These romance novels will get your heart racing.

As a writer (and avid reader) of sports romance (mostly queer, but I’ll read anything about runners), I spent a lot of time searching for running romances and always ending up with lists about people ‘running away from’ something, rather than running as a sport .

For me, running and romance just fit. Whether it’s pounding out miles side by side, finding connection mid-race, or learning to let someone set the pace beside you. After all, love, much like running, is an act of showing up again and again.

So if you love your romance with a good dose of stamina, grit, and heart, here are nine books about running (not running away) that’ll leave you breathless (in the best possible way).

1. See You at the Finish Line by Sara Clement
   • M/F Would you run a two hundred and forty mile race through the desert if it meant meeting the love of your life? Sparks fly and banter awaits in this slow burn, open-door romantic comedy. Who will cross the finish line first?
2. Get me to the Starting Line by Sara Clement
   • M/F You’ve heard of a meet-cute, but what about a meet-crash? Opposites collide in this spicy, sporty, single-mom romantic comedy. The starting line awaits, what will it take to get there?
3. Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura
   • M/F Set against a sizzling-hot Greek summer, Let the Games Begin is a page-turning sports rom-com about two strangers at the top of their game.
4. Nothing Ventured by Jay Northcote
   • M/M Mud, sweat, and reluctant romance. Can Aiden and Matt sort out their feelings before race day?
5. Your Pace or Mine by Kim Stephenson (that’s me!)
   • M/M True love is a marathon, not a sprint. Your Pace or Mine is a heartwarming contemporary MM sports romance packed with fake dating, sharp banter, spice and plenty of running
6. Soft Landings by Kim Stephenson (oh wow, what a coincidence, me again)
   • M/M With a lifetime of friendship, now, they’re racing toward something far more dangerous…love. This standalone prequel novella to Your Pace or Mine is a short, spicy, friends-to-lovers romance about finding yourself, and the risks we can take when we have somewhere soft to land.
   • Free Novella
7. For the Long Run by Cheyenne Blue
   • F/F An enemies-to-lovers lesbian sports romance about making it to the finish line.
8. Running into You by K. M Gillis
   • M/F Running Into You is a heartfelt dual POV romcom novel with laughs, spicy scenes, and a guaranteed HEA.
     Tropes featured: friends to lovers, best friend’s brother, forced proximity
9. The Underdog by Briar Prescott
   • M/M Once upon a time, I told my brother and sister that I wanted to do a triathlon. I never expected them to sign me up for one! Now I’m forced to deal with my very cantankerous personal trainer.
     Wells Montgomery is an angry, rude, judgmental bastard. Frankly, I’m surprised the chip on his shoulder hasn’t crushed him yet.