Looking for a new Audiobook for long runs!

MoreBean13
MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
Hi All- I'm looking for a new audiobook to listen to on long runs- I specifically say "audiobook" because sometimes books don't do well in that format- and it needs to be really interesting and engaging to keep my attention while slogging out miles.

I like most fiction- mysteries seem to be good for this type thing- not really in to sci-fi, and NO to Fifty shades of Grey. :laugh:
Open to any other fiction suggestions, prefer unabridged! (I like non-fiction too, but not for running). Thanks!

P.S. If you've never tried audiobooks for running, it's a great way to pass the time on long runs. Not great for intervals or higher intensity. One bad winter I had to do all of my half marathon training on a treadmill, and the audiobooks were the only thing that kept me going- I ONLY listened to them while running, so I had to run to find out what was happening! (At that time it was either Dan Brown or Steig Larsson that I was listening to)
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Replies

  • legs_n_bacon
    legs_n_bacon Posts: 478 Member
    I got nothing, I just feel bad no one responded.
  • misskerouac
    misskerouac Posts: 2,242 Member
    I don't have any recommendations but I do agree that it's a good way to pass the time while running, I do the same but with podcasts. I have about 8 that I regularly listen to and they always keep my mind occupied.
  • nwhitley
    nwhitley Posts: 619
    The Hunger Games! I have listened to the first book on one of my long runs and it is GREAT!! Best, audiobook I've listened to.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I just finished a few (on runs):

    Woman in Black (so much better than the movie)
    In the woods (a GOOD mystery) (and others by Tana French)
    The Various Haunts of Man (and others by Susan Hill)

    and for more FUN than quality (but still good!)

    First Grave on the Right
    Second Grave on the Left
    Third Grave Dead Ahead

    Fun mysteries about a PI who's also the grim reaper.

    I'm currently listening to Interred with their Bones. Kinda like DaVinci code but about Shakespeare. Not my favorite.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Flanagan's Run by Tom McNab.
    Its a great read, but also works well as an audiobook.
    It's the story of a road race across the US in the middle of the 1930's depression - a great story and especially good when you are running.

    Or: The Time Traveller's Wife, Water for Elephants (the book is better than the movie), My Family and other animals by Gerald Durrell.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Thanks Guys! I'm going to start looking some of these up right away! Keep 'em coming if you think of more!
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    Two series that I love on audiobook are Harry Potter (DON'T JUDGE ME!) and A Great and Terrible Beauty and it's two follow ups (also young adult, but great fun)

    The only connections between the two is that they involve magic and are read by British people, haha.
  • ssbarfarkle
    ssbarfarkle Posts: 150 Member
    I enjoyed "All The Pretty Horses" I think Brad Pitt narrates.
  • mehaffeymk
    mehaffeymk Posts: 154 Member
    i'm jealous you can listen to books and retain the info. i get confused listening to books, i'm very much a learner by reading and that's it.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    i'm jealous you can listen to books and retain the info. i get confused listening to books, i'm very much a learner by reading and that's it.

    Actually, I used to think I couldn't either, but with the right conditions and the right book I've grown to love them! You have to be able to sort of blank out of what you're doing- long runs once you've built enough endurance that you're just basically cruising, are perfect. And the book has to be really engaging- which is why I started this particular thread. If your mind wanders away from the book, it does make it difficult to pay attention to what's going on, and its not as easy to go back and reread a paragraph.

    I guess what I'm saying is maybe try one of the suggestions and give it another shot! It really does help pass the time. It would probably be great for people that do long cardio workouts on ellipticals and other cardio machines, too.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Two series that I love on audiobook are Harry Potter (DON'T JUDGE ME!) and A Great and Terrible Beauty and it's two follow ups (also young adult, but great fun)

    The only connections between the two is that they involve magic and are read by British people, haha.

    I would never judge Harry Potter! I pre-ordered all my books from Amazon and spent several days holed up reading them right away when they came. I actually stopped seeing the movies because I loved the books so much and felt that the movies were second-rate compared to the books.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Flanagan's Run by Tom McNab.
    Its a great read, but also works well as an audiobook.
    It's the story of a road race across the US in the middle of the 1930's depression - a great story and especially good when you are running.

    Or: The Time Traveller's Wife, Water for Elephants (the book is better than the movie), My Family and other animals by Gerald Durrell.

    The only one I've read from this list is Water for Elephants- and I bet it would make a beautiful audiobook (didn't see the movie)! I'm going to look in to the others, thanks!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I just finished a few (on runs):

    Woman in Black (so much better than the movie)
    In the woods (a GOOD mystery) (and others by Tana French)
    The Various Haunts of Man (and others by Susan Hill)

    and for more FUN than quality (but still good!)

    First Grave on the Right
    Second Grave on the Left
    Third Grave Dead Ahead

    Fun mysteries about a PI who's also the grim reaper.

    I'm currently listening to Interred with their Bones. Kinda like DaVinci code but about Shakespeare. Not my favorite.
    Never read any of these- checking it out! Thank you!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    The Hunger Games! I have listened to the first book on one of my long runs and it is GREAT!! Best, audiobook I've listened to.

    I read the books, but I bet they would make really good audiobooks!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    The Hunger Games! I have listened to the first book on one of my long runs and it is GREAT!! Best, audiobook I've listened to.

    I read the books, but I bet they would make really good audiobooks!
    They were great fun as audiobooks!
  • sarahrobin
    sarahrobin Posts: 138 Member
    I love listening to the Harry Dresden books - the author is Jim Butcher. I also like listening to Janet Evanovich books on tape. They are funny and cute.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I just finished a few (on runs):

    Woman in Black (so much better than the movie)
    In the woods (a GOOD mystery) (and others by Tana French)
    The Various Haunts of Man (and others by Susan Hill)

    and for more FUN than quality (but still good!)

    First Grave on the Right
    Second Grave on the Left
    Third Grave Dead Ahead

    Fun mysteries about a PI who's also the grim reaper.

    I'm currently listening to Interred with their Bones. Kinda like DaVinci code but about Shakespeare. Not my favorite.
    Never read any of these- checking it out! Thank you!
    The ones about the grim reaper are really entertaining and fun mysteries. Just the right "speed" for running.

    PS: thanks for starting this thread. I made one once, but no one replied.:sad:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I love listening to the Harry Dresden books - the author is Jim Butcher. I also like listening to Janet Evanovich books on tape. They are funny and cute.
    What are the Harry Dresden books about?
  • nwhitley
    nwhitley Posts: 619
    And don't forget about podcasts too. They are great to listen to while running.
  • nwhitley
    nwhitley Posts: 619
    i'm jealous you can listen to books and retain the info. i get confused listening to books, i'm very much a learner by reading and that's it.

    I understand what you mean. The easiest way to get into them is to read the book before hand so that when you listen to the audio version you don't have to really pay attention to know what's going on. After a couple of times of that, you will get to where you can listen and run at the same time.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    And don't forget about podcasts too. They are great to listen to while running.

    Do you have any suggestions? I listen to a couple different ones, but mostly science nerd stuff that is better suited for sitting at my desk.
  • rompers16
    rompers16 Posts: 5,404 Member
    I'm a fan of Janet Evanovich myself.
  • nwhitley
    nwhitley Posts: 619
    And don't forget about podcasts too. They are great to listen to while running.

    Do you have any suggestions? I listen to a couple different ones, but mostly science nerd stuff that is better suited for sitting at my desk.

    I'm a teacher so I usually listen to podcasts related to teaching ideas, so probably not interesting to you, lol. But, on itunes the podcasts are divided into different cateogories- like education, games and hobbies, news, health. So, you can find ones that are appealing to you.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    The ones about the grim reaper are really entertaining and fun mysteries. Just the right "speed" for running.

    PS: thanks for starting this thread. I made one once, but no one replied.:sad:
    I thought this one was going to be a sinker too- thanks to legs-n-bacon for reviving it!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I'm a fan of Janet Evanovich myself.

    I also love Evanovich! I've read all the books, but most of them were a while ago so it might be worth giving them another shot as audiobooks! Thanks!
  • sarahrobin
    sarahrobin Posts: 138 Member
    I love listening to the Harry Dresden books - the author is Jim Butcher. I also like listening to Janet Evanovich books on tape. They are funny and cute.
    What are the Harry Dresden books about?

    They are about a wizard in Chicago. He is the only practicing wizard and helps the police solve supernatural crimes. It doesn't sound terribly interesting but there are some moments of great wit and humor. The story lines are captivating. I'll admit- I only started listening to them because they are read by James Marsters (he played Spike on Buffy). He does such a fantastic job with the books. I am on the 4th book and they just get better and better.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I love listening to the Harry Dresden books - the author is Jim Butcher. I also like listening to Janet Evanovich books on tape. They are funny and cute.
    What are the Harry Dresden books about?

    They are about a wizard in Chicago. He is the only practicing wizard and helps the police solve supernatural crimes. It doesn't sound terribly interesting but there are some moments of great wit and humor. The story lines are captivating. I'll admit- I only started listening to them because they are read by James Marsters (he played Spike on Buffy). He does such a fantastic job with the books. I am on the 4th book and they just get better and better.
    Actually- that sounds pretty interesting! On the list!
  • PicNic00
    PicNic00 Posts: 269 Member
    Janet Evanovich and Suzanne Brockmann (Troubleshooters Series)

    These are the best!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I love listening to the Harry Dresden books - the author is Jim Butcher. I also like listening to Janet Evanovich books on tape. They are funny and cute.
    What are the Harry Dresden books about?

    They are about a wizard in Chicago. He is the only practicing wizard and helps the police solve supernatural crimes. It doesn't sound terribly interesting but there are some moments of great wit and humor. The story lines are captivating. I'll admit- I only started listening to them because they are read by James Marsters (he played Spike on Buffy). He does such a fantastic job with the books. I am on the 4th book and they just get better and better.
    That sounds quite fun! I'll add it to my audible queue.
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    Weird, but I like political type audio books. Really cool when you get the actual author to narrate.

    This usually helps keep the blood flowing in a goodish bad way....