For the Love of the Grind - by Sara Hall (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE." --Meb Keflezighi - "A BEAUTIFUL REFLECTION ON WHAT IT MEANS TO KEEP SHOWING UP." --Allyson Felix - "LEFT ME ON THE SIDELINES CHEERING." --Joan Benoit Samuelson

Sara Hall shares the story of her record-breaking career and her unconventional path to motherhood via adoption, all while battling insecurities, injuries, and doubters.

Sara Hall has been a fixture atop American distance running for more than two decades: first as a national high school champion, then as an NCAA star at Stanford University, and later, as the only pro runner to ever win U.S. titles in the mile and the marathon. She's held the American record in the half marathon, clocked the fastest marathon in the U.S. by a woman aged 40 or older, and represented her country in ​multiple World Championships.
But success has never come easy. Fear of failure set in during high school. In college, Sara competed through a results-obsessed culture that carried into her professional career. She battled anxiety and imposter syndrome, alongside outside pressure to quit the sport and instead devote herself to supporting her husband, Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall, and later, her kids. Yet Sara never gave up on the dream of reaching her potential.
Fueled by faith, family, and an unbridled love of exploring her limits, Sara has proven the doubters wrong at every turn. When she and Ryan adopted four daughters from Ethiopia, motherhood only made her faster, running personal bests year after year and landing on podiums at the world's most competitive races. Along the way, she discovered that choosing love over fear allowed her to take risks. She let go of results and embraced the pursuit of excellence instead.

For the Love of the Grind is a love letter to running, and the story of Sara's growth as an athlete, wife, and mom. Through her unflinching honesty and keen introspection, readers will be inspired to chase their dreams, to reimagine what might still be possible, and to embrace their own love of the grind.

Review Quotes

"Sara has always been a fierce competitor, and in her book, she shows us the vulnerability of searching for success. For The Love Of The Grind is a must read for everyone. Not only is it funny and relatable, but you will walk through Sara's journey like you are running stride by stride with her. I am so impressed by the epic life she has lived with the purpose to serve others." --Meb Keflezighi, Boston and NYC Marathon Champion, Olympic Silver medalist

"Sara's story reveals the heart of a champion and the strength of a mother. I've always admired her as an athlete, but this memoir shows the depth of her grit, grace, and unwavering faith. For the Love of the Grind is a beautiful reflection on what it means to keep showing up." --Allyson Felix, 7x Olympic Gold medalist

"Having always used storytelling to motivate myself to achieve my goals, Sara's story of passion, belief and purpose left me on the sidelines cheering. With her deep determination, true grit, incredible work ethic and amazing accomplishments, Sara brings you right along with her during a career that continues to inspire." --Joan Benoit Samuelson, 1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist

"A fascinating account of Sara's experiences running--often outside the typical lanes. She inspires with her resilience in motherhood and in sport. I couldn't put it down." --Molly Huddle, 2x US Olympian and coauthor of How She Did It

"What I have always admired in Sara is her courage, resilience, and honesty.This book gives an unfiltered insight into the mindset and journey that helped Sara become one of the best American distance runners. It's a must-read for anyone wanting an up close view of how one woman's commitment to her family, faith, and running lead her to remarkable achievements." --Emma Coburn, 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist

"Sara Hall has had the best and longest career in American running, but she has also faced crushing disappointments. In her candid, gripping memoir, she wrestles with the big questions: What is victory? What is failure? What is a life well-run? She maintains a relentless pace through devotion to her husband, her four adopted Ethiopian daughters, and her charity work. With all that, who needs an Olympic uniform?" --Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon winner and author of First Ladies of Running

"Messy. Painful. Beautiful. That's what chasing a dream really looks like, and that's exactly what Sara Hall gives us in For the Love of the Grind. A brutally honest, deeply moving book about what it takes to pursue something meaningful. Sara has provided the much-needed antidote to the modern highlight reel. It's a masterclass on developing resilience and pursuing excellence in not just sport, but life." --Steve Magness, Author of Do Hard Things

"She has become a powerful example of how resilience--built from pushing through years, even decades, of setbacks--can reap unexpected rewards. She spent most of her career outside of the spotlight--always excellent but rarely the best. In her sport, success is often measured by making the Olympics; Ms. Hall never has. She spent much of her career in the shadow of her record-setting husband. Through it all, she was always out there training: steadily, quietly, unglamorously...And she successfully integrated other parts of her life into her career: Since she adopted four daughters in 2015, she has taken more than 27 minutes off her marathon time... [but] she runs the same now as she did in high school: explosively." --Lindsey Crouse, New York Times (2020)

"Her career is notable for its duration. Hall has appeared in every Olympic Trials since 2004, either on the track or in the marathon, or both." --Runners World (2024)

"Hall's trajectory seems to defy the norm--almost as if she is just getting started...Hall sees her age as an advantage. It's given her a certain amount of wisdom. It's liberated her, too--she never feels like she has something to lose by taking chances, whether in training or during a race. And that makes her a threat on every starting line." --Women's Running (2021)

About the Author