At a time when a lot about operating is quickly altering — from the best way we run to how we gown to how we eat operating content material — ‘This Is Working” by Raziq Rauf affords an archive of operating tradition that reaches again to the center of the twentieth century. That’s a broad spectrum to cowl in a single ebook, however Rauf — who is probably finest identified for his Substack, “Working Sucks,” which incorporates interviews with runners, cultural think-pieces, and extra — does a exceptional job of relating sufficient bases to make it really feel complete. For street, monitor, and path runners alike, it feels related. To Rauf, it’s all simply operating, which explains why it feels so accessible and democratic for therefore many various kinds of individuals.
Rauf identifies as each a runner and a author. He’s been a author for 25 years — previously a music journalist — and picked up operating in his 20s. He began “Working Sucks” in 2023 as a method to write about one thing that he cared about, and the e-newsletter has amassed over 5,000 subscribers over three years. For anybody who balks on the playful title of the Substack, or certainly for anybody with whom it strikes a chord, Rauf is fast to say, “Working sucks … however I find it irresistible.” Rauf’s new ebook is one thing of an extension of his Substack and makes use of among the similar textual content beforehand revealed on-line. He noticed the ebook as a possibility to make one thing tangible and bodily everlasting. To be, maybe, a bodily manifestation of his love of the game.
Raziq Raul, the writer of “This Is Working.” Photograph: Carly Palmour
A Bodily Presence
The ebook is attractive to take a look at. It’s a satisfyingly weighty, hardcover coffee-table ebook with an opulent, inky, papery scent. Speaking in regards to the ebook’s writer, Rauf says, “I went to Batsford (the writer) as a result of I knew they created lovely specimens, lovely artifacts, issues that individuals needed to personal.” To create the ebook, Rauf and Batsford gathered era-defining images from throughout the game, making it a wealthy expertise even to thumb via idly. We see Jasmine Paris ending the 2024 Barkley Marathons, Usain Bolt successful the 100-meter race by a landslide within the 2008 Beijing Olympic Video gamesa pair of Fulfill shorts lined in salty sweat marks, and Joe Strummer of The Conflict operating the 1983 London Marathon. Even at a look, that is very a lot operating.
“That is Working” affords the bodily presence of a coffee-table ebook. Photograph courtesy of Raziq Raul.
Rauf writes flippantly, reflectively, and philosophically about varied classes of the game, together with the races we run, technological developments, operating golf equipment, and crews. He contains interviews with a handful of key figures within the sport, together with Dylan Bowman of the media firm Freetrail, Catherine Polettico-founder of UTMBand Josh Clarkcreator of Sofa to 5K, a program designed to get individuals operating. After years of analysis, Rauf has gathered tales and statistics to assist reply questions reminiscent of: What’s the sport? Why can we do it? The place can we do it? What can we put on? Who’re our buddies? What are its political points? What may the long run maintain?
A Lens on Working
For many of us, our relationship with how we eat operating media and take part within the sport has modified dramatically, even on this century. Nevertheless, as Rauf states within the ebook, “The factor about operating is that whereas it may be very simply augmented by expertise, whenever you boil operating right down to its purest essence, it’s nearly an individual — you — and your need to run.”
In locations, the content material feels nostalgic, though among the improvements are comparatively latest. Bear in mind when Nike made the FuelBand to log your exercise? Bear in mind operating with a supposedly jog-proof moveable CD participant? Bear in mind when Strava was primarily for cyclists?
Raul (far left) at a panel about operating tradition. Photograph: Benjamin Gibson
Rauf’s look again in time additionally factors a lens at essential points that stay on the forefront of operating tradition. Bear in mind when the feminine expertise of the game was barely a dialog? That is sadly not fairly nostalgia. Kathrine Switzer is in right here, being attacked whereas operating the Boston Marathon in 1967 and turning into the primary official girl finisher of the occasion, though Bobbi Gibb ran the occasion unofficially in 1966. Alysia Montano — six-time U.S. nationwide champion on the 800-meter occasion — waves to the crowds on the USATF Out of doors Championships in 2017 whereas noticeably 5 months pregnant. Sophie Energy is right here, breastfeeding her child in an assist station at UTMB in 2018. Some issues have modified, some haven’t, and Rauf is correct there with us in anger and celebration.
Rauf writes most movingly in regards to the intimacy shared between fellow runners, the connection shaped by the game revealing the perfect and worst sides of ourselves. He writes, “When you’ll be able to lastly pause on the finish of the group run, gasping for breath, no person cares how raveled and sweaty you look. After a critical exercise, you is perhaps stuffed with emotion — whether or not that’s satisfaction, frustration, ache, or elation — and, once more, you’re sharing that second with these round you. It’s a second that you simply may not usually suppose to share, however you’re already standing amongst others similar to you.” This actually resonates. All of us have these buddies who we barely acknowledge in civilian clothes, however we all know them in a vest soaked in sweat, bent over double with a snotty nostril. We’ve most likely hugged them in that state. We all know the reality of one another. As Rauf tells me, “After you have that vulnerability and also you share that second with someone, you develop into quick buddies.”
A Author and Runner
Rauf grew up in Redbridge, North East London, England, however now lives in Los Angeles, California, the place he’s embedded within the operating group. The weekend earlier than we spoke, he was handing out ice pops on the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon. He enjoys operating with buddies, however what’s maybe most shocking about Rauf is that, regardless of his love for the tradition of operating, the thought of operating a marathon or racing severely in any respect is laughable to him. He doesn’t need to head to a race at 3 a.m. or stand on a crowded begin line. “I suppose I’m extra reasonable in that regard,” he says. “I determine primarily as a author, and so I’m extra prone to push myself into excessive discomfort for writing functions.” Rauf needs to make use of his Substack to debate critical points, together with highlighting operating crews affected by immigration authorities. “If I can proceed to develop and use that platform to assist issues develop into higher,’ he says, “that’s actually all I might need.”
Raul identifies as each a runner and a author. Photograph: Carly Palmour
Rauf studied human geography on the College of Manchester, specializing in the relationships between individuals and place in an city setting, particularly via a feminist lens. This appears to be the idea of lots of his views, and the muse of his means to take a look at an setting, a tradition, and the methods individuals interact with it from a fowl’s-eye view. In just some paragraphs within the ebook, he goes from social media, the Barkley Marathons, and the indigenous tribe of Raràmuri runners, to the month-long Chipotle Problem, the place runners full the identical brief Strava section as many instances as potential. Then it’s on to writer and runner Haruki Murakami. The ebook mirrors the tradition of operating as a residing, respiratory, evolving, and rising community of individuals, occasions, streets, and trails. As tradition continued to sprawl in a number of instructions, it appears like a superb time to pause and take inventory of the place it exists as we speak, and Rauf is deftly outfitted to make the connections. “Anyone that I met on this journey over the previous few years,” Rauf remembers, “launched me as a ‘operating tradition archivist,’ which places me in the identical boat as a researcher or librarian. And I’m tremendous down with that.”
Rauf does most of his writing whereas operating. He tells me that he believes writing is 90% eager about what you need to write, and 10% truly getting it down. He relishes the time spent in his personal head, determining his ideas extra totally.
A Time Capsule of Working
The writing within the ebook actually feels recent. It feels conversational, and whereas it might have benefited from one other proofread in locations, it affords a wealth of factors that invite reflection, encourage additional analysis, and encourage deeper appreciation. There are movies I haven’t heard of, operating festivals I by no means knew about, and information tales that handed me by. Rauf’s analysis is considerate and thorough, and he retains a component of his personal perspective within the writing, including heat. This can be a historical past of individuals, in spite of everything. Rauf is our tour information, our documentary presenter, and certainly, our librarian.
As a fan of the game, as a completely immersed cult follower, that is the type of ebook I’d put in a time capsule to signify runners — and humankind — within the years to return. It appears to elucidate: There have been these individuals who known as themselves runners, and so they got here in all styles and sizes and ran in all kinds of locations. They wore bizarre garments, they cared a weird quantity about analyzing the info of their exercise, and their desired outcomes from mentioned exercise ranged from higher well being to social connections to everlasting glory. Finally, they sought happiness. It appears like that is the message Rauf leaves us with.
Raul explores many facets of operating tradition, not simply racing. Photograph: Carly Palmour
It’s universally acknowledged that it’s an thrilling time to be within the sport, and so it’s an exhilarating time to be conserving observe of what’s taking place. Rauf has created a bodily ebook that celebrates all of that. Learn it cowl to cowl, or dip into it whenever you’re procrastinating getting out in your run. Be impressed by it or be angered by it, benefit from the images or study a second within the sport. Whichever means you eat it, studying “This Is Working” appears like celebrating being part of this sport and this group.
Name for Feedback
- Have you ever learn “This Is Working?” What did you suppose?
- What historic operating moments stand out in your reminiscence?
