From the Nike Running Global Head Coach Chris Bennet a book for current runners, former runners, wannabe runners and anyone in between—a book about running and how it pertains to life, and life and how it pertains to running. Built around many of the philosophies that have made his podcasts incredibly successful (Coach Bennett’s Podcast on Apple) meant to motivate everyone to run, because according to Coach Bennett, we’re all meant to be runners even if we’re not running yet.
Everyone is a runner, even if they’ve never stepped foot on a treadmill or a track. So says Chris Bennett, former college cross-country champion, University of North Carolina Running Coach, and current Nike Running Global Head Coach. With his positive, pop-culture laced, back to basics approach, Coach Bennett gets to the heart of how running can make you feel, why folks take to it, and how it can become a lifelong source of joy, confidence, and personal transformation.
In this empowering and refreshingly honest guide, Coach Bennett strips away the pressure of pace, distance, and competition, focusing instead on the emotional and mental rewards of simply moving forward—in running AND in life. Whether you're lacing up for the first time
or rediscovering your stride after years away, this book reminds you that running isn't about being the fastest — it's about showing up, being present, and learning to trust yourself with every step.
From Nike Running’s Global Head Coach Chris Bennett comes a bold, welcoming book for runners, non-runners, and everyone in between. Rooted in the coaching philosophy that has helped millions take their first steps forward, it’s about finding the courage to cross the starting lines in your life.
This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. is a deeply motivating, funny, and unexpectedly moving book about what happens when we dare to step up to the starting lines in our lives. Drawing on the philosophy that has inspired millions around the world, Coach Bennett reframes running not as a test of speed, distance, or competition—but as a practice in showing up, moving forward, and discovering what’s possible when you take a chance on yourself.
With his signature mix of positivity, pop-culture wisdom, and back-to-basics insight, Bennett strips away the pressure that keeps so many people stuck. Instead, he offers a refreshing invitation: you don’t have to be fast, fit, or fearless to be a runner. You just have to start. And once you do, running has a way of teaching you about far more than running: about resilience, confidence, self-trust, and the quiet power of momentum.
Whether you’re lacing up for the first time, returning after years away, or simply looking for a new way to think about progress, this book is a reminder that forward is forward, and that something extraordinary can happen when you take that first step.
Because the best running isn’t really about running at all.
It’s about life.
