Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed

Matthew Futterman

A history of modern American distance running told from the perspective of Bob Larsen, one of the most influential coaches in the sport and (most famously) the coach and mentor of the most decorated American marathoner of the last twenty years, Meb Keflezighi.

I listened to much of this book on a drive with my wife who commented “at first it was interesting, but it’s a lot about running”. Which it is. I found the story of Larsen developing a winning formula for distance racing fascinating. A lot of what we take for granted, like training at altitude, and the formula of easy miles, long tempo efforts, and some track work, wasn’t at all apparent until Larsen and a few others unearthed it in the 1970s. The way he then put it to use in working with Meb to basically bring American distance running back from the dead makes for an amazing read.

If you care about the story of running in America, you’ll eat this up, if not, you might want to pass. .

Recommended for the enthusiast