Fitzgerald also puts forth the idea that there is no "perfect stride" to which all runners should aspire. Each stride is a little bit different and the only reason to teach technique is to sell more books and DVDs. "Indeed," he writes, "I believe that if all runners ran barefoot, the various running techniques would not exist." Although we don't see Fitzgerald advocating a barefoot-only style of running, that may be more due to his belief that there is no "one true way" to running happiness.
Fitzgerald discusses the emotional factors of running. He suggests that a happy runner is a fast runner because a happy runner enjoys her training, and enjoyment of training leads to more training, which leads to being a better runner. And being a better runner makes running more fun, which leads to a happier runner, which means...well, you can see where this is going. Conversely, there is a section later in the book about racing angry.
Racing angry, according to Fitzgerald, can also be good for you. Two-time Kona Ironman Champion Chris McCormack often creates adversity in his head which he then uses as fuel during competition. Michael Jordan famously did the same for his entire career.
Another idea worth exploring is that suffering and enjoyment are not mutually exclusive. The hurt of training does not mean that the training isn't fun. Running happy and suffering while running can (and often do) happen at the same time.
This concept seems crazy to a non-runner. To someone not in shape, exercise hurts and hurting sucks. But to a fit person, burning lungs and jelly legs mean strength is coming. As an athlete, few things feel better than knowing all that work leads to real, tangible results.
Run is a book primarily concerned with racing. If you are interested in becoming a faster runner and are open to new ideas about how to get there, this book will help you in that quest.
Run fast. Run happy. Run beautifully.
Sign up for your next race. 