26.2 Audiobooks to Push You Through Your Marathon Training – runnersworld.com
26.2 Audiobooks to Push You Through Your Marathon Training runnersworld.com
For anyone training for a marathon, the season of long runs has arrived. And when you’re pounding the pavement for three or four hours at time, spending time alone with your thoughts or listening to your favorite pump-up playlist may start to get old.
If you’re running 30+ hours a week, you might need something other than the sound of your own panting to fill the time.
Enter the audiobook.
Coming in all lengths, subjects, and genres, audiobooks are perfect for marathon training. Download one to your phone or watch, and you’ve got hours’ worth of captivating content to power you through endless late night and early morning runs. I should know: As a marathon fanatic, writer, and literary agent, I stumbled upon the audiobook’s miraculous ability to make the hours melt away, and I never looked back.
Below are 26.2 audiobooks to help you survive—and thrive—during every type of training run you’ll face on the way to the starting line.
[From training tips, to fueling strategies, to improving the mind-body connection, the Runner’s World 2020 Calendar will help you run your best all year long.]
Books to Scare You Into Running Faster
1. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
HarperCollins
Looking to bust out some sprints or power through the last few miles of run? Try swapping your EDM playlist for a terrifying audiobook. Michelle McNamara’s New York Times bestseller chronicles her obsessive search for the Golden State Killer, who terrorized California and evaded police for decades. Equal parts personal memoir and pure horror, this true crime masterpiece will shock you into some impressive Strava records.
2. The Passage by Justin Cronin
Penguin Random House
Gone are the sexy vampires of Twilight, and to replace them are The Passage’s hoard of post-apocalyptic vampire-like wraiths, armed with a highly contagious virus and an insatiable need for human blood. Part The Walking Dead and Dracula, this audiobook (and its two sequels) should only be downloaded if you want to run fast and spend half your workout looking over your shoulder for murderous blood suckers.
3. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Penguin Random House
With a teeth-stealing murderer on the loose in the small town of Wind Gap, Missouri, big city crime reporter/alcoholic Camille Preaker must return home to investigate. As she interviews old friends and family members, she pieces together a gruesome tale as disturbing as it is intriguing. Not recommended for solo trail runs or country roads unless you’re ready for terror-induced sprints.
Books to Transport You to a Different World
4. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Penguin Random House
Tired of staring at the treadmill monitor or your endless neighborhood sidewalks? Press play and let Bourdain steal you away to the saucy kitchen drama of five-star restaurants. Listen to the accomplished chef and Parts Unknown host dish on the culinary world—he’s the narrator—in his memoir, serving a no-holds-barred portrait of the often-secret restaurant community with a side of sly sarcasm. If your run doesn’t leave you hungry, this audiobook will.
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Charles Scribner’s Sons
If you haven’t thought about Jay Gatsby, Daisey Buchanan, and Nick Carraway since your high school English class, it’s time to give this American classic another go. Jake Gyllenhaal narrates this Audible exclusive, lending his Oscar-nominated talent to the Jazz Age masterpiece. Prepare to be transported to the lavish Prohibition era of flappers and gangsters.
6. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Charles Scribner’s Sons
Your sweaty 20-miler won’t seem half bad when compared to the dinosaur-fleeing treks through Costa Rican humidity in Michael Crichton’s sci-fi epic. When the carnivorous attractions of Jurassic Park are let loose, a team of scientists (and two unlucky children) must scramble to survive. With many of the movie’s iconic moments included, but plenty of new sharp-toothed twists and flesh-hungry turns, the audiobook is a must-listen, whether you’ve watched the film or not.
Books for Epically Long Run
7. The Stand by Stephen King
Anchor
If you’re looking to fill time, look no further than The Stand. Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece. It follows the survivors of a super flu that wipes out 99 percent of the earth’s population, and clocks in at 47 hours and 47 minutes. That’s enough audiobook for 12 marathons. You’ll laugh, cry, and have the living daylights scared out of you, but you’ll never be bored. If you’re on a budget and only want to buy one book, this is the one for you.
8. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Recorded Books
With Greta Gerwig’s Little Women adaption starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, and Meryl Streep hitting theaters in December, there is no better time to brush up on the American classic. If you don’t feel like lugging around the 500+ page tome, however, why not try the enduring picture of sisterhood in audio? And think of how you’ll impress your friends at brunch! You ran a marathon and read the book before seeing the movie? #Winning
9. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Pottermore Publishing
Arguably the most beloved and iconic audiobooks of all time, the Harry Potter series, narrated by the incomparable Jim Dale, is a treat whether you’re returning to Hogwarts or studying wizardry for the first time. Listening to Dale’s roster of over 200 distinct character voices is awe-inspiring. Plus, the audiobook series is over 117 hours long. If you’re running a 9-minute mile, that’s 780 miles worth of magical listening. That’s 29 full marathons, folks!
Books to Make You Wish Your Run Was Longer
10. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Penguin Random House
If you’re lacking the motivation to add mileage to long runs, might I suggest listening to this page-turning sci-fi treasure hunt? When the inventor of a massive virtual reality gaming empire dies, Wade Watts joins thousands in search of an Easter egg worth the creator’s fortune buried deep within the game. Packed with riddles, intrigue, and ’80s nostalgia (the game creator was obsessed with the decade), the novel is a wild, unstoppable ride. Bonus points for the audiobook being narrated by Star Trek, Stand by Me, and Toy Soldiers star Wil Wheaton.
11. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Harper Collins
There is something to be said for the classic whodunit. Rich man, supposedly alone in his study, stabbed to death. Detective arrives to solve the crime. Poison. Blackmail. A secret marriage. A shifty butler. In this audiobook, however, the queen of mystery Agatha Christie not only delivers a delightfully addicting tale of aristocratic British murder, but also one of the greatest last-minute twists of the century. You’ll want to tack on extra miles just to see who did in fact murder Roger Ackroyd.
12. In the Woods by Tana French
Penguin Random House
One of three missing children, Rob Ryan was found terrified in the woods outside Dublin, covered in blood and with no memory of how he got there or what happened to the others. Now 20 years later and a detective, he tries to recall his missing memories to solve a similar crime. The first in a series of interconnected Irish thrillers by crime novelist Tana French, this audiobook will provide all the adrenaline you need to keep running.
Books to Teach You Something
13. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Penguin Random House
Champion multitaskers looking for continuing-education credits and toned calves, you’ve got some options. First up, an in-depth look at Elizabeth Holmes and her billion-dollar scam. Carreyrou, a Wall Street Journal reporter, examines Theranos, the dazzling blood-testing startup that took Silicon Valley by storm before its was revealed as the biggest corporate sham of the century. A must listen for anyone looking to bone up on biotech fraud or just obsessed with scammers.
14. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Hachette
Non-fiction heavy hitter and podcast guru Malcolm Gladwell is back with a new book, this time focusing on our interactions with strangers. A skilled narrator, Gladwell reads the audiobook himself, guiding listeners through societal touchstones like Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, the case against Jerry Sandusky, and Amanda Knox’s trial with an eye for how humans commonly misread people we don’t know. Sociology made easy through captivating storytelling, Talking to Strangers will have you questioning the way you look at every runner you pass by.
15. Becoming by Michelle Obama
Penguin Random House
Who better to spend 20 hours learning from than Michelle Obama? If you haven’t already read the former-First Lady’s memoir (and based on its 46 weeks on the NYT bestseller list, many people have), might I recommend the audiobook? Narrated by Mrs. Barack Obama herself, Becoming not only shares plenty of behind-the-scenes presidential secrets (they blast Beyoncé in the limo), but also offers plenty of wisdom for how to be a better person. Plus listening to a book while running 18 miles just feels like something the First Lady of Fitness would do.
Books for Young Runners (Or the Young at Heart)
16. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Balzer + Bray
It’s not just adults running marathons these days, and if you’re inclined toward something more youthful, here is a recommendation: The Hate U Give which has sat on the NYT bestseller list for 135 weeks. Equal parts heart-breaking and heart-warming, it follows the 16-year-old who witnessed the shooting of an African-American high schooler by a cop. Prepare yourself though for a lot of midrun feelings.
17. Gone by Michael Grant
Tantor Media Inc
No one does high tension, action-packed, sci-fi soapy drama like young adult authors, and there is no better example than Grant’s Gone series. When a 20-mile-wide dome appears on the coast of California, leaving only children trapped inside, things go Lord of the Flies real fast. Add famine, mutant wolfs, and super powers to the mix, and you’re in bonkers teen drama heaven. Riverdale meets X-Men, this is not a series to sleep on. Plus, with five sequels and a three-book spinoff series, you’ve got content for marathons to come.
18. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Simon and Schuster
If you, like me, loved Booksmart, and particularly relished Noah Galvin as the theater kid throwing a murder mystery dinner party, then I’ve got the audiobook for you. Perks of Being a Wallflower (narrated by Galvin himself) is also a moving and humorous tribute to the power of high school friendship. At under seven hours, it’s one of the shorter books on this list, but it is perfect for a set of shorter runs close together.
Books to Help You Laugh Through the Pain
19. Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris
Hachette
Marathon training is usually painful and relatively smile-free. Why not change that? Incorporate some smiles—and dare I say, actual laughs—into your long runs with some David Sedaris essays. In this travel memoir, the famed writer and humorist takes listeners around the world to belly-laughing results. The consummate audio performer, Sedaris reads the audiobook himself. Be forewarned however, laughing too hard while running can turn into a coughing fit, so avoid if you’re looking to PR.
20. Bossypants by Tina Fey
Hachette
Tina Fey reading an audiobook she wrote. Do I need to say any more? She wrote and acted in 30 Rock, Mean Girls, and SNL. Her memoir was a bestseller. The audiobook was Grammy nominated. The audiobook also includes bonus content not in actual book. It would be great to listen to at any time, and that includes while running.
Books to Give You So Many Emotional Feelings You Forget Your Physical Ones
21. Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Penguin Random House
One cure for fixating on your sore knees during long runs is experiencing intense emotional anguish—something that Whitehead’s Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning novel is happy to provide. The tale of a runaway slave set in an alternate history is not for the faint of heart, but its emotionally lacerating story and gut-punching prose make it essential listening.
22. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Harper
Like Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird probably popped up on at least one of your syllabi growing up. But if you haven’t reread lately, the audiobook is a wonderful way to revisit the classic. Read by Sissy Spacek (who Harper Lee hand selected), the beloved novel comes alive in new ways in audio. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And there is no quote in all of literature more relatable to a marathoner after a long run than when Scout demands “Pass the damn ham.”
23. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Penguin Random House
Soon to be a Hulu show starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon, there’s no better time to read Ng’s bestselling novel. Focusing on two families living in a progressive suburb of Cleveland, Little Fires examines motherhood, community, and the secrets we hide just to get through the day. A little bit mystery, a little bit family drama, but completely captivating, this audiobook will certainly help you forget any stray aches or pains.
Books If You Still Haven’t Had Enough Running
24. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
Penguin Random House
If running the countless hours required to train for a marathon just isn’t enough running for you, you could try listening to an audiobook about running while actually running. And at the top of any runner’s reading list is McDougall’s investigation into the phenomenon of ultra-distance running, and specifically the reclusive Tarahumara tribe of Mexico, who can seemingly run forever. Mixing modern science, memoir, and captivating storytelling, McDougall weaves together a powerful argument for humans as long distance runners.
25. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Blackstone Audio
You’re training for a marathon! So is Haruki Murakami! In his running-focused memoir, one of the world’s greatest living novelists recounts his training for the New York City Marathon. An examiner of the human experience, Murakami describes the act of pushing your body through 26.2 miles like no one else can. If you’re looking for commiseration, inspiration, or odd specifics from another runner’s journal, this is for you.
26. On Trails by Robert Moor
Author’s Republic
While not specifically about running, On Trails is about traveling long distances on foot, so I’m counting it. Robert Moor’s exploration of trails, from the cellular level to continent-traversing behemoths, is a masterclass in non-fiction writing. Combining Moor’s own experience as an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, interviews with leading scientists, and profiles of the world’s quirkiest adventurers, On Trails is an entrancing meditation on a subject I never knew needed meditating on. If you’re only going to listen to one thing on this list, I’d recommend On Trails.
And, of course…
26.2. Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
Penguin Random House
If you run long enough, you’ll end up in some strange places. The same goes for reading. This audiobook, narrated by John Lithgow, may only be seven minutes long, but it encapsulates all the peaks and valleys of training for a marathon.