How to Lose a Marathon

A Starter's Guide to Finishing in 26.2 Chapters

De: Joel A. Cohen

Narrado por: Nicholas Techosky

In How to Lose a Marathon, Joel Cohen takes listeners on a step-by-step journey from being a couch potato to being a couch potato who can finish a marathon. Through a hilarious combination of running tips and narrative, Cohen breaks down the misery that is forcing yourself to run.

From chafing to the best times to run, explaining the phenomenon known as the "Oprah Line", and exposing the torture that is a premarathon expo, Cohen acts as your satirical guide to every aspect of the runner's experience. Offering both real advice and genuine commiseration with runners of all skill levels, How to Lose a Marathon lets you know that even if you believe that the "runner's high" is a complete myth, you can still survive all 26.2 miles of a marathon.

©2017 Joel Cohen (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

" Simpsons writer Joel H. Cohen shares what he learned as he went from self-described 'chubby middle-aged guy' to marathoner. Narrator Nicholas Techosky delivers the 26.2 chapters (a marathon is 26.2 miles), which in book terms equal 26 chapters and the world's shortest epilogue. Helpful information on running gear such as treadmills, shoes, and apps is covered. Uncommon terms are explained. Colorful descriptions of marathons around the world are inspiring. Techosky's encouraging tone will keep new marathoners motivated, particularly as Cohen promises, 'If I can do it, you can, too.' Quotes - from runners, books, and African proverbs - pepper listeners with other helpful viewpoints. Most satisfying is hearing Cohen take on purists who look down on slow runners. He believes EVERYONE who finishes a marathon is a winner." ( AudioFile Magazine)

His story is mine

Not a team runner. Starting late in life. Funny review of his journey. I ran 14 miles while listening to this book getting ready for the Seattle marathon 😎

Good info, but too many (bad) jokes

Good reader with solid info regarding first time marathoners. I am halfway and the constant bad jokes kill the read/listen

Cohen's humor takes awhile to get used to.

Would you try another book from Joel A. Cohen and/or Nicholas Techosky?

No, because the brand of humor wasn't really my style.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

There's not enough to the book to make it enjoyable. I don't really get a sense of why Joel even wanted to run a marathon...there's no breakout moment, or "come to Jesus" moment to make it seem like there was true motivation. I was hoping for some medical diagnoses, a slow obsession with runners, an accidental drunken sign-up for a marathon, so the entire thing seemed crafted as a lengthy set-up for a joke. I like self-depreciating humor, but honestly I didn't ever feel like I liked this guy since he didn't like himself very much. There's also not enough information about his training. I feel like he goes from anecdote to anecdote, ignoring entirely the idea that he trained unflinchingly for 4 months...I want to hear of the trauma of running each day, the suffering...not just the two times he managed to injure himself during training. We never got progress, just that "running sucks, gels are gross, running shoes are really colorful, aren't I funny?" I listened to this book during two long runs and never felt like he and I connected at all...I also don't particularly love running, but I want to hear how my suffering and your suffering aligned.


Honestly, the author is trying way, way too hard to be funny. The funny stuff was the stuff that I recognized from running, not because of his try-hard comparisons and making fun of the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

This guy sounded like an unfunny jerk at a party, and he knew it, and he hated reading the book out loud to people because he knew he sounded like a jerk.

Was How to Lose a Marathon worth the listening time?

I definitely wish I hadn't wasted a credit, but now I'm interested in reading more books about running, I guess?

Any additional comments?

Hard pass. May be better if it's actually read rather than listened to.

Fantastic for the slow walker.

Loved it. I am a slow walker and this book gave me comical hope and and also inspiration for my 60 mile walk.

Hilarious with a capital H

Fun, fun, fun. Laughing every 20 seconds or so at 1.5 times the playback speed. Great entertainment. Enjoyed it to the fullest.