Review: LIKE THE WIND magazine

“It’s about why we run, not how we run”

I love this tag line on the cover of issue #6 of LIKE THE WIND magazine. This is so different from talk of paces, warm-up exercises or gear. A friend recently sent me a link to the magazine website with the  note: “Sounds like something made for you!!” JW, you know me so well! I’d never heard of it, but I was inspired enough after I scoured their website to order the latest two issues (#5 and #6), plus a free supplement from them.

The issues are amazing! First you notice that the paper is thick. Really substantially thick, on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (this link is to the UK branch, but there are other FSCs worldwide), i.e. from responsible sources. Given the thickness of the paper and the over all, non-magazine feel I would say that the issues are more like paperback books rather than flimsy magazine issues.  Meaning that they will sit on the bookshelf for a lot longer than most other running magazines.

The next thing you notice is the lack of advertising. But, wait there is some, inside the front cover, but they look just like the articles in the rest of the issue, i.e. with a great photo, sometimes with the addition of a story or just a phrase with the sponsor name. WOW so different from other running magazines that I read. Although, I confess, that I do read those other magazines for the ads too.

Now the content… stories, sometimes poems, one, two or three pages, with lots of white (or coloured) space around the text and always a photo or an illustration with each article. In fact, if it weren’t for the stories about running, it might be considered an art magazine.  The photos are always to my liking, it seems, but some of the drawings, not so much: what do they say… art is in the eye of the beholder. I’ve selected a few of the illustrations that I like from those 2 issues and included them in a little slide show*.

The stories are as diverse as tales about someone’s first race or someone’s 10th ultra; about trail, road and track running. There are stories about pain, sorrow, joy and delight in each issue. A wee bit of everything that a runner would want to read about.  I especially like the photo essays (more photos, less words, but always a narrative to go with the photos).

I think that most of the illustrators are runners too, which makes each issue so juicy – like you want to curl up with your cat or near the fire (I’m in winter mode) and dream about your next race, your next travel adventure or just live vicariously through others.  The magazine is published in the UK, but the stories and illustrations are from around the world.

*I apologize and ask for forgiveness in advance for not asking for permission to share these illustrations here. I deliberately did not photograph them for further reproduction. I just want to get the word out about this awesome magazine! The magazine launched in February 2014 and is published quarterly. Go to their website for more information on cost and subscriptions.