Women Runners [Paperback]

Irene Reti (Editor), Bettianne Shoney Sien (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

This anthology of literary fiction, poems, and essays by women runners captures the essence of running, and the many hopes and dreams of women. The runners depicted cover the whole range of women—young and old, fast and slow, gay and straight, casual runners and fierce.

"This book lets out a secret shared by women runners: running is not just a physical exercise but a spiritual, mental, and emotional journey."—Runner’sGazette

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Irene Reti is the editor of numerous anthologies. Her memoir, The Keeper of Memory, is about growing up as the daughter of Holocaust survivors who kept their Jewish identity a secret from her.

Bettianne Shoney Sien has run fourteen marathons. Her short stories have been widely published, and she is a teacher in Santa Cruz, California. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

*** The voices of WOMEN RUNNERS

*** “There comes a time in the late afternoon when the light is just so and my circadian rhythms are at exactly a certain point, when the only solid thought in my mind is to run.”

--Alison Townsend “The trail hides and deceives, but there are spaces like Howler’s Meadow where I can run. And there are moments when I fly, sweet mother, how I fly.”

--Kate Kinsey “In our hearts we knew we were a wolf pack of strong women warriors -- ready to run, run, run up against anything that dared to get in our way.”

--Roberta B. Jacobson “This is what matters on the inside: the chance, during months of training, to know yourself in weakness and strength, and to persevere.”

--Cate Terwilliger “Our Saturdays became a medley of morning long run, sumptuous lunch with fine wine (and plenty of water to compensate for what we knew to be the error of our ways), and afternoon rest, our bodies too exhausted to do anything else, all the while endorphins heightening our awareness of beauty in life.”

--Suzanne Case “I have run at dawn and in the dark, over gravel, sand, and concrete, through gale-force winds, heat at noon, and driving hail. I don’t necessarily recommend all these experiences, but I am grateful to have had every one.”

--Jan Priddy “I wasn’t running away from problems anymore, but toward a solution. I couldn’t see it yet, but I knew it lay in front of me, and I felt myself closing in. Moments of clarity, when heart and lungs and legs and mind worked together, were accumulating in my memory.”

--Susan Marsh “When my boys were old enough I took them to the hills of their New England home and watched them breathe the raw power of running. I saw them revel in its freedom. I saw how running for my children is pure joy. So many times in my life it was a necessity.” --Anna Viadero --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Breakaway Books (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891369423
• ISBN-13: 978-1891369421
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,368,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book. Similar to "Running Forward - Looking Back.", July 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Women Runners (Hardcover)

This book will go proudly next to another great running book of a similar type, Running Forward- Looking Back by the author Lynn Seely. I also have the book First Marathons next to that one.

After so many years of searching for and hoping to find good, heart felt running stories that I can relate to, I am delighted to add this book, Women Runners to my top shelf. (Only the best of the best make it there!) Even though the Ms. Lynn T. Seely's book was the first book like this that I found, it is nice to know that others are being published too.

I really enjoyed the diversity of short stories that are found in all three books. After seeing the publishing world dominated by male writers / runners (and though they do a wonderful job of it, they are, after all, not women!) it is gratifying to read more from women that can "tell it like it is" and entertain, teach and motivate and inspire. It would be hard to say which of the three books inspired me the most! But it certainly is nice to have a few to pick from! Anyway, well done - enjoyable book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos from a contributor, May 12, 2001

By 

"micandcj" (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women Runners (Hardcover)

I am delighted to be a contributor to this anthology. While I was reading one of the stories, my husband announced that he was ready for our run - I asked him to wait so I could finish the story! Each story and poem is as beautiful as the book's gorgeous cover, and evokes empathy, tears, or cheers while fueling your running heart with inspiration. The heartfelt writings eloquently express why women run: comfort, joy, challenge, growth, and the fact that sometimes, there is no reason. I experienced moments and feelings of my past and present - and maybe even my future - while reading this book, and will enjoy it for many years to come. ~ CJ Lockman Hall, M.A.