As I write this, it’s the second week in January. By now, many individuals have reneged on their New 12 months’s resolutions. If not but, they could achieve this quickly, as 23% of individuals stop their resolutions by the tip of the primary week of January, and solely 9% of resolution-makers full them by the tip of the yr (1).
Sabrina studying how one can be human via working. Photograph: Sabrina Little
Even so, the flip of the brand new yr events self-reflection. That is priceless, particularly when accompanied by the intention to enhance. And if, or when, we stop our resolutions, we study one thing essential about ourselves — that we’re not wonderful and we did not change into wonderful after we tried.
Excellence is tough. For instance, it’s simpler to be impatient than affected person. It’s simpler to be unjust than simply when justice means advocating for others or difficult techniques. It’s simpler to retreat from arduous objectives — like big race aims or advanced work initiatives — than to see them via to completion. It’s simpler to be lazy than diligent, irresolute than perseverant, fickle than stalwart. Advantage is tough.
Edifying Books
Like many runners, I’m a guide particular person. Like many guide folks, I’m a runner. Each working and studying have been vital sources of edification in my life. Each function laboratories for ethical cultivation and assist me to see myself and others extra actually.
Final month, I supplied a listing of my favourite sports activities books from the previous yr. I promised to supply a further checklist of classical texts I like to recommend for runners — and for folks usually. These aren’t latest books — except you take into account 375 BCE latest. They’re additionally not sports activities books. They’re books from the Nice Texts custom which have enduring significance as a result of they ask perennial questions on what it means to be human.
Within the spirit of the brand new yr — and in recognition of waning resolutions to be higher — listed here are 4 books that I like to recommend. They’ve meant an ideal deal to me as a human and a runner.
Think about this. You’re deep inside a cave, dwelling within the shadows and listening to echoes. Immediately, you’re drawn out of the cave. You’re pressured to ascend the steep upward manner, which is painful and tiring, and while you emerge from the cave, you’re confused and blinded by the sunshine (2).
No, this isn’t a path race description — though, if it have been, I might register instantly. It’s the delusion of the cave present in Ebook VII of Plato’s “The Republic.” Socrates supplies this picture within the context of a dialogue on the character of schooling (3).
Working towards the sunshine. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Plato wrote “The Republic” round 375 BCE. It’s a Socratic dialogue, which means it’s a dialog that options Socrates and a number of other interlocutors. It reads like a play or the transcript of an prolonged, amusing dialog. As you learn, a personality will say one thing incorrect that sounds cheap sufficient. Then Socrates challenges the thought, and you’re chastised alongside the character who mentioned one thing you initially discovered smart. In a dialogue, philosophy is preserved in a dwelling type; you possibly can take part within the inquiry as you learn.
This guide has perennial relevance throughout many matters — justice, the situation of the soul, fact, happiness, politics, getting old, mendacity, love, and advantage. Runners will benefit from the part on the schooling of the guardians. A gaggle of males is tasked to protect justice within the metropolis. They’re prescribed bodily coaching, a meal plan, and poetry to arrange them for that job. Each time I learn “The Republic,” I take into consideration my very own bodily coaching — working — and marvel the way it shapes me. What does it imply for sports activities to coach somebody to be extra simply? It is a line of inquiry we obtain from Plato, and it appears significantly germane for our present second of social unrest and political strife.
If I ask you why you ran at the moment, you may inform me about weekly mileage. If I ask you why you intention to satisfy that weekly mileage, you may say one thing a couple of racing objective. If I ask you why you chose that racing objective, this chain of questioning wouldn’t proceed indefinitely. Finally, your “why” can be related to your imaginative and prescient of a great life, or of happiness.
Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” begins with a memorable assertion — that all the things goals at some good. He investigates the best good for a human. It is a priceless train for anybody; to ask the massive query — “what are folks for?” — or to research the ends at which our lives ostensibly intention. That is an train we bear as runners after we converse concerning the “why” that sustains us via tough miles or arduous terrain. Figuring out our “why” issues as a result of being firmly rooted in a objective helps us to withstand despair in laborious moments. It additionally supplies coherence throughout many seasons of life — seasons which can or could not contain working.
Understanding our “why” can preserve us transferring when issues get laborious. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
The “Nicomachean Ethics” is my favourite guide. It investigates advantage, vice, freedom, feelings, the political, the contemplative, friendship, happiness, and character improvement. Of curiosity for a runner is the method by which we develop virtues — excellences — by repeated follow. This construction has a kinship with athletics. In working, now we have a each day follow in excellence, attempting to enhance via repetition. We follow wonderful habits of pondering and feeling after we prepare, and we attempt to change into higher. Creating virtues occurs similarly.
Have you ever ever been on the point of despair in a race, and then you definately persuade your self that you’re really tremendous? I’ve. So has Boethius.
Ebook I of “The Comfort of Philosophy” is entitled “Boethius bewails his depressing state.” He feels dangerous, and he feels dangerous for himself — a deadly mixture. Belief me, I’ve been there. In lengthy races, “gloomy songs make no feigned tears bedew my face (4).” Nonetheless, my tears are on account of my very own imprudence in enterprise an unreasonable pastime. Additionally, my imprisonment is figurative. Boethius’ imprisonment is each literal and unjust. He wrote this textual content in jail whereas awaiting execution by the Ostrogothic king, Theodoric the Nice.
Boethius begins the guide by bemoaning his misplaced fortune. Then he’s visited by Girl Philosophy. That is akin to a race hallucination. For instance, throughout a 48-hour run, I as soon as thought I used to be surrounded by cats. Girl Philosophy helps Boethius to reconceive his state of affairs. She factors out that, whereas he misplaced lesser items, he retains advantage, which is of larger worth. Additionally, Boethius is extra highly effective than his captors as a result of their energy is misdirected. They’re unsuitable about what’s going to really make them completely happy, so their energy is for naught (5).
Pals, I hope that when you’re stumbling via the wilderness within the ultimate miles of an prolonged race, Girl Philosophy talks some sense into you. Although your situation could look bleak, you could have solely misplaced some decorative items of fortune. Advantage issues extra.
When stumbling, take heed to Girl Philosophy. Photograph: Sabrina Little
This may not be a severe checklist of classical textual content suggestions for runners if I didn’t embrace one of many biggest journey tales in historical past. Learn it. Your personal misadventures could seem trivial when you examine Odysseus’ 10-year trek dwelling, stuffed with unanticipated obstacles. These embrace a cave nap with a Cyclops and a steep, mid-race descent into precise hell. Then, as a substitute of being greeted fortunately on the end, he has to display archery expertise to win again his spouse.
This trek sounds brutal, and Odysseus doesn’t have the luxurious of moisture-wicking garments, a GPS watch, or carbon-plated racing footwear. Additionally, folks typically joke that ultrarunning is an “consuming competitors with some working alongside the best way.” Odysseus’ journey is identical. Meals is a chorus all through “The Odyssey” — bread, wine, cheese, lotus, and the Cattle of Helios. If Yelp meals critiques existed again then, Odysseus would have an account. He would warning towards consuming the lotus, which generates apathy. He would give the Island of the Lotus Eaters a one-star overview.
Closing Ideas
Alongside working, classical texts have been a important supply of edification in my life. These 4 books, specifically, have formed me an ideal deal. They educate me about what it means to be human, they usually have particular relevance for runners. I problem you to learn one — or all — of them this upcoming yr.
Do you could have any books to share which have formed you and your working?
Sabrina Little together with her daughters, passing on classes of excellence. Photograph courtesy of Sabrina Little.
Notes/References
Batts, R. 2023. Why Most New 12 months’s Resolutions Fail. Lead Learn At the moment. Ohio State College. Internet Accessed 11 January 2026.
Plato. The Republic. 514a-516a
Plato. The Republic. 511a-514a
Boethius, A.M.S. 2009. The Comfort of Philosophy. Transl. by W.V. Cooper. Ex-Classics Venture. Internet Accessed 13 January 2026.
It’s tough to speak the drive and breadth of a strong piece of writing in 4 paragraphs. There may be much more value saying right here. My apologies to Boethius.
