Running with the Kenyans ★★★★☆

Running with the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth (Click Here To Buy)

★★★★☆

Running with the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth by Adharanand Finn is a non-fiction book about a British man who goes to Kenya to train for and run marathon.

I read this as an audiobook checked out from the library.

Finn is a Brit who grew up a fast runner. Once he got to college, his dedication to running slowly declined until he found himself middle aged and with children. After winning a local 10k, Finn decides he wants to follow his dreams and see how fast he can get. Finn uproots his family and they move to Iten, a small town in Kenya that is known as the training hub for Kenyan runners. Over the course of 6 months, Finn trains and gets to know local Kenyan runners leading up to Lewa Marathon. There's also an epilogue where Finn runs the New York Marathon in under 3 hours.

This book was pretty good in regards to books about running. There was definitely more space for Finn to address his privilege as a white man moving to rural Kenya, but he at least touches on the subject. I enjoyed most learning about how people in Kenya live and are raised including running miles to school and eating lots of ugali. I think next I would like to search out a running book written by a Kenyan or African runner, who has recs?

If you liked Running with the Kenyans, I also recommend Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor, Finding Ultra by Rich Roll, and North by Scott Jurek.

Happy reading and running, 🏃‍♀️

Ms.Bjork

P.S. Yep, this photo was taken in Yosemite, that's half dome in the background and it was awesome.