Book Review: My Year of Running Dangerously by Tom Foreman

If you’ve ever wondered how running can get out of control in a hurry, this is the book for you.

My Year of Running Dangerously starts with Foreman, a former runner and current (I think? This book was published a while ago.) CNN correspondent being roped into training for a marathon by his daughter (FYI, it was the Publix Atlanta Marathon, which was pretty cool to see!). As a man over 50 who hasn’t exercised much in years, he starts off small, but ends up gaining traction in his training to the point where he could run the marathon with his daughter surprisingly easily.

After a few more similar races, Foreman’s brother poses a question: “Now what?” Foreman’s eventual response is to train for and run a 50-mile ultramarathon.

The most amazing part of this story is, again, that Foreman is/was a CNN correspondent – as he’s doing his training (which for the ultramarathon included 4-5 hour runs through woods and hills), he also needs to be on top of the news, ready to travel, and ready to be TV-ready at a moment’s notice. For anyone who thinks they can’t fit a workout into their day, this should provide some motivation.

It was also great to read Foreman’s views on running as he goes through his journey, such as the range of emotions he goes through during a race (same), or how easy it is to create a “bus” during an event. The most telling part to me was how difficult it was to explain why exactly he was doing what he was doing – not only why he needed to be among the half a percent of Americans to have completed a marathon, but also why he had to prove himself beyond that distance. He discusses the challenges this brings to his work life and his family life, and eventually finds some level of understanding, but never leaves his goals behind.

The only thing I thought this book was lacking was a little more behind-the-scenes stories from work (I know it’s a running book, but come on – he works at CNN!). The only real nugget learned from this book is that in casual conversation Wolf Blitzer always refers to people by their full names (“How are you today, Tom Foreman?” “What are you talking about, Tom Foreman?”).

Still, this is a witty and moving story with plenty of inspiration – recommended for runners and non-runners alike. Eight out of ten hot dogs.