Eat, Drink, Run By Bryony Gordon: Review

*Exciting news! Bryony Gordon is speaking at the Jersey Festival Of Words. Check their website for further information. I am planning on getting a front row seat. Plus, little old me is also speaking (tries not to throw up at the thought of it). It’s going to be a fantastic event*

Remember when I spent most of last year running? Remember those declarations I made? “I will run a marathon!” Then Gary Growth started to be a real pain in the arse (or should that be foot?) and I soon had to abandon any sort of running, walking for too long or standing in favour of keeping my foot off the ground. Yes, I may have used this as an excuse to indulge in the chocolate but after reading Eat, Drink Run by Bryony Gordon, I think I am ready to dig those trainers out again.

That lump might have finally exited my foot but I haven’t felt in any real rush to run again, that was until I opened up Bryony Gordon’s book. I read it in two days. I know, I need to have a word with myself, reading isn’t a sprint, it’s about taking your time., I couldn’t help it though. I loved every single page and, despite the niggle I still have in my foot, it made me contemplate putting on my trainers and heading out of the door for a run. Don’t worry, I managed to restrain myself, just. However, I am now itching to get back outdoors and start running again. That’s really saying something because before I read Eat, Drink, Run, I wasn’t sure I would ever run again.

Love/Hate Relationship With Running

When I ran, I loved it but I found it so hard. It was a constant argument with myself, “keep going, just run to the next lamppost and you can take a breather, okay make that the next street corner”. It was a constant bargaining act. It never got any easier. I never leapt out of my bed thinking “huzzah the sun is shining and I am going for a run”. However, like Bryony, I loved how running made me feel afterwards. There is no doubt that it is good for your mental health and it can’t be a coincidence that since I have given up running my anxiety has reared its head again.

I’m No Rocky

I have this problem, I am not competitive with anyone else, but I am competitive with myself. I was disappointed with myself when I realised that I was not an elegant ballerina like runner and that instead, I was more like Phoebe from friends. I was gutted that I didn’t have the stamina of Rocky and that I was unable to run up steps without thinking I was having a heart attack, and as for my boobs, why do none of the running books mention boob pain?! It’s not comfortable running with my boobs bouncing around in two opposite directions.

Befuddled By Running Terms

I have long loathed the Nike adverts with the tagline “Just Do It”. Easy for them to say with their lithe young bodies that have not been hacked apart twice for an emergency c-section. I’m pretty sure that they don’t have to worry about their pelvic floor when they are out running. Then there are the terms, fartlek, interval training, threshold training. I hated those terms, I just wanted to run, why couldn’t I just run? I tried to fartlek but I am pretty sure that I wasn’t doing it properly and there was no one I could ask as I would only run on my own. Running for me was a solitary sport, it was not something I was prepared to share with anyone. I could say that it was my me time, and that is part of it, but it’s also because the sheer act of getting out of the house for a run was such a mental battle, that throwing a running partner into the mix would have definitely thrown me off my stride.

Feeling Inspired

Reading Bryony’s account of training for a marathon has restored my faith again. She just did it. She got out and she ran how she wanted to run. Yes, it wasn’t always easy but she carried on pushing forward. Reading this book and learning how she evolves as she gets more and more into running is so inspiring. As you read her words you can feel her courage building and you can hear the awe in her voice as she realises just what her body is capable of.

She takes on what is one hell of a daunting task – training for the London Marathon – and she almost makes it seem fun. Even when her period arrived on the day of the marathon. Why do periods always choose to show up at the most inconvenient time?  This book is about so much more than running, it’s about one woman’s adventure, it’s about her determination to do something amazing. This makes me feel like I can run outdoors and have my Rocky moment,  it has made me realise that we are the only ones who hold ourselves back. If we are determined then we can just about do anything.

Eat, Drink, Run is a warm and delightful read and there are also appearances from a certain prince, or Hazza, as Bryony calls him, who opens up about his mental health. Only Bryony Gordon could convince a member of the Royal Family to talk candidly about their mental health.

This is one very inspiring book that will make everyone want to run.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to find my running shoes.