What do you love/hate most about running?
More looks inside my book, This is Running, and how to take part from afar.
Purchase a signed copy of This is Running (please)
Not in Los Angeles? NO PROBLEM. Wherever you are in the USA, you can purchase a personalized copy of This is Running.
Skylight Books – the neighborhood bookstore that I spent hours and hours and hours in when I first moved to Los Angeles – has set up a special pre-order page.
I will write whatever you like in the book! AND I will put some Running Sucks stickers in the book as a nice bonus.
As an author who desperately wants to support independent bookstores and running stores, this is very cool and important. It takes a lot of time and some effort to organize these things, so your purchases are very much appreciated.
UK news is coming very soon, and (trust me) it’s fun. But first! More about Los Angeles, because I live here.
WE’RE ROASTING RUNNING
My excellent friends, Ezra Weisz and Jinghuan Liu Tervalon are hosting my book launch event at Vroman’s in Pasadena on Wed Apr 8th.
There will be a reading, some descriptions, some questions, and… a ROAST OF RUNNING. Something a little different, eh? We’ll be answering the most diabolical questions that get asked.
Just like the signed books, you don’t have to be in Los Angeles to participate in the Roast. If you want to enter some tricky questions about running (or about me, the book, or my two hosts), you can submit them in this form.
If you are in LA, though, please come down to Vroman’s and be a part of what will definitely be a very fun evening.
A look inside This is Running
I know that I’ve been banging on about my book in this newsletter for six months now, but allow me to share a little more. Here are a few of my favorite pages. It’s just 10 days until publication in the UK, and 15 in N. America. Time flies!
The contents page. One of the recurring pieces of feedback has been that this book is “comprehensive” but “not overwhelming.” That combo speaks to my soul. Plus it’s got Courtney Dauwalter being a UTMB legend as snapped by David Miller.
This is a photo of someone running the Altadena To Palisades 50k race in 2025 all on her own. I love this race. This movie theater is my favorite in LA. Perfect photo by Connor Simpson.
I’ve listed The Speed Project as one of the ten most iconic races of the 21st century. Long-time readers know how much I’ve written about TSP, and there’s also a Q&A with TSP founder Nils Arena in This is Running.
A banger photo of some bloke dressed head-to-toe in Soar Running garb. I hope they hook me up with some animal print gear <nudge nudge>.
Another David Miller photograph of Jasmin Paris collapsed at the end of her historic efforts at the Barkley Marathons. What a photo.
There are a few of these pullquotes dotted throughout the book. The best one, however, is in the introduction.
Purchase links
USA - Bookshop US | Barnes & Noble | Amazon US
UK - Bookshop UK | Waterstones | Amazon UK
Last week on Running Sucks
It’s TSP season, and so I wrote about Tilly GW, who has been busy driving gender parity on the starting line of The Speed Project. Over 50% of those running from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on their own were women or non-binary. That’s enough of an achievement to wonder out loud why the bigger races aren’t pushing for the same level of equity.
Another great (imho) TSP story from 2025 coming this Thursday.
New York, New York
I cannot get enough of New York. I don’t want to live there, because I am now the embodiment of a soft Southern Californian when it comes to icy weather, but I really do like to visit, so I am. This weekend!
8.30am Sat 28 Mar
Brooklyn Running Co
480 Bergen St, NYC
Reserve your spot on Forte
Please come and try the new Aero Glide 4 GRVL shoes, and listen to me complaining about how cold I am. It’s been over 90 in LA, ok??
Talking of hot, hot heat, I had my first stop on the Salomon Gravel tour last Wednesday when I headed down to San Diego. Milestone Running is an incredible store, and I am really pleased that Greg is ordering some copies of This is Running. I will be back down there to sign some copies ASAP.
I will (hopefully) also be in both Boston and London for the marathons, so if you want to hang out and take photos with me, drop me a line and help make my attendance a 100% possibility.
Thanks for reading,
Raz
CONNECT WITH ME - Instagram | Strava Club | Me on Strava
What I love about running is the community. Having spent the first few years running by myself, it's something I have only really started to experience since returning to the UK. Not only discovering communities I can get involved in, by hearing of many other ones that are an inspiration, helping push the sport further.
Out of the three places your book is being sold in the UK, which is most financially beneficial to you? Is there a preference?
Followed on Strava and Insta. Interesting read - thanks. What I love most about running is freedom. Many days I head out not knowing exactly where I’m headed but am in nature very quickly. What I hate? Jeez… nothing apart from not having time to run some days when the weather is great as I have to go to work! I’m a morning runner only, and I think that’s down to age!