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The Way of the Runner

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The Way of the Runner

By: Adharanand Finn
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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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 Inspiring Sports

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All stars
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Great book to listen to, great story to share and get insights to other ways of running and training.

Great book to listen to, great story to share and get insights to other ways of running and training.

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Really enjoyed this. The author's account of his experience running in Japan with the Japanese was really fascinating. Loved the whole story about his journey there and how the family adapted to life in Japan for 6 months. Never realised that Ekiden was essentially a Japanese term for a relay race.

If you're a runner, you'll love this

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This book was very enjoyable. I have recently finished The Rise of the Ultra Runner and loved it and I have very fond memories of Running With the Kenyans. This book didn't quite reach this heights but didn't have me gripped for long periods. It was so interesting with regards to Japan as a running country which I had never before realised it was. Overall very good but not just as epic as his other books.

Enjoyable but not as epic as his other books.

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This is third of Adharanand Finn's book I've listened to and the first he hasn't narrated. Derek Perkins does a decent job but it's not quite the same.
I'm a reluctant runner at best, I listened to this while cycling, but there is something inspirational about Finn's books, partly his enthusiasm, part his desire to learn and improve. It give an insight in to the culture of Japan and how that culture drives their long distance running performance. It's a fascinating listen, I'd love a sequel to see if the traditions of training has continued or the new wave of coaches hinted at by the book have started to shake Japanese running in the last ten years.

Fascinating and inspiring

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The book was enjoyable, but it was not what I was expecting. I was hoping for more tips and techniques on how to improve my running. This was more of a story of how the author went to Japan and networked and ran. However, the narrator was pleasant to listen to.

Good performance but no real substance

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I loved 'Running with the Kenyans', and was thrilled to discover that Adharanand Finn had conducted a second one-man study, this time based in Japan. I love the fact that his wife and children are fully involved in these excursions, which really adds an extra dimension. This was another fascinating observation on a country's culture and attitude towards running, as well as a contemplative study of the author's own running. Interesting and engaging in equal measures, and inspired me to keeping looking for better form in my own running, even though I have no aspiration to win (or even enter!) any races.

Another fascinating study of a running nation

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Well written, read and packed with insight and information but with a human touch. I cannot recommend highly enough.

Brilliant from start to end.

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It was a nice listen. Hearing about Japanese running culture was interesting, but they're is no real finale. The end was a little disappointing.

Interesting with little excitement

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A fascinating story and insight into the world off Japanese running. Like a long run, it had its ups and downs however overall, a unique and honest book that i thoroughly enjoyed

If you like running, you have to read this book!

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I love running and travelling. This book was very interesting for me and I listened it while running. i recommend it to runners or people interested in Japan. Third book of Finn that I listen. I can't get enough! Dear FinnSan, please move abroad to run again and write a third book.

I really enjoy this author

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