Runhundred Book Buzz

Catching Up on the Latest Happenings

I haven't given you an update on "Runhundred" for a long time. Actually, not a day goes by without something happening around or with my debut book. I'll try to summarize everything for you here.

What I have to say

The best news first: people are buying and reading the book. Not as many as "Harry Potter" or "The Woman In Me" (that's the Britney Spears biography, in case you don't know), but a lot more than I could have ever hoped for. 12 weeks after release, we've long since left the safe haven of my family and friends (thanks for everything!), and people are stumbling upon "Runhundred", of whom I don't know where or how they heard about the book. That is very nice. Beautiful, even.

It's also nice to see that people prefer to buy the paperback version of Runhundred. Yes, that's right, the physical, touchable, paper version. Even though I've been preferably consuming audiobooks for years and think e-books are super cool, I still tend to romanticize print. If I really like a book, I'll buy an additional paperback or hardcover version, even if I've already listened to it on audio. I just want to own it. Physically. To touch. Ugh, I repeat myself.

And then there is the German translation. Runs.

(Those little scratches are by my cat Toto who tries to climb the whiteboard every now and then)

I found a good translation flow. I had to translate a few chapters a second time because my style has changed a bit, but overall, I'm making good progress. Would you like to help me? Ok, what's the best German word for "aid station"?

What others say

Here are a few lovely testimonials and reviews I got lately. When I read something like that, I get all tingly, but in a good way.

"A really likeable and stirring story of an obsession with a sport and a race." – Damian Hall, Author of "We Can’t Run Away From This" and Ultrarunner

"The book, much like the approach to Western States, is very well thought out. The levelhead/punk Chris gives an honest insight into everything that is ultrarunning. After reading Runhundred, I feel the desire to run 100 miles for the first time." – Juliane Bruneß, co-host of the "Vom Laufen" podcast, book author and ultrarunner

"100 miles are long. Long enough to fill a book with one single run? But Chris abolished my doubts: this book is written by a levelhead but tells the story of a runner, who punk-heartedly reached the finish line of his dream-race." – Benni Bublak, Ultratrailrunner

“(…) His writing is a reflection of his passion, love and dedication to not only the ultra trail running community but the running world at large. Chris has left his heart on the pages of this book, and I know you will love Runhundred as much as I have.” – Mat Grills, Australian Ultrarunner

"(…) The result is an emotional, honest report that will also captivate non-ultra-runners." – Runner’s World, Ausgabe 1 / 2024

"Rousing account of the vegan ultrarunner's experiences at the legendary Western States 100, the oldest and most famous 100-mile ultramarathon in the world. Full of highs and lows – honest, self-reflective and profound. Well worth reading!" – Vegan Für Mich 02/2024

I was also briefly mentioned in a blog post by the German media giant "Der Spiegel":

"The book has no net and no false bottom. It is the unsparing, chronological account of a strong runner who is shattered by the grind in California. And what happens to him next. After reading the book, I vacillate between, ‘This is great, here we go’ and ‘Completely insane, never ever.’ – Ole Reißmann, Der Spiegel

I would love to hear how you liked the book and what it did for you. If you want to earn extra karma points, please post it on Goodreads and Amazon. The algorithm loves that, and that way even more people can discover "Runhundred" and hopefully get swept away by it.

I still have one or two questions

You love my little surveys, don't you? Thank you for giving me a few pointers.

(Actual footage of the “Runhundred” book release party in December. Quite similar to what a book reading could look like)

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Everything not Running

As most of you know, I was a musician in a previous life. It was fun. Most of the time. But some things bands do are more than questionable. Looking back and with a bit of distance, it's always easier to critically question your own actions. One of the things I see most critically today is the lack of ecological awareness of bands, in fact, of the entire music industry.

(A classic “do as I say, not as I did” situation. Photo by Martin Liebl)

Although it is quite common among punk/hardcore bands to deal with the issue of environmental protection, even to fight for it, no one has ever come up with the idea that playing in a band is a part of the problem. A big one, in fact.

First of all, I'm thinking about touring. Getting into a Sprinter van every weekend plus three times a year for 10 - 14 days and driving all your equipment and six people across Europe – 800 km a day or so-called " overnight drives " are not uncommon – and then standing on stage in front of 150 people (often less) is a real CO2 disaster. If, like some American bands, you drive to every city in Europe three times a year until people's ears pop out, then this disaster is multiplied many times over. And not only because of the long-distance flights.

But even worse is the merchandise business of bands. It's clear that musicians today don't earn a penny from anything but merch. But that's no reason to mindlessly rely on the cheapest cotton rags produced under the worst working conditions and in gross violation of environmental standards. All this just to save another €5 on the purchase. Instead of accepting these additional costs for halfway acceptable clothing items and passing them on to the enthusiastic fans, the shirts have been sold at absolute dumping prices for decades. Bands as well as labels and merchandise retailers have consistently relied on quantity instead of quality, which in addition to the social and ecological damage, has led to exploding closets of fans who no longer know what to do with all their cheap shirts. Most of them are "luckily" so deformed and washed out after 2 years that they go straight to the old clothes collection. A product lifecycle from hell.

The third area in which bands don't exactly cover themselves in environmental glory is the production of sound carriers. Yes, CDs are still pressed. And not even that few. In addition, the market for vinyl records is booming. As the collector's instinct of the fans is triggered here – almost every record that is released is "limited" (of course...) – even in average-sized record collections, giant mountains of vinyl are piling up. So what's the problem? Quite simply, vinyl is plastic waste. CDs too. Even if these objects are charged with value by the art of the respective band, that doesn't change the fact that all CDs and all vinyl records will end up in a landfill at some point. Yes, even your "Chung King" pressing. The absurd thing is that most vinyl records aren't even listened to. The majority of collectors do it the modern way via Spotify and Apple Music. So the record collection has a purely symbolic value. You could understand that with a handful of essential records, but to get the same album in 8 different vinyl colors and on top of that as a limited gatefold cover is wild.

Yes, yes, I know, it's always easy to point the finger at others, and when I look at my shoe closet, my ecological footprint has probably only marginally improved. But my awareness has changed. And that's what I don't see with musicians and bands.

You are welcome to disagree with me!