2025 Treeline Endurance Book List: A Year of Reflection

As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the past year. This time of year always prompts introspection. One of the driving forces behind my coaching journey has been the realization that the learning process never truly ends. New ideas, perspectives, and data continually emerge. I know it's been a good year when I see the world in a slightly different light than I did at the start.

This year, my book list reflects works-in-progress that I would describe as "coaching-adjacent." I previously wrote about one of these projects, and there’s more to come. However, that’s a discussion for next year. For now, I want to share the titles that have added perspective to my life this year. Perhaps one or two of them can widen your view as well. Here’s our 2025 book list.

Good for a Girl - Lauren Fleshman

Lauren Fleshman is a retired professional American distance runner, once sponsored by Nike. After her running career, she transitioned into coaching elite female runners and entrepreneurship. She co-founded Picky Bars, a nutritional bar company, and the women’s athletic clothing brand Oiselle.

Good for a Girl is Fleshman's memoir about her life during and after her elite running career. It offers a thoughtful, candid, and enlightening glimpse into what companies, coaches, and society expect from female distance runners. Fleshman addresses the culture of disordered eating and body shaming that female athletes often face. This moving story aims to drive social change around these critical issues.

Invisible Women - Caroline Criado Perez

I discovered Perez's book through a recommendation from one of my athletes. It came shortly after I read a paper discussing the sex data gap in sports and exercise science. At that time, I was puzzled by some discrepancies I noticed between men and women in shoe science. The differences in responses to footwear seemed inadequately explored.

Invisible Women is a comprehensive examination of the data bias that favors the default male. Perez explores how this bias affects various sectors, including public safety, city infrastructure, medicine, and corporate policies. The book clarifies the issues we should be aware of and proposes necessary policy reforms.

Outlive - Peter Attia, MD

As a coach, my focus is on performance, but I also recognize the importance of long-term health and happiness for athletes. Longevity is far more crucial than any single performance outcome. Performance and longevity often require different approaches, making it essential to balance both goals in training schedules.

Outlive serves as a manifesto on longevity. Attia discusses the leading diseases our society faces and outlines proactive steps we can take to protect ourselves. His central message is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For anyone interested in longevity, Outlive is an excellent starting point. Additionally, Attia's podcast, The Drive, is a fantastic resource for further education on related topics.

Win the Inside Game - Steve Magness

Steve Magness first gained attention as a middle-distance running standout in high school. He later became known for his role as an assistant coach and whistleblower regarding the abuses within the Nike Oregon Project elite running team. Although he has not addressed this topic extensively in recent years, Win the Inside Game draws heavily from his personal journey.

Magness's follow-up to his previous book, Do Hard Things, maintains the same science-driven narrative. This time, he focuses on the internal battles we face in our minds. Win the Inside Game is a guide to overcoming self-imposed barriers, allowing us to achieve our best while struggling less. As a coach, I found it invaluable for helping athletes think more productively about themselves and their goals.

The Explorer's Gene - Alex Hutchinson, PhD

Alex Hutchinson is the author of the popular Sweat Science column, which has appeared in Outside Magazine and previously in Runner's World. His expertise spans various performance topics, including the Nike Breaking2 project and the scientific study of Vitamin D supplementation.

In The Explorer's Gene, Hutchinson tackles a different question: is there an instinctive human need to explore new things? He delves into the origins of this innate curiosity. While I have always appreciated Hutchinson's work, I found his storytelling particularly engaging in this book. However, I finished it wanting more.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward into a new year, let's embrace new perspectives and opportunities for growth.

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