Review of Running the Sahara

[BOOKNERD254]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Running the Sahara" by Marcel Nickler.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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We often view running a marathon as a physically grueling activity but according to author Marcel Nickler, competing in a marathon also requires mental toughness. In his book Running the Sahara, readers experience the emotional, physical, and mental challenges he faces as he runs across the largest desert known to man. He vividly describes how he prepared for the race, endured the harsh desert conditions, and how he triumphed at last.

The book is written in a first pronoun format that I love as it evokes emotions. As the writer explains his journey from when the whistle is blown to when he crosses the finish line, readers get to picture his athletic course due to the narrator's ability to use deep vivid imageries to express his emotions and emphasize the desert scenery.

Furthermore, the writer has used a unique layout which I find interesting. He relives his experience in the Moroccan desert with an interlude of flashbacks. By jogging down memory lane, a comparison is made between the Marathon des Sables and previous Ultramarathon races. Moreover, he employs catchy foreign phrases to bring more reality to his marathon experiences both in the past and in his current situation (do not worry; they are a few instances). These patches of marathon memorabilia provide context for the Saharan Marathon. Therefore, the marathon appears tougher and more demanding.

Layout aside, Marcel explored themes like friendship, culture, perseverance, exploration and, family. These themes developed through the additional scenes from the past, which intern introduced other characters into the story that I liked. So, the story became less monotonous and more exciting.

From the intense description of the author's experience in Morocco, I feel this book would be better as a memoir than a self-help book. Also, I would have loved it if the writer added some humor to his tale. However, this is just my personal preference. Despite this, I think the writer has done a wonderful job in speaking his truth while mingling it with uplifting quotes to inspire potential long-distance runners. So, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It has a few notable errors, but they do not hinder the flow of the book.

I am no athlete, but I picked this book, read it, and loved it due to curiosity and my love for non-fictional adventure stories. If you are a marathon enthusiast or a competing athlete, this book is for you. Also, I would recommend it to people like me who love adventure, reality, and motivational-themed books.

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Running the Sahara
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[Brandy_Nyongesa]

Running a marathon is not something I have ever thought of doing. I love the fact that aspects of culture, family and friendships has been discussed. I would recommend this book to marathon coaches and anyone who enjoys running.

[markodim721]

The book is really inspiring. After reading it I immediately went jogging.

[BOOKNERD254]

It really is inspiring.

[BOOKNERD254]

Running a marathon is not something I have ever thought of doing. I love the fact that aspects of culture, family and friendships has been discussed. I would recommend this book to marathon coaches and anyone who enjoys running.

Yes, coaches would gain a lot of knowledge which they could use to train their athletes. Thank you for your comment.

[Kaushiki Parihar]

This book will be helpful to coaches and marathon runners. Great review!

[BOOKNERD254]

This book will be helpful to coaches and marathon runners. Great review!

I agree. Thank you.