Racing the Clock: Running Across a Lifetime

Many runners love the connection they feel with nature. Breathing in crisp air on a morning run. Observing seasonal changes. Knowing that they are a small part of something larger. Few runners are as connected to the natural world as naturalist Heinrich (biology, Univ. of Vermont). He’s also a best-selling author of over 20 books (Why We Run; Mind of the Raven; Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival). He has applied the same focus and curiosity needed for scientific study to his running, using himself as the subject and earning numerous ultramarathon records. His most recent book combines memoir, scientific findings, and reflection on the processes of living and aging. Heinrich’s scientific expertise adds a fascinating layer to the genres of runners’ memoirs and histories of running. Even at his level of accomplishment, he presents an engaging protagonist, inviting readers to think about animals, insects, running, and the human body in new ways. He also introduces other runners and running groups such as Black Men Run.