The Running Fiction Challenge

Introduction

I may have discovered a market failure in running fiction, see previous post here. I think running memoirs, histories, and biographers are reasonably represented, but running fiction is either underrepresented in publishing or under appreciated by readers, maybe both. I'm curious how others would respond to those claims.

What Makes Fiction Running Fiction

This is obviously up for debate. If anyone feels strongly about a book that should or shouldn't be on the list, I'm open to a changing the list. I'm a reader who loves running, or a runner who loves reading. Other than that, I don't have any authority over what makes or doesn't make a piece of fiction in the genre running fiction.

The Challenge

Pay some respect to running fiction. Buy, loan, or download the most popular running fiction novels below. Read enough of the story to decide if you like it. Share a review on twitter, goodreads, amazon, or reddit so other readers can sample more running fiction. And of course discuss the books here on this post.

For twitter users use #runningfiction

Most Popular Running Fiction

The following books are the most rated running fiction on goodreads.com, as of 6 July 2024. Goodreads readers can vote here for the best running fiction. The books are in order by total ratings. I've added more specific genres and brief spoiler free descriptions of each novel.

1. *Forrest Gump by Winston Groom - historical running fiction. The novel isn't specifically focused on running throughout, but many chapters feature Forrest's physical running as important aspects of the narrative. (68,999 ratings)

2. The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen - young adult running fiction*. The story chronicles a high school 400m runner's physical and emotional journey of recovery and how running remains a central part of her life. (30,771 ratings)*

3. Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr. - running fiction*. The novel is regarded as one of the most iconic novels about running. Its entire narrative is centered around the sport, both literally and metaphorically. Centering around the life of a competitive runner who vividly captures the intensity of training, the experience of racing, and the subculture of competitive running. (15,114 ratings)*

4. *The End of the World Running Club by Adrian J. Walker - dystopian running fiction*. Running plays a significant role both literally and metaphorically. While it’s not strictly a "running novel" in the sense of being about the sport of running, running becomes a key element of the story’s structure and themes. (14,848 ratings)*

5. Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron - historical running fiction*. A novel that centers around running, both as a literal sport and as a metaphor for survival, identity, and hope. The novel is set in Rwanda during the years leading up to and during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. (7,104 ratings)*

6. The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe - running fiction. Once again, running is a central role, both literally and metaphorically. The story explores themes of personal rebellion, social class, and individuality, with running serving as a powerful symbol for the protagonist’s inner life and resistance against societal expectations. (6,686 ratings)

* Novel might be demoted due to not being enough about running 

Honorable Ineligible Mentions

• What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by novelist Haruki Murakami - memoir, not fiction. (171,386)

• The Running Man by Stephen King - dystopian fiction. There is a lot of running and some overlap between running qualities like endurance and stamina, but the sport or recreational activity of running is absent. The Running Man is really about survival, society, and oppression. (137, 820 ratings)

My Reviews

I'll be review each of the novels here on my blog. I'd love any and all feedback. Leave a comment. Here are reviews I've done so far:

• The End of the World Running Club
• Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
• The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen