Lauren Fleshman the top tier athlete came a bit before my time. Lauren Fleshman the author and advocate for female runners comes at the right time for me. I re-entered the sport this year and, as a "decent" man trying to run track in NYC, I've had the privilege of training with talented women, some of whom are nationally relevant while working full time jobs. As a track nerd who follows the sport from the high school ranks to the tippy top, there are certain things that male fans really don't ever address or harp on. At least, I don't, and the theme throughout this book is that there are a lot of female phenoms in America who get chewed up, spit out, and forgotten by a system that offers little-to-no meaningful support from high school through college and to the pro ranks. Some people I run with have alluded to these things, and I think Lauren's book provides great insight not only to men, but all relevant figures including parents, coaches, teammates, and athletes themselves.

The pacing of the book is excellent, and the editing is tight. Sometimes too tight. I actually got the impression that Lauren's editors unnecessarily minimized her accomplishments. More running scenes would have been nice, too, as I really enjoyed those passages. It might have been a bit cliche to have the book end as she was going for a run but I would have considered it if I was her. Absent messaging, this writing is very close to standing on its own.

My only critique is that the book was written in 2023 and the author, despite accusing multiple groups of being transphobic, completely avoids taking a stance on DSD or transgender athletes competing in women's sports. It's hypocritical because she admits to being on the wrong side of history in not standing up to Alberto Salazar and other sleazy industry people when it mattered, yet there is a platform here to say oh-and-by-the-way: "Did you know that there's a difference between DSD athletes and trans athletes? Probably not! Let me explain that. I'm not here to virtue signal. DSD and trans athletes have a place in our sport--in the men's field." Yet, no. We only get "transphobic" name-calling by someone who was fortunate enough to never get her doors blown off in a race against Caster Semenya, Mboma, or others. If the book was published two years ago, I would have understood it more, but with World Athletics wielding the research and now taking a more strict stance, this was a whiff.

However, I can get over this, and say it's probably the best running book you'll read this year.