The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration
A Year of Motivation, Revelation, and Instruction
Buy it now:
$14.95
Now in its ninth printing and translated into international editions, The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration: A Year of Motivation, Revelation and Instruction, by Kevin Nelson, has become a classic motivational book for runners. Here is what one reader/runner said about it:
"The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration is most likely the best investment I have ever made. Last year, I made a resolution to get in shape, eat healthy, and basically be a fit person inside and out. This is not a very easy resolution to fulfill, as I soon found out. It was my plan to run at least three times a week and supplement it with another form of aerobic exercise. Very quickly, I lost my motivation and was not living up to my expectations. I came upon this book soon afterwards, and tried to regain my motivation. After restarting my exercise program along with reading this book, I am now running every day of the week, rain or shine, hot or cold, I run through it all, all due to this very book. If you buy one book in your life, buy Catcher in the Rye. But if you buy two, buy this one too!"
Described as "the ultimate coach, motivator and therapist all in one," The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration has a simple goal: to inspire people to run every day in order to promote their health and well-being. It begins on January 1 and ends December 31, with February 29, Leap Day, included for good measure. Every page features a motivational quote at the top, followed by Nelson's motivational writing on the theme of the day. Each daily entry ends with a call to action—that is, a resolution to go outside that day and run.
Published by McGraw-Hill. 378 pages. ISBN: 0-8092-2962-5. 14.95. It is available for purchase on this website, bookstores, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, and other outlets. It is also available on Kindle through Amazon.
Kevin Nelson has also written an inspirational book for fishermen, The Angler's Book of Daily Inspiration, which can also be ordered through this website and other retail outlets.
Buy it Now – $14.95
The Dutch translation of The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration
Sample entry (January 2):
"How much happiness is gained, and how much misery escaped, by frequent and violent agitation of the body."—Samuel Johnson, philosopher
The main goal of running is not to finish first, or to run faster than you ever have before, or to beat your competitors, although any one of these can be, at times, a very worthy goal.
The main goal of running is to enjoy yourself. Whenever you run, keep that in mind.
There is one indispensable rule of the roads: If you do not enjoy running, you will not run. If you do not run, you will not reap any rewards from it.
Everything starts with fun, a sense of play. Lacking that, all is lost. Though runners often work desperately hard at it, most love what they do and get an emotional charge from it. To borrow a line, at the heart of every runner is a little boy or girl.
Inevitably some days seem more work than pleasure. When this occurs, ask yourself: Are you focusing too much on duty and routine, times and mileage? Every day is a good day when you run. Remember that, and you will be fine.
Resolved: I remember to enjoy myself when I run.