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NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” host and esteemed “Runner’s World” columnist, Peter Sagal, blends eloquent running commentary with an intimately personal narrative. This book is “a triumphant, intelligent, and deeply honest reflection on running that captivates with its wit. It will resonate with you, runner or not” (Susan Orlean). Nearing forty, Sagal— a clever Harvard graduate, a compact and bald Jewish man prone to heaviness, and a previously sedentary public radio star— ventured into running with seriousness. To his astonishment, he persisted, accelerating further and farther, completing fourteen marathons and accumulating tens of thousands of miles across roads, sidewalks, paths, and trails across the US and beyond, including the 2013 Boston Marathon where he completed the race just moments before the bombings.
In “The Incomplete Book of Running”, Sagal meditates on the diverse landscapes he has traversed. From the comedic absurdity of participating in charity races in his underwear amidst the chilly February air of St. Louis to his attempts at “quieting his colon” on neighborhood runs, Sagal’s experiences are varied and rich. He recounts guiding visually impaired runners and the triumphant return to the Boston Marathon post-bombing in 2014. With wit and warmth, Sagal delves into the emotional aspects of running, body image, the parallels between endurance sports and sadomasochism, the heritage of running passed from parent to child, and the peculiar yet profound connections forged between strangers and friends on the run. The result is “a brilliant exposition on running…Peter runs towards strength, understanding, endurance, acceptance, faith, hope, and charity” (P.J. O’Rourke).