The Purple Guide to Learning Speedrunning in 10 Days
A 10-day starter plan to finally understand speedrunning, run your first real game, and decide if it's for you—without wasting money or months on guesswork.
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Ten days, one simple game, your first real speedrun attempt. A no-fluff, step-by-step guide to trying speedrunning without wasting time or money.
About this book
You've watched the marathons. You've seen runs that look impossible, and runs that look surprisingly chill. You've wondered if you could do it, but then you opened a forum and got buried in terms like 'clip abuse,' 'frames,' and 'category extensions.' Where do you even start? What game do you pick? Do you need a special controller? How do you not lose your mind in the first hour?
This guide is the answer—a very specific, very doable ten-day plan designed for one purpose: to let you try speedrunning properly, without sinking a bunch of money into gear you don't need or devoting months to a game you end up hating. Each day focuses on one concrete task: picking your starter game, setting up your tools, learning your first movement trick, and finally putting it all together in a full recorded attempt. You'll also get honest checklists for assessing your own progress and troubleshooting common beginner frustrations, so you never feel lost or like you're 'doing it wrong.'
By the end of Day 10, you'll have something real: a recorded, timed run that is faster than your casual playthrough—and more importantly, you'll know whether speedrunning is a hobby you want to pursue further. If it is, you'll have the community contacts and clear next steps to do so. If it isn't, you'll have saved yourself weeks of confusion. This is the guide I wish I had before my first run.
Reader Reviews
Amy Johnson
★★★★★I picked this up because I've watched like 5 hours of GDX and had no clue how anyone starts. The first day was a godsend—it literally says 'play the game once, just to beat it, while you run a simple timer.' That felt doable, not scary, and I actually have a decent route plan for tomorrow now. Four stars because I wish there were a few more specific game examples in the later chapters, but it gave me a real place to start.
Jessica Jones
★★★★★The 10-day structure is nice and the title isn't lying about being 'honest.' I got through the first three days fine, but I have to say the 'just play it to beat it' part on Day 1 felt a bit too simple for my worries. I wanted more specifics on how to pick the game itself, but the checklist on Day 2 helped me see I'm way overthinking my budget. It's a solid, practical guide, I just wanted a bit more theory upfront.
Jessica White
★★★★★I've tried to start speedrunning twice before and quit because I never knew what to do in a 'practice session.' This guide is the answer. Day four broke down the route planning step-by-step, and I finally understand what I'm actually supposed to be writing down on my notepad. I just did my first full recorded attempt without getting confused. I'm a bit cringe admitting it, but I actually marked a win in my own little tracker today. Worth every penny for a broken-down plan like this.
Lisa Williams
★★★★★As a busy Dad who can only get an hour on the weekend, the Day 2 self-assessment was exactly what I needed. It made me realize I don't need a capture card or a fancy controller to start; I just needed my own PC and a timer. The 'First Day' was calm and non-pretentious—it literally said 'expect to feel clumsy,' which is exactly what happened. It's a friend who knows what they're doing, not a hype beast. Good guide.