Book Review: Run With Me

I first met Jennifer Luitwieler a few weeks ago, on Twitter, at exactly the right time.

I was beginning to run again after taking a break for several years.  I believe that almost nothing is worth doing unless you can buy a book about it before you start, and I needed a good book to get me started.  My approach to running is focused on getting more healthy, not finding my inner sprinter.  I was looking for a book that would encourage and motivate me, not a textbook about training for a race.  Jennifer’s book, Run With Me, is filled with her honesty and sense of humor.  It was exactly what I needed.

Jennifer Luitwieler tells the truth. Her book is not really about running.  She writes about people and community, and The Dog; those who have helped shape her, those from whom she draws strength, those she has come to understand more deeply, and a running community that supports, encourages, and inspires her as she continues on her path.

In addition to Jennifer’s humor and her honesty, I appreciate that Run With Me does not really end.  She tells her story, and the story continues.  We remember and tell the story, but must always be ready for a new chapter.

In addition, to Twitter, Jennifer and I are friends on dailymile.com, which is a great way to find a running community like the one Jennifer describes.

Who is in the community that supports, encourages, and inspires you?