Last week, I read the book, Slow AF Run Club by Martinus Evans. In the audiobook, the author himself reads the book. Though the target audience of the book is for the non-traditional runner, and I fit in the  traditional runner category, I really enjoyed his book and recommend it to everyone. This is a no-frills, hold nothing back, raw guide on getting started.  It is truly a warm welcome into the running community. It is different from other running introductory books in that it is honest, teaches you what words and terms mean vs letting you assume their meaning, and how simple it is to get started.

What follows in this blog post is a few of my favorite things from the book. I hope this list will encourage you to pick up a copy and start running.

  1. ‘You’re only competing with yourself.’
  2. ‘The Chafemeister.’ Oh, he had me in near tears because this is so relatable.
  3. A gait analysis is ‘one of the greatest experiences of customer service.’ I encourage new runners to head to their local running store. (If you’re local, go to Hanson’s Running Shop.) Let the staff help you find the right pair of running shoes. While I haven’t personally received a gait analysis because I was not seeking one, the staff at the shop looked at my old Asics shoes and paired me up with Brooks Glycerins, when I was leaving the (more affordable) Asics brand behind. It was the perfect match. Now, the author is right, each year models may change and it is good to try on the pair of shoes before you buy. But I must admit, about two weeks ago I walked in, asked for “Brooks Glycerins, size 8,” bought the pair, and left.
  1. Evans tells you about different race types: rolling starts to corrals, what to look for in a race, how to pick, and why. Truly, you should contact race directors with your questions, they themselves are happy to help or they have race ambassadors eager to connect with you. I’ve contacted race platforms to find out what type of weather to expect in an out of state race.
  2. The reiteration, ‘Nothing new on race day.’
  3. ‘You have everything you already need within you.’
  4. ‘Race day is a big deal but have fun with it.’
  5. ‘The journey is more important than the race.’ Training for a marathon is a big commitment and when it is over? Yep, post-race blues.
  6. ‘You can stop running if you’re in pain. It’s not quitting, it’s taking care of yourself.’ THIS!  No need to run through an injury. You’ll make it worse. As you recovery from the injury, the rest and rehab will you do you so much good, you’ll come back stronger.
  7. The great post-race tip: ‘Bring a fresh change of clothes.’ I’ve brought large body wipes (ones that won’t make me smell like a baby) and clothes to change in the car after a run/race. Not only will your ride home be more enjoyable, but it can be fun to plan brunch with friends for after the race, get your errands done, or I have even gone apple-picking with friends. You’ll have cleaner skin and feel much better. I’m currently trying out Yuni, though I used to have Epic Wipes [but it appears they’re not available on Amazon and I hate to say, but I don’t want to have to create another account to make a purchase].  
  8. Have a post-run/race treat plan! I love chocolate milk after a run. A past post-race plan has been Five Guys’ burgers.
  9. Runner Safety – tell someone where you are going and when they should expect you back.
  10. Let’s not forget about the experiences Evans details as a non-traditional runner. He recounts aspects like body size and skin color that is unlikely to ever happen to me and it is important he shares them.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed his book. This will be my go-to book recommendation for new runners. ‘If you move, ‘faster’ than a walk, you are a runner.’

Note – because I read the book via audio book, I do not have exact quotations from the author, I use single quotation marks to indicate what I believe to be the phrase communicated.