The Way of the Runner cover art

The Way of the Runner

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Way of the Runner

By: Adharanand Finn
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $22.99

Buy Now for $22.99

About this listen

A journey into Japan's fabled running culture from the award-winning author of Running with the Kenyans.

Welcome to Japan, the most running-obsessed nation on earth, a place where a 135-mile relay race is the country's biggest annual sporting event. Thousands of professional runners compete for corporate teams in some of the most competitive races in the world. Marathon monks run a thousand marathons in a thousand days to reach spiritual enlightenment.

Adharanand Finn spent six months immersed in this unique running culture to discover what it might teach us about the sport and about Japan. As an amateur runner about to turn 40, he also hoped to find out whether the Japanese approach to training might help him run faster. What he learned - about competition, teamwork, form, chasing personal bests and himself - will fascinate anyone keen to explore why we run and how we might do it better.

©2015 Adharanand Finn (P)2016 Audible, Ltd Running & Jogging Sports
All stars
Most relevant  
I really enjoyed this book and learnt a lot about Japanese running and their culture’s motivation. It follows in the same theme of the author’s previous and future books so if you enjoyed those, you will also like this one.

Well researched account of Japanese running

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Detail insights of the Japanese culture of running, the reason I listen to it was to get to know different cultures too which is a plus.

Good insights

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A great read and another really interesting insight into a new world of running. Check it out fo' sure!

Another cracker from Aharanand Finn! Great read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed this book and the experiences and exposure to Japanese running. I recommend it to anyone who like Running with Kenyans.

Enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If your fascinated by running in general I would recommend otherwise probably not for your standard reader

Engaging mostly, insightful in parts.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A good book, and like Running with the Kenyans, a little self obsessed. However, being a middle aged runner I get that. It just seems to me that the vast majority of club runners already know what it is to run in a relay (Ekiden), have felt the pressure of running for a team, etc. So this 'novelty' is not so unique to Japan. The background on their coaching attitude, professional running, monks etc was great. Don't get me wrong, this book is well worth the time.

Very Interesting Book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Hard to believe this fanatical culture exists in Japan and the rest of the world is oblivious. Finn has found a perfect balance between travel and culture writer and running nerd. Good running literature can be hard to find. New book please, Finn, and soon! There must be more exotic running cultures out there to discover.

Inspiring stuff, and fascinating, too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If you like running, this book will inspire you more. It have some nuggets to help you run faster. And also explained why Ekiden is so popular in Japan. What does it like running a relay marathon.

Learnt about Ekiden runners

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.