Monday, July 11, 2022

Book Review: Running in the Midpack

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On my nightstand is a stack of running books, waiting to be read and reviewed. At the top of the pile was Running in the Midpack, a book I won in a giveaway sometime last year. I guess I haven't been in the mood to read another how-to-be a runner book and so it sat along with the other running advice books that I have yet to read. I was joking about my running TBR pile with Liz, a book blogger and fellow runner from Great Britain. She also had a copy in her TBR and suggested that we do tandem reviews. I strung her along for a few more months and she finally pinned me down. So my request is that after you read this review, you go over to her blog to read hers.  She's a full time book reviewer, so her review will be very different from mine!

Throughout all my 30+ years of running, I've always been a middle-of-the-pack runner. In my early running years, I was pretty disappointed by the idea of being in the 'middle'. I'm a perfectionist and as much as I'm loathed to admit it, I always try to bring my best to whatever I do. So being a midpack runner did not fit with my drive to be the best. As an older and more experienced runner, I've grown comfortable with my place in the pack. After all, it's not about competing with others, it's about competing with myself. Right? At least that's what I tell myself.

The authors of Running in the Midpack start the book by setting the tone that most of us are midpack runners and wrote this book with the hopes of bringing joy to the reader's running. The midpack is full of just regular runners who love to run, who work hard at it, and find motivation from other midpack runners (and elites too!). Their goal is to help midpack runners continue to grow but also accept their place in the midpack. 

The book is divided into chapters that cover topics important to runners: psychology, whole body health, training, nutrition, and race day strategies. Each chapter goes into great depth on the topics--they even address perfectionism in the chapter on psychology. Where was this book when I was starting out?

Indeed. While Running in the Midpack is geared toward the experienced runner, as I read the book I felt like it would have been helpful when I was a new runner. Some of the information was fairly basic and an experienced runner would probably already know much of what they share. Still, I believe there's always something to be learned, no matter how much experience you have. 

For example, the chapter on Race Day strategies would have been so helpful when I was running marathons and early on when I started running half marathons. I really had no idea what I was doing. The race day strategies chapter almost feels like a pep talk and going forward, I will start reading it before every long distance race I run. The only thing missing are the phrases "Trust the process and Trust your training". I say this because those are my go-to reminders when I'm feeling nervous about my race preparation!

I also found the discussion in the Nutrition chapter on Bonking aka hitting the wall very helpful! It's been a long time since I hit the wall but at my 15 mile trail race this past April, I ran smack dab into the proverbial wall. At mile 14, my legs just did not want to move anymore. Reading this section brought back the shame and bad feelings I felt then because it was all my fault! I didn't fuel properly and I paid for it. Thank you for that important reminder.

Overall, I found Running in the Midpack to be a comprehensive handbook for the rest of us, the regular runners, the ones who always finish in the middle of the pack. We're the ones who get asked why we train for a race we aren't going to win. We're the ones who get nervous about a race because we care so much about meeting our goals. We're the ones who feel sad when things don't go as we hoped for. 

The book is an easy read and one that you will return to again. Beginner runners will also benefit from this book as there is so much good advice. Maybe if I had read something like this when I was starting out, I could have kept my expectations in check!

Have you read Running in the Midpack? Do you consider yourself a middle-of-the-pack runner? What reminders do you tell yourself when you are lining up for a long distance race? Don't forget to go to Liz's blog to read her review

I'm linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics, with the Runners' Roundup: DebbieDeborahJen, and Lisa.


25 comments :

  1. This sounds like an excellent read, Wendy!
    Yes, most of us are midpack runners. But even then, we can find small challenges to make things more interesting - like beating our old time, trying to get a good placement in our age group, or focusing on a decade PR (instead of a life-time PR).
    Now I will go over and check out Liz' review!

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    1. I'm so glad I finally got to read it! It's not so bad being in the midpack, altho some are at that pointy end (you!)!

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  2. I also have that book on my nightstand, I started it and never finished it but I can't remember why. Definitely consider myself a middle of the pack runner and that's ok w me!

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  3. Thank you for the links and for the readalong - it was fun! I approached this as very much someone who's at the back of the midpack - really in the middle of the front of the Back of the Pack - if I do race, I'm in the last 20% but I can run a marathon and finish within 6 hours. I did feel it was for me, too (especially as I saw the authors do a talk in which they confirmed it was for people like me). I felt there was quite a lot experienced runners might have missed or forgotten; yes, I did know most of the terms and ideas but then I read a lot (a LOT) of running books. Funnily enough, even though I rarely race, I loved the race prep lists and recovery plan sheets and the race day info and thought that was spot on. Thank you to anyone who popped over to read my review!

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    1. 100% agree Liz--those race prep tips and checklists are something I will definitely refer back to in the future! And thank you for the readalong too!

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  4. I've never heard of this book! To be honest, I probably won't be rushing out to buy it because it sounds like a lot of information that I already have. But like you, I think I would have enjoyed it a lot when I was starting out- actually it would have been perfect, because there weren't as many good books about running for "normal" people in the 80s. If I do happen to come across it I'll check it out, because like you said, there's always something to be learned. Okay, I'm going to check out Liz's review!

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    1. I agree with you--I probably wouldn't have bought it for myself. But it was worth the read!

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  5. Sounds like a useful book.

    I am definitely a mid-pack runner. As long as I finish, I'm good.

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  6. This sounds really interesting! I've always been either a mid-pack or back of the pack runner. I think thi would be a good book for me to read once I start doing races again.

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  7. Just glancing through the comments it's really interesting that runners who often win AG awards consider themselves to be mid-packers. I agree with you, though, that there is always something to be learned. You stop growing when you think you know it all!

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    1. I had a feeling you'd comment on that! Judy, you have to look at who shows up for a race as well as the finish times of those age groupers. Compared to other runners in my age group, across the board, I'm solidly a midpacker. Definitely not an elite!

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  8. I am also a mid-pack runner or as I like to say "average" runner. :-) This looks like a book I would have liked to read when I started running. So many things have changed and I have learned so much since then. I remember during one of my first races in the cold weather, I wasn't sure what to wear. But I agree that there is always something to learn from others and/or reading about it.

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    1. They don't talk about wardrobe in this book:p It's all about running.

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  9. I haven't read this book yet. It does sound like it would be more helpful for someone new to running. But like you said, there is usually something you can still learn!

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  10. Yes, I'm also a proud mid-packer. Growing up with the belief I wasn't an athlete (ha! My lankiness and klutzy maneuvers kept me quite humble), I never EVER would have seen myself running, let alone doing marathons or ultras. This would have been a great tool to have had access to back when I was just starting out with the running gig.

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  11. I have not read Running in the Midpack, but it sounds like a great book with lots of good information for both the beginner and novice runner.

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    1. There's always something to learn, even as an experienced runner, and there was some good information in this book!

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  12. It seems very logical to me, even though I'm not a runner. Only a few can be at the top and at the bottom and everyone else is in the middle. Much like school when some classes were graded on the curve. Same idea it seems to me. Sounds like teaming up to do the review was a good idea, spuring each other on...just like you often do with your running.
    Sandy's Space
    Keep putting one foot in front of the other and repeat. You amaze me.

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    1. Thanks, Sandy! It was nice to have the other blogger pushing me to finally read it!

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  13. I totaly agree with you, and I'm appreciating what they're saying too about the confidence element. We're our own worst enemies in terms of criticizing ourselves for things we wouldn't dream of others. A very good read so far. Might finish it tomorrow, rain contingent.

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