#603 - Sabrina Little: Why Good People Make Better Runners

Can running make me a more moral person? Can striving to be a better person make me a better runner? In The Examined Run, philosopher and ultramarathon runner Sabrina Little asks whether running can be a laboratory for developing our character. She looks at the key ideas in virtue ethics--virtue, vice, exemplarism, moral emotions, and competition--and brings them into conversation with her experience in training and racing. Little pushes against the frequent conversations about ethics and sport that focus on the negative--doping and other forms of cheating or on simplistic expressions like “no pain, no gain.” Sabrina argues that these ideas don't address the rich picture of how athletics inform a good life, and sport's relationship to acts of justice or courage. A good athlete is not just one who avoids cheating--rather, they perform feats of perseverance and courage, and succeed by working to develop their natural capacities. Little employs her own experiences in training, coaching, and racing in world class ultramarathons to reveal how athletics and virtue are deeply interconnected. You can buy Sabrina's book on Amazon by clicking this link. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the new Metaspeed Sky and Edge Paris racers that are about to be released, at www.asics.com. Are you looking to work with a running coach? I am here for you! I've been working with runners of all ages and abilities for five years - from newer runners, masters runners looking to PR, and folks hoping to break 3:00 in the marathon. You can learn more by going to www.mckirdytrained.com, where I coach, or by emailing me at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices