emperk 's review for:

Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World by Lauren Fleshman

5.0

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I devoured this book. It's shockingly relatable for writing coming from one of the greatest runners in the world. This manages to drive home some real concerns about how female athletes were and continue to be treated in the collegiate and professional setting - not to mention their representation in media. There's also a message about the need to continue to lift up other female athletes and to bond together with people that may have been or are currently our 'competition'. As a recreational trail runner, I have no illusions about being an Olympian, but this book is not only for people with Olympic dreams. It's for every athlete who doubts their ability to reach their goals while staying healthy. It's for everyone who has been told 'you don't look like a runner' or struggled with an injury. There's an emphasis on how living a full life (healthy relationship, family, friendship, business ventures) will boost your mental health and ultimately your performance - no longer the need to tunnel vision your athletic goals. Which is relatable to everyone, you don't need to give up everything to hit your own goals and in fact doing so will only make it harder to reach them. I genuinely hope that major athletic corporations and governing bodies take note of the major adjustments needed for safe sport