Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory

(Paperback)

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Now in paperback with new material, the New York Times bestselling "inspiring, fascinating, and insightful" memoir (Shawn Achor) on using positive psychology and brain science to achieve unparalleled athletic success, from an Olympic medalist runner and the record-holder in the women's marathon and half-marathon The day Deena Kastor became a truly elite runner was the day she realized that she had to ignore her talent-it had taken her so far, but only conquering the mental piece could unlock higher levels of achievement. In Let Your Mind Run, the vaunted Olympic medalist and marathon and half-marathon record holder reveals how she incorporated the benefits of positive psychology into her already-dedicated running practice, setting her on a course to conquer women's distance running. Blending both narrative running insights and deep-dive brain science, this memoir, written by perhaps the most famous American woman active in the competitive world of distance running, will appeal to the pragmatic athletic population, and jointly to fans of engaging sports narratives, inspirational memoirs, and uplifiting biographies.

Reviews

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2018 BY LIBRARY JOURNAL

A candid account about the self-doubt that enters the mind of an elite athlete and how positive thinking made [Kastor] a champion both on and off the course.
ATHLETES QUARTERLY

Long-distance runner Deena Kastor shows the secret to her success and as an Olympic medalist and the American female record holder in the marathon, shes had more than a few relies less on any inborn talents, but on the power of thought, attitude and perspective. Through race day and training anecdotes, she reveals the mental habits anyone can use to unleash their physical and mental potential.
FURTHERMORE FROM EQUINOX (5 Books High Performers Should Read This Month)

I have been savoring every story, every morsel of motivation and empowerment; [Kastor] is one of my long time running heroes and I never want this one to end!
RUNNING 'N' READING

Inspiring [Let Your Mind Run] details the mental techniques [Kastor] used to improve not just as an athlete but as a person.
CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE

Let Your Mind Runis a fascinating read that has applications for all athletes in all sports Its about cultivating positivity as the launching pad for achieving great performances.
SPORTING KID LIVE, National Alliance for Youth Sports

"Inspiring, fascinating and insightful... Some inspirational books make you feel, 'Wow, I could never do that.'Let Your Mind Run makes you feel, 'Wow, I can be better today.' By focusing on the mind game, Kastor and Hamilton make this book practical for anyone trying to overcome the biggest impediments to climbing that next hill of growth."
SHAWN ACHOR, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential

There are running legends, and then there's Deena Kastor. I've always looked to Deena for inspiration in racing and in life. What she has accomplished is incredible, but how she's done it is fascinating. In her captivating new memoir, Kastor takes us on a run through her psyche so we can learn from a true master. Let Your Mind Run will fine tune your mindset for optimal performance both on and off the road!
SCOTT JUREK, champion ultrarunner and New York Times bestselling author of Eat and Run

"When Deena Kastor came from behind to medal in the Olympic marathon, it breathed life back into a generation of U.S. distance running. Ive hoped many times since then for the most profound story leading to that day: Kastors battle against fear and doubt (and heat). Here it is, as riveting as a race itself.
DAVID EPSTEIN, author of The Sports Gene

Deena Kastor is one of the greatest bodies in distance running, but this book captures what is so groundbreaking about her mind.Let Your Mind Rungives us theprivilege of watching Deenas mind become her greatest asset as an athlete and as a positive, thriving, well-balanced personfrom her earliestracesto her Olympic career and beyond.Living and training with Deena in Mammoth Lakes has been a great joy of my career and has certainly shaped me into the athlete I am today. I invite you to exploreLet Your Mind Runand peer into the life of my greatest mentor.
ALEXI PAPPAS, Olympian, writer, and filmmaker

In Let Your Mind Run, Deena Kastor captures the essence of the relationship between life and running, bringing her mental strategies and joie de vivre within stride for all of us.This is more than a memoirits a gift to everyone who looks to find balance and a healthy pace in life and sport.
JOAN BENOIT SAMUELSON, gold-medal Olympic marathoner and author of Running Tide

"Engaging... [Let Your Mind Run] is a gift to all who are passionate about running and who seek to find balance with mental conditioning... A heartfelt and impressive memoir from one of America's treasured runners."
BOOKLIST

Let Your Mind Run shares the mentality of a champion without the clichs and platitudes we've come to expect from books on sports. This is something entirely different, a fascinating collection of specific moments of discovery and the ways they come to life on the run. Runner or not, this book will change you. Required reading for anyone in pursuit of excellence.
LAUREN FLESHMAN,co-author of the Believe Training Journal

"Deena Kastor showed great promise as a high school runner, but lost her confidence. In Let Your Mind Run, she explains how she changed her thinking, got back on track, and became America's greatest-ever woman distance runner. It's not about doing harder workouts; it's about taking charge of your mind. Through her journey, we learn how to use her techniques to reach new heights in our own pursuits."
AMBY BURFOOT, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon andauthor of Run Forever

Author Bio

Deena Kastor is an Olympic medalist and the American record holder in the marathon. Michelle Hamilton is a health and fitness journalist. Her work has appeared in Runner's World, Bicycling, Women's Health, and other publications.