This Is Running: A Celebration of the World of Running, Exploring the Culture, History, Brands, Races and People Behind It

Running is cool again--for some it never stopped being cool. But with new running clubs starting up every week in major cities and the rise of "running influencers" on social media, the sport is currently trending and bigger than it's ever been before.

Running coach and journalist Raziq Rauf takes a deep dive into this boom, profiling everything from the most exciting races across the globe to favorite brands and tips from professionals. Also included are Q&As with influential runners such as Matt Fitzgerald, as well as fascinating essays on subjects such as how much a pair of running shoes costs in Bangladesh and what this means for the emerging running scene, and how running has been an instrumental part of the creative process for artists and writers like Haruki Murakami.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with color photography, This Is Running is the perfect gift for the obsessive runner in your life, or for anyone who wants to know more about the sport and the culture that surrounds it.

Major topics will include sections on how we run, why we run--incorporating insights from psychologists, sociologists, and other experts--and what we run.

The book will include essays on particular aspects of running, including the rise of the super shoe, the pavement as runway, the rise of run clubs as communities battling loneliness, health as wealth, running's technological revolution, finding the limit and the intersection with artistry, and a section on notable runs.

Quite simply, if you are a runner, this book is catnip to your passion.