The 26.2 soundtrack: audiobooks for the London marathon
Marathon runner and reader Stella Moore recommends the perfect audiobooks for race-day inspiration and/or training run distraction, whatever your target time.
As we edge closer to the 27th April, I am one of the 56,000 (lucky?) people who will be shoveling pasta, foam-rolling my legs and trying to control my nerves in preparation for the forty-fifth edition of the London Marathon. I have often thought running and reading have a lot in common: they are both perceived as solitary activities, but neither have to be; modern day pressures to be ‘productive’ mean some see both as a chore, something we should, rather than want to do – however once you hit your stride they prove to be anything but. I am fully committed to both because they offer, in different ways, an escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life. So, it’s no surprise that – speaking of productivity – I often ‘habit stack’ and listen to audiobooks on my runs. And if you are one of the other 55,999 people taking to London’s streets, you should too.
Here, we’ve curated a list of audiobooks to power you through the race and your final training runs, tailored to your goal time. But the London Marathon is about so much more than numbers – it’s the ultimate celebration of what it means to be human. And that is what all these books also have in common. So lace up your trainers, plug in and just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
2-3 hours
The End We Start From
by Megan Hunter
122 minutes
If you’ve ever walked through London on marathon morning before the start gun fires, the eerily quiet streets can feel almost dystopian – a calm before the storm. For the narrator of The End We Start From and her newborn baby, a dystopian London isn’t just a feeling; it’s their reality. As rising floodwaters consume their home, they are forced to flee, searching for safety in an uncertain world. Told in sparse, poetic prose, this is a story of survival, resilience, and a mother’s unwavering determination. As you pound the pavement on race day, their strength might just be the inspiration you need to reach your goal time.
Exhalation
by Ted Chiang
Various lengths
Long runs are great at clearing one’s head to make room to ponder life’s Big Questions: what is the nature of the universe? What does it mean to be human? These are also the sort of questions Ted Chiang addresses in his collection of short fiction, Exhalation. Stories include a mechanical being that discovers that its world is slowly dying, serving as a metaphor for entropy and the finite nature of existence; a scientist in an alternate universe who questions her faith upon discovering new evidence about creation; and a time-travel tale set in ancient Baghdad, exploring destiny, regret, and second chances. And while, if things go to plan, you won’t make it through the entire book, pick one or two of these parables to help lock into your running cadence.
3-4 hours
How to Feel Better
by Cathy Rentzenbrink
192 minutes
Running is full of ups and downs with ‘good days’ and ‘bad days’ often both unpredictable and inexplicable. Some days you feel invincible, gliding as if floating on air. Other days, it’s as if you’re wading through treacle with anvils attached to your ankles. A bit like life itself. Luckily, How to Feel Better is here to help tackle the bad days and embrace the good ones. Narrated by the author, Cathy Rentzenbrink explores the importance of small everyday actions, the value of accepting and processing emotions and finding joy in simple pleasures. Ultimately, How to Feel Better is a reminder that while we can’t always control our circumstances, we have the power to choose how we respond to them – a mantra fitting with the sometimes frustrating, but always rewarding, process of marathon training and running.
Rental Person Who Does Nothing
by Shoji Morimoto
215 minutes
In Rental Person Who Does Nothing, Shoji Morimoto offers a refreshing take on human connection and solitude. After discovering a unique ability to ‘do nothing’ while still providing comfort to others, Morimoto becomes a ‘rental person’ for those seeking companionship without expectations. Whether it's listening to a deep secret, simply being present, or offering a reassuring wave, his service highlights both the complexities and simplicities of human relationships. The London Marathon also captures this – every runner has a deep personal story to tell, but equally, sometimes a stranger belting your name as you hit the wall at mile twenty can be just as powerful.
4-5 hours
The Running Book
by John Connell
270 minutes
Need we say more? What better companion to your race than The Running Book. Blending personal memoir with philosophical musings, John Connell explores how running has shaped his life, providing clarity, solace, and a deeper connection to nature. Told in 42 chapters, one for each kilometre of the 42.2k race, the whole book is 42,000 words long, capturing what it is to undertake a marathon moment by moment, in body and mind. The Running Book will help you to remember your ‘why’, even when (not if) things get really, really hard.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
by Haruki Murakami
263 minutes
Given you’re a runner, somebody has probably gifted you this book (at least once) already. But on the off chance you haven’t read it, what better occasion to give it a go? In this memoir, Murakami reflects on his experiences as a long-distance runner and how running has influenced his writing and life. Through personal anecdotes, he explores the physical and mental challenges of running, drawing parallels between endurance sports and his creative process. Not only is the audiobook the perfect length for those looking to run around the 4:30 mark, it’s also an opportunity to channel your competitiveness and maybe next time chase Murukami’s personal best.
5-6 hours
The Kamogawa Food Detectives
by Hisashi Kashiwai
298 minutes
Almost as important as the marathon itself, is the post-marathon meal and The Kamogawa Food Detectives understands just how powerful food can be. Tucked away in a quiet Kyoto backstreet, the Kamogawa Diner offers more than just delicious meals. Run by father-daughter duo Nagare and Koishi, the restaurant doubles as a team of ‘food detectives’, recreating lost recipes that hold deep personal meaning. From a widower longing for his late wife's noodles to a first love’s beef stew, their work unlocks cherished memories and new beginnings, proving that food has the power to heal and reconnect. This book will ensure you savour the post-race vibes as you sit around a table and celebrate your momentous achievement with your loved ones.
Stay True
by Hua Hsu
329 minutes
Marathons are emotional. There are always tears: of pain, relief, joy, heartbreak and heartache. These are all feelings also captured in Hua Hsu’s Stay True, a beautifully written memoir about growing up in the 90s, told through the lens of a friendship cut tragically short. It’s the perfect companion for those running for or in memory of a loved one, or to be inspired by those who are. Ultimately, marathons represent the best of humanity – a beautiful melting pot of emotions – just like this book.
6+ hours
One Small Step
by Paul Sinton-Hewitt
540 minutes
Running is for everyone. It’s not about speed, appearance, or gear – it’s about showing up. Few understand this more than Paul Sinton-Hewitt, the founder of parkrun. Now, his story is being told for the first time in One Small Step – the story of how a simple idea turned into a global movement that would go on to shape lives and build communities. Read by the author himself, what better motivation than Sinton-Hewitt in your ears, reminding you that every small step brings you closer to the finish line?
Bridget Jones's Diary
by Helen Fielding
507 minutes
Nothing says millennial mid-life crisis like signing up to a marathon. 2025 also happens to see the release of the fourth Bridget Jones film Mad About the Boy. Therefore, it only felt right to include the literary (and cinematic) icon in this list. Listen along to laugh with Bridget, cry with Bridget and – as you stand on that start line with hours of running ahead of you – maybe also regret all of your life choices with Bridget . . .
