Book Review: "Honey, Do You Need A Ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner"

 Jennifer Graham is one of the spices over at Salty Running. She writes and runs in the suburbs of Boston, where she lives with her four children, two donkeys, two cats and a border collie. She is also the author of "Honey, Do You Need a Ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner."

 This book is fun, smart, witty, and incredible. If you like to read about running, you will love this book. Being a dude runner, I was not in the primary demographic, but loved it nonetheless. I got to believe every runner has something about themselves that separates them from the `real runners' and they will relate.


As the title would suggest, there is plenty of self-deprecation in this book, not only on weight, but on the foibles and neuroses that make the author incredibly human and seemingly immediately available next to you. And as for being fat, you will read the stats of the author and say "wait, is that really fat?" upon which a section will appear magically at the end of the book directly addressed to you.

She may be a middle of the pack runner, but has a passion for running history and running legends. You'll gain perspective on George Sheehan, and most of all, Steve Prefontaine who actually coaches the author. Well, she imagines he has coached her, but I'm convinced it happened, even if it isn't true.

As any runner who has trained hard knows, running weaves in and out of your personal issues. Running becomes the arena in which your internal battles take place and where you look for clarity. And this is what I loved about the book. With wit and emotion and a blunt vulnerability about her divorce and other issues, the running and narrative ran side by side.

I smiled often while reading. I highlighted passages on my kindle every chapter. I looked forward to reading it, and I wanted to listen to the author's inner dialogue, all of this a testimony to a great running book.

If you are uncertain if you should check this book out, please know that I am offering a money back guarantee.

Read “Honey Do You Need A Ride?”  and if you don’t like it, just let me know and I will buy you a book that you do like. Then, I will read this book to you as you go to bed each night. I will read the dialogue and make character voices. I may act out some scenes. I will notice exclamation parts and respond accordingly.  Neighbors may hear.  Still, it seems like a fair trade.

"Honey, Do You Need a Ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner."

The Author