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  • Running with the Kenyans

  • By: Adharanand Finn
  • Narrated by: Paul Tyreman
  • Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (703 ratings)
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Running with the Kenyans cover art

Running with the Kenyans

By: Adharanand Finn
Narrated by: Paul Tyreman
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Summary

After years of watching Kenyan athletes win the world's biggest races, Adharanand Finn set out to discover just what it was that made them so fast - and to see if he could keep up. Packing up his life he moved from Devon to Iten, in Kenya, to eat with, interview, sleep beside and - most importantly – run with, some of the greatest runners in the world. In the distance rests his dream, to join the best of the Kenyan athletes in an epic first marathon across the Kenyan plains.

©2012 Adharanand Finn (P)2012 W F Howes Ltd

What listeners say about Running with the Kenyans

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Love running, cant finish this book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This guy cant write. Sorry. I love running, I really loved 'Born to Run' by Christopher McDougall, but the big difference is that Christopher McDougal was a journalist, his profession was to write, he knew how to spin a story. This author unfortunately had a great adventure, but cannot write and it makes for a painstaking read. As someone who also loves travel I really had high hopes for this book, the story is probably of limited appeal to someone who has never been to Africa, but I was hoping for so much more. I wanted heart to heart conversations, but it seems that either the author wasn't able to make these bonds with the athletes or those around him, or these guys just don't have much to say. I bought this to listen to on my long runs, but I cant listen to anymore of it, its so boring. An average paragraph goes something like this."I turned up at 6 oclock. Jeffery didnt turn up at 6 oclock, because hes always late, he turned up at 7 oclock" "My daughter went to school" "I could see her blond hair easily amongst all the black headed children" "She didnt want to go the next day" Africa, and Kenya especially, are mind blowing landscapes, and it feels this is lost on the author. He cannot describe what he sees around him and it felt like he was overwhelmed or his heart is closed to the whole experience. The whole writing style feels very immature, as does the nature of the interactions with those he meets. Its possible that this guy isn't very well travelled and this kind of comes across in the book. It kind of reminds me of something that the old, square bloke in the Dunlop green flash from the cricket club up the road who had only ever been on holiday to Bournemouth would write. Its got no style, no humour, no heart. And i'm going to delete it, unfinished now. I havent written this to offend anyone, Ive written it to save you all some valuable time and read something more worthy of being read. I'm going to read Scott Jureks book next, or What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. Please let them be interesting !

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Jo
  • 10-11-13

interesting read - even for a non-runner like me!

Would you listen to Running with the Kenyans again? Why?

Really good book - enjoyed it very much even though I have no interest in running and didn't know the author or anything about Kenya. I have since listened to it again and quite possibly enjoyed it more the second time. He paints a picture of what it was like for an ordinary person to live and train with the Kenyan's - I could really imagine what it was like to be an outsider and train with possibly the best runners in the world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Running with the Kenyans?

The whole story is as much about the people and his family as it is about running.
Even if you don't like sports (and I am definitely only mildly interested at best!) I am sure you will still enjoy this book for its real story of an everyday man out of his usual element.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A thoroughly interesting tale

Where does Running with the Kenyans rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

First audiobook I have listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Running with the Kenyans?

The Fartlek run.

Which character – as performed by Paul Tyreman – was your favourite?

Kipsang

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

These people aren't just born to run, they live to run.

Any additional comments?

Paul Tyreman performs an excellent narration

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really Interesting

I like that the Kenyans have something that can't be replicated by something artificial. It goes to show the power of the human body and I think that's brilliant.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging, inspiring

Good narration of the interesting adventure of a westerner seeking to find out just what it is that makes the Kenyans the best distance runners - from how they live, their personalities, their training, to what drives them to be the best.
Enjoyable book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

For all Athletes

An insite into the world of professional distance running like no other. An enjoyable and read for all athletes to understand the sacrifice made by the elite runners out there.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Narration

Enjoyable, easy to listen to story, very well narrated. I listened to this book for motivation as I’m training for a 10k run myself, it definitely made me feel motivated, some interesting insights into the sport too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

This is a wonderful audiobook and really well narrated. I chose to listen to it to try and rekindle my love of running and it certainly did that. I’d recommend to any aspiring runner or anyone who is a runner but needs to rediscover the joy of running. A great book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun listen and that’s from a swimmer!

I found the dialogue well put together and gripping. Would welcome the author returning to Kenya to shed light on what some commentators have suggested is/was wholesale widespread doping.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

struggled to finish it.

the story is very mediocre, This book compares nothing to the likes of "Born to Run". it all very bland. i got through it but just about.

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