Reviews

Run Fast, Eat Slow; Run the World

Run Fast, Eat Slow is a newly released cookbook, co-authored by Shalane Flanagan and her friend (and former college teammate) Elyse Kopecky. The first part of the title speaks to the hopes and dreams of many a runner, to simply, “run fast.” But what about eating slow? What does that have anything to do with training? This second aspect of the title is arguably even more important than the first – it encapsulates the experience and advice of two seasoned competitors who have worked to convey the foundations of a healthy lifestyle that are essential to support successful training. “Eating slow” is Flanagan and Kopecky’s catch-all phrase for staying in tune with one’s nutritional needs, mental health and social relationships. The two define their way of eating (and living) as “indulgent nourishment” and this concept f lows throughout the book.

For those interested in Flanagan’s own diet while undergoing elite training, a charted layout of her usual meals is i ncluded in the book’s first chapter. The last chapter “Runner’s Remedies” c ater s to runners of all levels and demonstrates both Flanagan and Kopecky’s mindset of nutrition as a tool for staving off and helping to prevent injury. There you will find the author’s recommended recipes for various maladies that commonly sideline runners – colds, digestive distress, inf lammation, stress fractures, anemia and athletic amonorrhea, which Kopecky herself experienced throughout her college career.

For those with dietary restrictions, recipes that are glutenfree, dairy-free and or vegan are clearly marked. Runners who enjoy Angela Liddon’s Oh She Glows cookbook or the Lottie Bildrici ’s blog Running on Veggies will definitely want to check out Run Fast, Eat Slow.

With fantastic photography and an accessible layout, Run Fast, Eat Slow is one of those cookbooks that you want to sit down and savour (and if you’re anything like me, you do so with a pad of sticky notes at your side). The recipes themselves do not require extensive culinary intuition or skill, but rather showcase, in fact, how easy it can be to prepare wholesome, nutrient-dense and delicious meals.—