What does it take to run the world-literally and figuratively?
For Robyn Godfrey, it meant logging thousands of miles and navigating one of the most transformative decades of her life. Running the World is more than a runner's travelogue-it's a memoir of reinvention, resilience, and the conviction that it's never too late to redefine yourself.
Robyn's story begins not on a start line but in adolescence, as a clumsy, reluctant teen, and later as a mid-life party girl questioning her relationship with alcohol. She wasn't chasing medals-she was searching for purpose in a life full of contradictions.
Everything changed the day she laced up a pair of running shoes. What began as a fitness experiment became a calling. With each step, Robyn discovered a stronger, braver self-one who embraced discomfort and learned to trust her instincts.
She then set an audacious goal: conquer all six World Marathon Majors-Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. That quest demanded more than 26.2 miles of training; it required navigating foreign cities, jet lag, cultural surprises, self-doubt, and the emotional weight of life at home.
Yet she persevered-running through rain, heat, and snow; training before dawn and after work; crossing finish lines with gratitude and grit. Each city left its mark: cheering crowds in London, carb-loading lessons in Tokyo, Heartbreak Hill's triumph in Boston, Berlin's fierce determination, Chicago's home-field spirit, and New York's electrifying finale.
But Running the World isn't just about races-it's about transformation. Robyn writes with refreshing honesty about hangovers, anxieties, and the doubts that crept in-and how she kept showing up anyway. You'll meet training partners, the doctors who mended her, strangers who cheered her on, and even her dogs, who reminded her to pause and play.
Whether you've run a marathon or never jogged a mile, Robyn's journey resonates. It's about choosing joy over fear, progress over perfection, and movement over stagnation. It's about making peace with your past-and sprinting toward your future. Ultimately, Running the World isn't about being the fastest-it's about finding your way back to yourself.
Perfect for readers who are:
Curious about the World Marathon Majors journey Training for their first or fiftieth marathon or half-marathon Women redefining themselves in their 40s, 50s, and beyond Searching for motivational running stories with emotional depth Fans of memoirs about overcoming adversity, illness, and loss Drawn to travel memoirs with purpose, heart, and humor Looking for an inspiring midlife transformation memoir
