Rating: 5 out of 5

This is a book that manages to be both easy to read and hard to read. It’s easy because the flow, structure, and language are great, but it’s hard because of the sheer frustration you feel (and rightly so) when reading it.

The structure is excellent, I really liked the chapters Maggie Mertens chose. They essentially walk you through the history of all the hurdles women faced in running, which the titles perfectly capture:
• Introduction: Women can’t run
• But not more than 100m
• But only white women
• But not a mile
• But definitely not a marathon
• But only if you train like a man
• But only “real” women
• What about the long run?

I’ve read other books that also document the struggles women have faced to be accepted into various sports over the years. This book is specifically about running in all its forms: from track sprints, to cross country, to marathons and ultras. Yes, it’s a book about running, but fundamentally, it’s a book about women. It’s about the lack of science and research, and about enduring stereotypes.

The chapter about “real” women touches on some very troubling practices, but the author handles them well. She doesn’t sensationalise anything, but she definitely leaves you feeling angry.

I think that sense of crossness is the main emotion I felt throughout much of this book. It’s frustrating that talented women have been prevented from succeeding for so long. This, in turn, meant that girls and other women didn’t have the role models they deserved to see.

The final chapter talks about Jasmin Paris and her record-breaking run at the Spine Race in 2019. I think Jasmin is an incredible ambassador for sport. She is an amazing athlete and follows her beliefs; hearing her interviewed never fails to inspire me. I was so pleased to see her name included.

This has been a book well worth reading. It is well written and well researched. An important book

Originally posted to my Goodreads account