mirror up to yourself and determine WHY you are holding back and gives you to courage to take the leap you've been avoiding.
There are work books sections of the book where you can stop and assess your personality, goals and life. These are helpful and eye opening. So many times we read something and although we feel inspired, its difficult to apply it to our own lives. By completing the work book sections you've already starting applying the lessons you've learned!
One of my favorite parts of the book is the section in which acting and re-acting are discussed. I was shocked as to how clear the message was and how detrimental being a re-actor is.
This book is a great gift for runners.... Read more ›
Once I really started reading the book I was so motivated I couldn't put it down. Not only was I motivated to keep reading, I was motivated to try new workouts, to excel in my businesses, etc.
While the book does focus on running, its not filled with workout plans, diets to follow or show advice. This is a book for your whole body and soul.
What the book does cover is how to find your inner motivation. Whether your goals is a 5k or a marathon this book contains motivational techniques to allow you to take either the first step or the next step.
So many times in life we hang back, afraid to fail and therefore we never start. However, this book makes you hold a mirror up to yourself and determine WHY you are holding back and gives you to courage to take the leap you've been avoiding.
There are work books sections of the book where you can stop and assess your personality, goals and life. These are helpful and eye opening. So many times we read something and although we feel inspired, its difficult to apply it to our own lives. By completing the work book sections you've already starting applying the lessons you've learned!
One of my favorite parts of the book is the section in which acting and re-acting are discussed. I was shocked as to how clear the message was and how detrimental being a re-actor is.
This book is a great gift for runners.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Boring.......
This book is almost as boring as a long run in the desert! I could barely get thru the first half of it.
Published 19 hours ago by Jim
1.0 out of 5 stars
way too type A
the worst self-help book i've ever read. all about how you can try harder, apply yourself more and "be better." that seemed to be repeated over and over.... Read more
Published 13 days ago by eric d mcmurtry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Runners delight!
Well written and very informative. Not through reading it, but enjoying what I've learned so far. Keeps me motivated to run!
Published 24 days ago by Miarunner
3.0 out of 5 stars
Chicken Soup for the Runner's Soul
Well written with interesting stories, this book is more focused on using running as a path to becoming a better person than helping you run better.
Published 1 month ago by D. Martinez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
This book was a very good read and would recommend it to others who love the sport like I do.
Published 2 months ago by Mark D. Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Have for the Runner!
Awesome book, highly motivational! Makes you desire to be the maven! Nearly every runner can relate to one or more parts of this book!
Published 2 months ago by Howard Bullock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
I think this is a great book! It covers aspects of running that I never thought about or noticed. I appreciate sharing of the authors back story, it proves we can really do... Read more
Published 3 months ago by RileyC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read, very motivating
Excellent book, enjoyed the motivation and stories too. I like how they put into words how running can change all aspects of your life.
Published 3 months ago by LoriV
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
If you are a runner and looking for a good motivational book, this is one you should read. If helped me looking at life and my running in a new way.
Published 5 months ago by Bman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Run the mental edge
Excellent book. The basic premise to to see if you have what it takes to be an all out runner. It does not condemn you if you don't since they understand other things can come in... Read more
Published 5 months ago by D. Nuss
