Run Like a Girl

Run Like a Girl, by Mina Samuels, has “How Strong Women Make Happy Lives” as its subtitle. Although the title is catchy, it’s the subtitle that gives you the essence of the book in just six words.

The author writes from a woman’s perspective about running and other sports. She shares insightful stories about exercise and sports from nearly a hundred women. For example, Rebecca Yzquierdo, whose review of my book Gratitude Power for Runners and Walkers appears in its pages, is featured eight times in Run Like a Girl.

And, although the title may imply that this book by Ms. Samuels is only for female runners, I recommend it to female and male runners (and walkers!) alike. Here are five reasons …

Inspiration

If you are a woman, Run Like a Girl will inspire you to (a) get off the couch and hit the road or trail, (b) stay off the couch, or (c) return to the road or trail after getting sidelined by injury.

If you are a man, this book will inspire you to see from a richer perspective how important running, walking, and other forms of exercise and sport can be to the women in your life.

Education

Run Like a Girl is filled not only with stories of female athletes but also with reports about research that points to the power of running and other sports to transform one’s life.

For example, Samuels cites the excellent book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, which I highly recommend.

Humor

Run Like a Girl is as humorous as it is inspirational and educational. For example, “Chicking the Boys” is the title of chapter 6. And Samuels quotes one female athlete as having said, “I fell in love with the first boy who could run as fast as me on the playground.”

 Here’s another gem:

 “Where have you had road rash?” is cycling code for, “How serious a rider are you?”

Good Stories

When I reflect on why I enjoyed Run Like a Girl as much as I did, I realized that “good stories” was the core reason.

1. The author has a beautiful fluidity to her writing. So, as I read Run Like a Girl, I felt as if she were talking directly to me.
2. Mina Samuels is an accomplished athlete in her own right, so she knows her subject well — and is passionate about it!
3. Ms. Samuels shares scores of stories from other female athletes, and each story is interesting by itself.

Because of the high quality of the stories in the book, I found myself picking it up, savoring a few stories, and then putting it back down, certain that more good stories were waiting for me later.

Happiness

Finally, Run Like a Girl at its essence is about how running and other sports support one’s happiness, which is near and dear to my heart.

Your Turn

Have you read this book? What did you like about it? What resonated with you? Please share by leaving a comment below. Thanks!