Books › The terrible and wonderful reasons why I run long distances
The terrible and wonderful reasons why I run long distances
147 pages
A hilarious, illustrated exploration of the absurd lengths we go to in order to justify our love of eating and napping.
What it feels like
Reading this collection feels like sharing a post-run beer with a hilarious, slightly unhinged friend who understands exactly why you subject yourself to physical misery. The pace is brisk and highly visual, propelled by punchy comic strips and candid storytelling that bounce between the relatable lethargy of napping and the grueling extremes of mountain running. The mood is overwhelmingly lighthearted and energetic, laced with an absurdist edge that perfectly captures the bizarre psychology of endurance sports. It is an unvarnished, self-deprecating look at the physical toll of exercise—complete with lost toenails—balanced by a deep, genuine appreciation for the sport. This book will delight runners, athletes, and anyone who appreciates a funny, honest exploration of personal obsession and the eternal struggle between exertion and rest.
- Mood
- energetic
- lighthearted
- absurdist
- motivational
- Tone
- humorous
- self-deprecating
- exaggerated
- candid
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the physical toll of endurance · finding motivation · the balance of exertion and rest · personal obsession
- The writing
- Delivered through punchy, highly visual comic strips and candid, humorous storytelling.
- The arc
- Moves from the relatable lethargy of everyday life to the absurd, grueling, and ultimately rewarding extremes of physical endurance.
- Who it's for
- Runners, athletes, and fans of webcomics who appreciate a hilarious, unvarnished look at the pain and joy of exercise.
Content notes
- mild body horror (mention of losing toenails)
About the book
From the New York Times best-selling author Matthew Inman, aka "The Oatmeal", comes this collection of comics and stories about running, eating, napping, and one cartoonist's reasons for running across mountains until his toenails fall off. Contains over 70 pages of never-before-seen comics.
Description from Open Library.
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