Running with the Kenyans

May 14, 2012
In an effort to determine why Kenya consistently produces some of the fastest and most talented runners in the world, Finn packed up his wife and three kids and jetted off to the Kenyan running mecca of Iten to research their techniques, immerse himself in the culture for six months of training, and then run the Lewa Marathonâ26 scorching miles across plains populated by elephants, lions, and rhino. Along the way, Finn, a longtime running enthusiast, explores the efficacy of hi-tech, comfortable shoes that allow runners to "hammer the road as hard as want," and tests the virtues of barefoot (or nearly barefoot) running, a method many Kenyan runners have gracefully mastered on account of having grown up without cutting-edge Nikes. In addition to technical issues, the author entertains possible cultural factors behind Kenyans' running prowess, including their diet (many drink mursik, "an unpalatable but potent tonic" of blood and cow's milk), and the fact that running provides some Kenyans with the opportunity to make decent money. Throughout his personal trials, Finn introduces readers to an interesting cast of characters, including Brother Colm O'Connell, the Irish priest and legendary coach from Iten's Catholic boarding school, and charming local runners Japhet and Chris Cheboiboch. Part scientific study, travel memoir, and tale of self-discovery, Finn's journey makes for a smart and entertaining read.

June 1, 2012
A six-month journey in search of the secrets behind the world's fastest runners. Guardian production editor and Runner's World contributor Finn is an avid running hobbyist. Fueled by the desire to improve significantly, the author set his sights on training in Kenya, home to the top marathoners in the world. In 2011, he uprooted his wife and three small children to live in the high-altitude small town of Iten, sometimes referred to as the running capital of the world. Finn was a good runner in England, but in Kenya, he was slower than the slowest "junior girl" racer. After reading Christopher McDougall's Born to Run (2009), he tried running barefoot, which he counts as one of the keys to Kenyans' speed because "it forces you to adopt a better running style." Finn notes additional secrets to their success: training camps, running to school, getting plenty of rest and eating a primarily vegetarian diet. As the author and his family adjusted to the cultural differences, including roaming lions and a night watchman, Finn prepared to run a marathon by training with a group of excellent runners. Even among those who have no chance of going to the Olympics, there's an attitude of reverence for the sport. "After a run," Finn writes, "you feel at one with the world, as though some unspecified, innate need has been fulfilled." The same could be said of his quest, which strikes a balance between memoir and applicable lessons for those interested in learning the reasons for the success of Kenyan runners. Finn's writing is accessible, and he threads entertaining familial vignettes through the book. Recommended for runners as well as the sport's fans.

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January 1, 2012

Kenyans routinely win the world's big races, and Runner's World contributor Finn wanted to know why. So he moved his family to Iten, Kenya, home to hundreds of world-class runners, and trained in their camps. A serious study of running and an interesting way to visit Africa, this hits right before the summer Olympics gets America's 25 million runners all psyched.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2012
As a boy, Adharanand Finn dreamed of running across the plains of Africa while he trotted the roads in gray England. As an adult, fascinated by the speed of Kenyan runners, he wondered what their secret was and whether it could be learned by others. Accompanied by his supportive wife and three young children, Finn moved his family to Kenya for one year to accomplish two aims: learn the secret of Kenyan runners and get into the best shape of his life for the Lewa marathon, a brutally hard, hot race that traverses a wildlife conservancy. Finn is a generous and insightful storyteller, expertly weaving in stories of the many remarkable runners that he meets and the support and encouragement he receives from the running community. Self-effacing, he doesn't shy away from recounting the physical challenges and moments of joy and of cultural dissonance he and his family experience along the way. A well-crafted story about pursuing a dream and experiencing life from a new perspective that runners and nonrunners alike will enjoy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)