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My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon (Runner's World)
Bart Yasso, an icon of one of the most enduringly popular recreational sports in the United States, offers a touching and humorous memoir about the rewards and challenges of running. Recounting his adventures in locales like Antarctica, Africa, and Chitwan National Park in Nepal (where he was chased by an angry rhino), Yasso recommends the best marathons on foreign te...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
May 12th 2009
by Rodale Books
(first published May 13th 2008)
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I had to give this book five stars for pure entertainment value. I often interrupted my poor husband's reading to read excerpts that made me laugh out loud. Several times I was shaking my head, marveling at the 'no fear' lifestyle that Yasso embraced. Although not many runners will accomplish what Yasso did in his lifetime, through his stories and love of all things running, he expresses the message that all runners are part of the bigger running community, no matter how far or how fast they may...more
I should start by confessing that I may search for years without finding a book on running that measures up to McDougall’s Born to Run.
While I enjoyed Yasso’s book and read it fairly eagerly over just a couple of days, I do have one gripe: I found it a bit desultory (I just learned this word yesterday. It means “lacking in consistency, method, purpose, or visible order; digressing from the main subject.”) Of course, except for one chapter about biking across the States in twenty day...more
While I enjoyed Yasso’s book and read it fairly eagerly over just a couple of days, I do have one gripe: I found it a bit desultory (I just learned this word yesterday. It means “lacking in consistency, method, purpose, or visible order; digressing from the main subject.”) Of course, except for one chapter about biking across the States in twenty day...more
This was really fun, especially for someone who runs a lot.
I was recently training for my second NYC marathon (which went well, thank you), and went to the Marathon Expo a couple of days before the race to pick up my racing number. They also had a lot of booths, including one for Runner's World, one of my favorite magazines.
This book was written by the man that some people call "the Mayor of Running." The stories are interesting, wacky, and fun. Some of the races...more
I was recently training for my second NYC marathon (which went well, thank you), and went to the Marathon Expo a couple of days before the race to pick up my racing number. They also had a lot of booths, including one for Runner's World, one of my favorite magazines.
This book was written by the man that some people call "the Mayor of Running." The stories are interesting, wacky, and fun. Some of the races...more
Borrowed from my sister-in-law, who keeps encouraging me to run...again. This book does the trick. How can one not want to get out there and pound the pavement or the trails after reading this book.
Bart is the ultimate encourager and ambassador for the running community. His experiences are captured with such wit. An easy read. Great training programs in the back for those who would like some direction. A must read for those who want to get or keep running consistently. I have done ...more
Bart is the ultimate encourager and ambassador for the running community. His experiences are captured with such wit. An easy read. Great training programs in the back for those who would like some direction. A must read for those who want to get or keep running consistently. I have done ...more
This book tells the interesting story of a most interesting runner. Bart Yasso's life and the role running has played in it could easily inspire anyone to achieve, and clearly it has inspired many all over the globe.
What impresses me most about Yasso, and, indeed, about most runners, is their openness. It is what makes running possible for a snail like me....Even for a guy who would always be at the head of the pack, Yasso believes that there is a place for everyone in the race. The...more
What impresses me most about Yasso, and, indeed, about most runners, is their openness. It is what makes running possible for a snail like me....Even for a guy who would always be at the head of the pack, Yasso believes that there is a place for everyone in the race. The...more
I worked with Bart at Runner's World so I knew some of this story, but not all the details. His story was a flashback of sorts for me to another time in my life when I, too, worked for Runner's World.
This was a fun book, detailing the running adventures of Bart Yasso. He's worked for Runner's World for 20+ years in the capacity of running ambassador. How do you get a job like that? He's run races and marathons on every continent and done many interesting things regarding running. It was fun to hear of his experiences including his one race at a nudist community. He honeymooned in Italy with his wife and they ran races all over Italy. It gave me some good ideas of running adventures to pursue...more
Yasso's adventures were entertaining to read about. His life story is full of inspiration and humor. Stories about marathons in far off locations or getting through tough injuries is the stuff I love to read about in running books. However, I did get a little annoyed at of Yasso's fan-boy comments about Runner's World, Rodale (Runner's World's magazine publisher), and some of RW's staff he works with. I know that his job working for the magazine is a big part of his life, but at times it felt li...more
I read this book over two days. Is it remarkable? No. However, it's not intended as literature. Bart Yasso's life has been an interesting one, spent primarily in the world of running. He speaks openly of his younger years as an underachiever and alcohol/pot addict, and how running helped him find his place in the world. That is not to say that this book is pretentious and preachy. Far from it, Yasso's success comes from his willingness and desire to work (and run) with people. The stories he rec...more
This was a great read. I bought this book after listening to him speak at the pasta dinner for the Quad Cities Marathon. He shared some of the stories from the book and I just had to read about his other adventures.
You are not going to gain a lot of knowledge about running strategies from this book. What you will gain is an appreciation for the running world and how cool the world really is. He has been all over and has been able to witness the true essence of the human spirit.
...more
You are not going to gain a lot of knowledge about running strategies from this book. What you will gain is an appreciation for the running world and how cool the world really is. He has been all over and has been able to witness the true essence of the human spirit.
...more
This was a fun book to read. Bart Yasso, editor of Runner's World, and creator of the Yasso 800- the training tool I used to get me to Boston. He's a life long runner, so dedicated to the sport just because he loves it. He tells his story of how he got into running, how it saved his life from one full of drugs and booze. It gave him purpose, led him to his great job and his wife. He's lived a unique life, lives with a terminal illness and has traveled to crazy places and run races all over the...more
If you like to run, this is a MUST read. I loved his stories, it was so inspiring. After a bad race I was ready to throw in the towel on running and this book inspired me to continue on. Also has tons of training schedules in the back which I hear are amazing for half marathons, marathons, 10K & even 5K. When I start training again I plan on using his schedule. The only thing I didn't like is he jumped around in time frames quite a bit so it was confusing sometimes when the date was but overall ...more
I wish I could give this 4.5 stars....I really liked it and I was sad for it to end. Bart is a great storyteller and weaves motivation into his stories seamlessly. He writes about how running saved him from a life of alcoholism and other substance abuse, although I would have liked a little more detail about his early days and struggles, as it seems he was nearly a natural runner from the get-go. At times the timeline of his life was not as clear as I would have liked and I felt he was a bit of ...more
Yasso compiles a not-so-chronological collection of his running career and his tips and inspiration for all types of runners. It was interesting to read how he transformed himself from an alcoholic drug user to an elite runner who has participated in races all over the world.
Part two departs from memoir and shifts into practical application for runners. There are guides for athletes of any ability for any type of distance and also race recommendations.
While the writin...more
Part two departs from memoir and shifts into practical application for runners. There are guides for athletes of any ability for any type of distance and also race recommendations.
While the writin...more
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I picked up this book at a race expo and got it signed by the authori himself. "Never limit where running can take you, Hannah" is what he wrote. This is what he wrote in everyone's book, but as you read it begins to take on a personal meaning. Bart's experience running all over the world, promoting races all over the country and accomplishing such amazing personal goals is the greatest inspiration to me, as a runner. I laughed out loud at certain parts and just paused to reflect and i...more
Bart Yasso is considered by many to be the ambassador of running. In this book, he shares some of the more interesting stores from his life on the run. It's an entertaining read because it's unlikely I'll ever run in Madagascar, Antarctica, Badwater, or any of the other locations that Yasso shares. Thankfully, I doubt I'll ever have to suffer through chronic lyme disease either.
This is a good book runners. In addition to the stories, Yasso shares many of his training techniques a...more
This is a good book runners. In addition to the stories, Yasso shares many of his training techniques a...more
Jeri and I got to meet the author at the San Antonio Marathon, and I wish I had known more about him before then. His book was pretty awesome, and he's surely a great storyteller. What a life! Luckily he'll be in town next year for the Rocket City Marathon, so hopefully I'll be able to talk to him then.
Quick read and very entertaining, it even has some training plans for races from 5Ks to Marathons using the Yasso 800s method.
Quick read and very entertaining, it even has some training plans for races from 5Ks to Marathons using the Yasso 800s method.
The book is a collection of tales from Bart Yasso's many running adventures.
I found a good portion of the situations Bart found himself in were pretty funny (running with nudists, being attacked by ninja like birds while setting the course for a marathon in Antarctica), and his writing style was very approachable and down to earth. No elitist athlete mentality to be found.
Nice, easy and enjoyable read.
I found a good portion of the situations Bart found himself in were pretty funny (running with nudists, being attacked by ninja like birds while setting the course for a marathon in Antarctica), and his writing style was very approachable and down to earth. No elitist athlete mentality to be found.
Nice, easy and enjoyable read.
Totally enjoyed this book. I'm not a runner. But I would love to be a runner. Not a marathon runner like Bart Yasso but maybe a 5K. He is very encouraging and I felt like I was reading a book by a friend. Highly recommend this if you're wanting someone to inspire you to start running or get in shape. Bart Yasso's story is an interesting one. Glad he chose to share it.
I bought this book from Bart himself at the Rock 'N Roll Marathon Expo in San Antonio. It was my favorite souvenir from the weekend, especially since he signed the book for me. It was a quick easy read, and I really enjoyed it. His stories were great, and I was left wanting to hear about more. Now I want to go run a lot of the races he mentioned!!! :-)
Bart Yasso, the Mayor of Running, has spent most of his adult life racing and promoting the sport. This book is full of his most memorable experiences. The chapters are fairly short but are packed with wit and wisdom. Favorites include the Antarctica Marathon, the Bare Buns Run, and his bike trip across America. Bart takes his readers along for the ride throughout the world and through his life as running helps us all become better people. This book inspires you to run, no matter what your ...more
Did not have very high expectations when I started this. In truth I was trying to clear some book shelves. I ended up really enjoying his stories of the different races and events in which he has participated. It really brought me back to the joy of running and the fun to be had doing it. A quick and enjoyable read.
GREAT read and totally inspiring! Yasso reminded me that running should be FUN above all else. He's been on some crazy adventures and got the stories to prove it. What an inspiration! I'm almost ready to sign up for a marathon...
Last 1/3 to 1/4 of the book has training plans for racing.
Last 1/3 to 1/4 of the book has training plans for racing.
A fun read! Yasso somehow manages to write about some amazing athletic feats without once sounding pompous or superior. In fact, he makes every event sound accessible to the average person, regardless of age or gender. I guess he's fulfilling his lifetime goal of bringing running to the masses.
Amazing book, if you are a runner you will really enjoy. I met Bart early in my running career, and we actually talked about his cross country bike ride. I only wish I read the book before I met him. I would have loved talking to him for hours. Defintely a worthwhile read.
Despite his many achievements, Bart clearly doesn't take himself too seriously. He has had a lot of fun running, all over the world and bringing the sport to a wide range of people. He believes that anyone can run. The stories about the routes and races he has run made me want to do them all! His outlook is inspiring, he also inspires with stories about the other runners he had met. Looking forward to trying out his training plans.
Excellent story about his life, how running changed it, places he's been and all his crazy adventures! Makes me want to get out there, run and travel more! Also gives me ideas for new races. This one really got me hooked on finding races and really traveling to them.
I purchased this book at my first Half Marathon in August of 2008. While I didn't get to meet the author, Bart wrote inside my copy: "A Marathon is like life - it's not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters."
Barts book tells stories of "how good it was" for him. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all of his adventures. I was litterally laughing out loud at some point. He has inspired my husband and I to incorporate running into our love of travel....more
Barts book tells stories of "how good it was" for him. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all of his adventures. I was litterally laughing out loud at some point. He has inspired my husband and I to incorporate running into our love of travel....more
this was a great book about Bart Yasso's running (& other) adventures. great stories from badwater to rome, from running naked to cycling across the country, from burro racing to running away from rhinos, from antarctica to the actic, etc...and of course, a little bit about the yasso 800s...it nice reading about the races/adventures and the people he's encountered. :)
What a treasure!
This book was the first in a series of three I happened to pick up that ultimately lead to a cross-country bicycle trip with my husband.
It's filled with adventure that's both comedic and inspiring. Couldn't put it down!
This book was the first in a series of three I happened to pick up that ultimately lead to a cross-country bicycle trip with my husband.
It's filled with adventure that's both comedic and inspiring. Couldn't put it down!
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