Running for my Life by Rachel Ann Cullen read by Kat Rose Martin

Rachel Cullen appraises her life from a childhood as an overweight child and encouraged to believe she was the ‘clever’ sister in the family. While not actively discouraged from physical activity she was often led to believe that she had specific role within the family, a role which can be difficult to breakout from. During Rachel’s childhood she observes her mother’s mental health problems and issues around food and eating, sadly it became apparent that some of these thoughts and beliefs about ‘good and bad’ food were to be transferred to Rachel as she grew up and became an adult.

Within the book we travel through Rachel’s life and witness her body dysmorphia, depression, low self-esteem and abusive relationships. The one constant throughout is her need to run which first leads her to change carers. However it is not until she falls pregnant and becomes a mother that her relationship with running becomes more encompassing, important and integral. This journey starts with Rachel entering and training for the London marathon and we embark on her discovery of what running actually means to her and what she truly wants for herself but also for her little girl.

This is a book about running which is not really a book about running, instead it was about so many other issues. While Rachel is not stating that running ‘cured’ her, she is encouraging everyone to just move and try. I enjoyed this book which I listened for about 4 hours straight during a very long work related car journey. While I can’t say I related to Rachel’s demons I did find thatI loved listening to her own personal running journey and what she learned about herself and intentions for the future as a person and a mother.