Run the World audiobook

Nicely, done, Becky Wade! Run on ... and keep telling your tale....What a gratifying, entertaining, captivating, and, ultimately ... happy little book! Running, travel, food, culture, relationships, history ... and, get this, higher education! What's not to like?Faced with an incredible, epic, and well-researched (and, frankly, creative and daunting) opportunity, the young, intrepid, curious, and, quite simply, brave author embarks upon a round-the-world adventure, running her way across continents, over ever-changing obstacles, through the doors of organizations, clubs, cultures, and homes, and, almost immediately, into your heart. The author chronicles her experiences in an efficient, clear, and honest voice, and it's difficult not to like and, of course, respect her, while applauding her efforts and rooting for her future success.No doubt, the book isn't for everyone, and much of its appeal is that it brings so many things together. The total package is remarkable, even if it doesn't fit neatly into a discrete genre or space on your running (or travel) bookshelf. There's no shame in admitting that it's not Parker's cult classic, Once A Runner; the author's personal journey can't compare to Lomong's inspirational travails in Running for My Life; and, alas, she doesn't claim to make the kind of history that captivated the world as told by Bascomb in The Perfect Mile. But that's OK. Wade's quest, her story, and her telling work, and in its own special way, the book is, ... well, ... beautiful. I'm glad she wrote it, and I'm glad I found it and read it.Author's disclaimer: the book appeared on my radar because the author graduated from Rice University, and a unique, generous, and quirky post-graduation scholar/fellowship made her extraordinary experience - and, of course - this book, possible. It's impossible to read this book and not be impressed by the kind of student that Rice attracts, the educational and developmental experience it offers to students on campus, the doors it opens to its alums, etc. As a Rice graduate - from another era (OK, a number of years before the author was born) - I was reminded of the many talented students (and professors) I met there and remain proud to be associated with such a rich tradition.Again, well done, Becky Wade! I hope we have the opportunity to hear more from you in the future!

If you’re a runner, a world traveler, or just have a case of wanderlust, Becky’s book is the perfect summer reading. Filled with inspiration, motivation, and some tasty looking recipes, you won’t regret spending a few hours in the sun with her journey!

I've been a fan of Becky Wade since I first heard about her Watson Fellowship-funded trip around the world to explore running culture (we're both graduates of Rice University, though she's much younger than I am as well as much faster!). This book, a summary of her year abroad in the U.K., Ireland, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden and Finland, was a fun tour; I especially liked the recipes at the end of each chapter.At times it read a bit too much like a travel guide with a deliberately positive spin on everything. I know from my time in the Peace Corps that these sorts of journeys have lots of pitfalls and unpleasantness amid the wonder and discovery, and often it's those parts that make for the best stories. I would have liked to hear about that that nitty-gritty, more depth even if it meant sacrificing some breadth.But overall I enjoyed it greatly, whipping through it in just four days. When you aren't in a position to do much traveling yourself, it scratches the itch to read about others doing it for you. And I'm eager to follow Becky's continuing journey as a professional runner. May her next book be about the Olympics!

Well written and thoroughly inspiring, this book makes reading a pleasant experience and a must read for every long distance and marathon runner. Becky's journeys through nine countries across the globe, adapting to nine different environments and recommending fitness and diets that are followed by champion runners, are the real takeaways of this book. Becky has achieved so much and presented it like a master, at such a young age. On a holiday to America from my native country India, I picked up a brand new copy of this book from a Boulder, Colorado bookstore at a 60% discount to its printed price, not sure how good it would be but I must admit that it has been more than a steal. Its a collector's item for me.If Becky Wade is reading my review, I thank her and wish her good luck in here future exploits in running. I further invite her to visit India and run, where marathon running is picking up rapidly across the country.

Absolutely loved this book ! Becky Wade's zest for life comes out right on page one. And we see it again and again throughout the book. Runners will of course be inspired by her adventures, but the life lessons this young woman learns, and then shares with her readers, is something that everyone should appreciate. Take heed, this is a woman we will hear from again !

Becky Wade is a funny, down to earth, happy lady, so it is a pleasure to join her on this great adventure. As a casual runner, I enjoyed learning about the international history of the sport, as she travelled among iconic landmarks. Would have made a great 1hr video documentary, and at least we can enjoy it in text.Wade never has a bad thing to say about anything or anyone, which made for mellifluous storytelling, and left middle aged me nostalgic for naive joyous glasses. I wish I could ever enjoy such a blessed perfect journey. I also wished for a more balanced honest perspective, including doubts, culture shock and homesickness. Or maybe she is just unique in her flexibility and cheer.Many individuals were important to her and to her journey, but remain forever forgettable to me. Steinbeck in Travels with Charley only chooses anecdotes he can make permanently relevant to his audience. Perhaps in future books Wade will edit sharply as if for shorter magazine essays.Her Ethiopian adventure was vivid and fascinating enough that I craved to venture to a local Ethiopian restaurant to sample her dishes and share her moment.Grateful I could read this, and wish it had been half the length.

This is an exceptionally fun read! Becky has a zeal for travel and running that is really uplifting. The writing is great and very personal-- so much so that it feels like you're right there alongside her. This book obviously is a particular delight for runners, but I think anyone would enjoy her travel stories, insights into different cultures, and reflections on relationships and growth. Can't recommend highly enough!

As a recipient of the Watson Fellowship in 2012, 22-year-old Becky Wade traveled the world for a year to learn about living, connecting and running. Her travels took her to England, Ireland, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden and Finland. She became immersed in their cultures and trained with several runners in other countries. At the end of each chapter, she shares a recipe from the country she visited.I loved reading about her experiences in each of these places! I'm not a runner at all and am happy to say that I learned tons just from reading this book. I loved her descriptions and felt like I was traveling with her. She trained in different altitudes and terrains, which seemed to help her when she returned to the States.She had a great time in each country she visited, but she also had her fair share of difficulties and trials. When she got to Sweden, her older brother Matt visited her for 10 days. She was feeling tired and wasn't sure how she would finish her tour, but his visit rejuvenated her and gave her the strength to keep going. His visit also gave her a clearer vision as to what she wanted to do when she returned home.The Olympics will be starting soon so this was the perfect time to read this book! I must admit that I am attracted more to swimming and gymnastics, but after reading her book, I will pay close attention to Becky Wade in the marathon and cheer her on!I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. My opinion is 100% my own.Mel's Shelves

I loved this even before I realized the author is from Dallas. Becky tells about her globetrotting year in search of training wisdom from other running cultures around the world, often meeting local running stars and heroes along the way. I found the chapters in Switzerland, Ethiopia and Tokyo the most fascinating, and I love that she includes recipes from each country at the end of each chapter.

Wade can write. Even non-runners will enjoy this detailed, well-paced travel memoir that celebrates a love of running in the context of great scenery, generous people, historical recaps, cultural insights, food tips, and general fun. Running as the centralizing theme just adds to the overall cohesiveness of the writing. She does a masterful job combining the Big World/Small World juxtapositions of her travel stops with interesting details and important milestones of her coming of age/prepping to go pro year. I'll never touch her speed, but was happy to catch up with her in the pages of this book.

The only exception I took to Run the World, was that Becky Wade stole the book I was eventually going to write about traveling the world through distance running. In all seriousness, Wade did a great job of recounting the lessons she learned while traveling for a year, as the recipient of the Watson Fellowship Scholarship, which funded her running experiences. Wade's tales of races and training alongside locals in Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Scandinavia, and Tokyo all reminded me of previous trips and runs I've had in these countries as well. It was a pleasure to recount her trip and to glean from the wisdom she gained about training, racing, and philosophy.

This whole experience took a lot of guts. Whether it was traveling around the world while living with strangers or going out on runs with strangers and having no control over intensity or distance! It is no surprise that she gained so much from it. None of the recipes in the book appealed to me but I feel like they fit in with the book.This idea of this book may have been to explore the differences in training and diet around the world but for me, as someone who always runs along, it really emphasized the benefits of embracing the running community whether on a team or club.

Rice grad Becky Wade takes the year after college to explore and learn from running cultures around the globe. Making pit stops in England, Ethiopia, Australia, Japan (among others) she becomes fully immersed in a variety of running communities and brings the reader along for the ride. I especially loved the tidbits of history that litter each new adventure: this book is as informative about the global histories of running as a sport as it is about different methods and strategies for training.

I loved reading Becky’s stories about traveling and running. 2 years later and I’m still thinking about the connections she made and lessons she learned. Highly recommend this for people who love to run, travel, or just love a good book!

Great runspiration!