Review: 100 Runs of a Lifetime by National Geographic — A Practical List for Runners Who Like to Travel

Review: 100 Runs of a Lifetime by National Geographic — A Practical List for Runners Who Like to Travel

If you're looking for books about running that go beyond training plans and race recaps, 100 Runs of a Lifetime from National Geographic is worth a look. It’s a curated list of global running routes—some well-known, others off the radar—aimed at runners who are also travelers.

One of my own photos, taken during a trail run in Hawai‘i, is included in the book. It’s a low-key reminder of why I started ultrarunningdestinations.com in the first place: to document the kinds of runs that stick with you because of where they happen, not how fast you go.

The book features a mix of trail and road runs, stage races, local loops, and major marathons. Destinations range from city streets to remote wilderness routes. It’s not a deep dive into any one region or type of running, but it works well as a visual reference or inspiration guide.

For runners interested in combining travel and running, this book is a solid addition to your shelf. It covers a wide variety of geographies and terrain without overhyping any single location. The descriptions are short and to the point. The photography is clean and professional—as you'd expect from National Geographic—but it’s the variety that makes it useful. You’re not going to get training advice or gear reviews here, but you will walk away with a list of places to consider for your next running trip.

Compared to other popular running books—like Born to Run, Run the World, or even The Runner’s Bucket List — 100 Runs of a Lifetime leans more into travel than personal narrative or performance. It’s for runners who plan vacations around where they can log miles.

If you’re searching for the best running books that highlight global destinations, this one belongs in the mix. And if you come across a mist-covered trail shot from Hawai‘i, that one’s mine.