[Editor’s Note: We are midway through iRunFar’s “Week of Awesome!” Each day this week, we’re bringing you an awesome story from trail running and ultrarunning. Someone to follow, something to learn, or a story to be inspired by, our hope is to add some joy to your day. Leave us a comment to let us know what you think of this project.]
Leave it to author, graphic artist, humorist, filmmaker, and–of course–ultrarunner Brendan Leonard of Semi-Rad fame to pull off titling a book I Hate Running and You Can Too: How to Get Started, Keep Going, and Make Sense of an Irrational Passion. I can’t fault the guy for this title, or the entire career he’s built upon turning a satirical mirror upon various outdoor sports to show us how silly and wonderful our hobbies are. I Hate Running… publishes on March 16, 2021, and is now available for pre-order.
Most of us have a love-hate relationship with running, and we’re all here because there’s a lot to love. In Chapter 8, Leonard writes, “Running gives you freedom. You don’t have to report to your boss about how it’s going, you don’t get graded on your performance or results, you don’t have to tell anyone about it, and you don’t have to share anything about it on social media (but you can if you want to). You get to decide how hard you want to push yourself and what running means to you.”
Image: I Hate Running and You Can Too
Mosey over to Semi-Rad to learn more about the book, and to also see Leonard’s other professional shenanigans. You might also enjoy a look at iRunFar’s 2018 and 2019 article series “Trail First Aid,” which was illustrated by Leonard. Oh, and if you’re not one of the 5 million people who’ve watched “REI Presents: How To Run 100 Miles,” a 2018 film directed and produced by Leonard about his and his buddy’s journey to their first 100-mile finish line, hop over here to watch it. Yours truly makes a cameo! Brendan Leonard, we thank you for giving us a lot to laugh about, especially when its ourselves!
