Running with the Kenyans

interesting read - even for a non-runner like me!

Would you listen to Running with the Kenyans again? Why?

Really good book - enjoyed it very much even though I have no interest in running and didn't know the author or anything about Kenya. I have since listened to it again and quite possibly enjoyed it more the second time. He paints a picture of what it was like for an ordinary person to live and train with the Kenyan's - I could really imagine what it was like to be an outsider and train with possibly the best runners in the world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Running with the Kenyans?

The whole story is as much about the people and his family as it is about running.
Even if you don't like sports (and I am definitely only mildly interested at best!) I am sure you will still enjoy this book for its real story of an everyday man out of his usual element.

4 people found this helpful

A thoroughly interesting tale

Where does Running with the Kenyans rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

First audiobook I have listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Running with the Kenyans?

The Fartlek run.

Which character – as performed by Paul Tyreman – was your favourite?

Kipsang

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

These people aren't just born to run, they live to run.

Any additional comments?

Paul Tyreman performs an excellent narration

2 people found this helpful

Love running, cant finish this book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This guy cant write. Sorry. I love running, I really loved 'Born to Run' by Christopher McDougall, but the big difference is that Christopher McDougal was a journalist, his profession was to write, he knew how to spin a story. This author unfortunately had a great adventure, but cannot write and it makes for a painstaking read. As someone who also loves travel I really had high hopes for this book, the story is probably of limited appeal to someone who has never been to Africa, but I was hoping for so much more. I wanted heart to heart conversations, but it seems that either the author wasn't able to make these bonds with the athletes or those around him, or these guys just don't have much to say. I bought this to listen to on my long runs, but I cant listen to anymore of it, its so boring. An average paragraph goes something like this."I turned up at 6 oclock. Jeffery didnt turn up at 6 oclock, because hes always late, he turned up at 7 oclock" "My daughter went to school" "I could see her blond hair easily amongst all the black headed children" "She didnt want to go the next day" Africa, and Kenya especially, are mind blowing landscapes, and it feels this is lost on the author. He cannot describe what he sees around him and it felt like he was overwhelmed or his heart is closed to the whole experience. The whole writing style feels very immature, as does the nature of the interactions with those he meets. Its possible that this guy isn't very well travelled and this kind of comes across in the book. It kind of reminds me of something that the old, square bloke in the Dunlop green flash from the cricket club up the road who had only ever been on holiday to Bournemouth would write. Its got no style, no humour, no heart. And i'm going to delete it, unfinished now. I havent written this to offend anyone, Ive written it to save you all some valuable time and read something more worthy of being read. I'm going to read Scott Jureks book next, or What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. Please let them be interesting !

13 people found this helpful

Loved running along listening on my headphones.

Excellent. A few years old now but thats ok with names from the past.
Thats not the point of the book. Will listen again in the future and continued to be inspired.

A superb listen

I don't normally go for non fiction, but I was blown away by how engaging this book was.
from the story to the narration... superb

My first audio book

being a runner myself , I loved the story and find just listening to this in my car commute a great way of getting through a book . I got a real feel for the journey Finn went on and could picture myself out in Kenya running the dirt trails with them . A real simple and laid back lifestyle really has an appeal, and the basic diet they had really makes you question the crap you eat at home . Enjoyed it very much . Thank you

Fascinating story

A really interesting, well told story. A great insight to the mentality of Kenyan runners and Kenyans as a whole. Fantastic story.

not hooked

Feels that story could be told in much shorter time. It gets repetitive and quite boring.
The next Finns book about the ultra running is much more interesting.

Skip opening chapters

The opening chapters were very uninteresting but once he gets to Kenya it picks up and is a good listen. The details and descriptions of Kenya were a lot more interesting to me than the authors personal stuff. Overall though I would recommend to any fellow obsessed runners.

Fantastic!

A wonderful story of how working hard to face life's challenges can lead to unexpected rewards. I enjoyed it right up to the last word!