My friend and training partner (ahem, sole sister) Noemi, lent me a book recently. It was funny because when she gave it to me and showed me the front cover, she prefaced it with, “I know it looks like a book from the early 90s, but it was published in 2006.” It doesn’t really look like it’s from the early 90s, but we had a nice chuckle nonetheless. (I mean, maybe it does a little bit…)
The book she gave me is Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running by Jennifer Lin.
What I love about this book isn’t that it’s about women and running. That part’s cool and all. What I loved was reading about the diversity of stories, experiences, and origins. There are stories from some of the greats — Grete Waitz, for example — as well as stories from running groups turned friendship circles.
Each story, no matter how it’s told or what the scenery is behind it, encompasses the desire for one woman (or group of women) to empower and befriend another through the gift of running.
It’s truly an amazing book. So many different stories, so many different lessons. And so many ways I can relate to it! When I finished it, I was a little sad. The stories had a profound impact on my soul. I asked Noemi how she felt about passing it on to the next runner in our little running group. I wanted to share the impact of the Sole Sisters with someone else, just like Noemi had with me. Noemi agreed, and when we met up for a post-marathon dinner, I bestowed the book onto Sara. After Sara reads it, she’ll pass it on to Julie.
I feel much more knowledgable and empowered after reading what these women have gone through and what they have to say. It’s truly such a wonderful book with honest stories.
If you are a female runner, I highly recommend picking up this book from your local library. Or if you’re a guy and would like a glimpse into the female runner’s psyche, a quick read like this couldn’t hurt.
I owe huge thanks to my sole sister, Noemi, for introducing me to this book. It’s such a great read. Thank you, friend!
xo
Do you have a favorite sports-themed book? What is it about it that draws you in?
