Editorial Review

A groundbreaking program that teaches you how to run faster and farther with less effort, and prevent and heal injuries, for runners of any age or fitness level.

In ChiRunning, Danny and Katherine Dreyer, well-known walking and running coaches, provide powerful insight that transforms running from a high-injury sport to a body-friendly, injury-free fitness phenomenon. ChiRunning employs the deep power reserves in the core muscles, an approach found in disciplines such as yoga, Pilates, and T'ai Chi.

ChiRunning enables you to develop a personalized exercise program by blending running with the powerful mind-body principles of T’ai Chi:

1. Get aligned. Develop great posture and reduce your potential for injury while running, and make knee pain and shin splints a thing of the past.

2. Engage your core. Shift the workload from your leg muscles to your core muscles, for efficiency and speed.

3. Add relaxation to your running. Learn to focus your mind and relax your body to increase speed and distance.   

4. Make it a Mindful Practice. Maintain high performance and make running a mindful, enjoyable life-long practice.

5. It's easy to learn. Transform your running with the 10-step ChiRunning training program. ... Read more

Reviews

Not Your "Run" of the Mill Running Book, April 29, 2008
What an interesting running book! Buy this book if you:

-would like to be able to run well into your old age
-would like to improve your running form and have fewer injuries
-would like to have a more philosophical approach to your running
-would like to increase your overall health

Here's how the book roughly pans out:

-Chapter 1: compares power running to ChiRunning
-Chapter 2: goes into the 5 principles upon which TaiChi and ChiRunning are based
-Chapter 3: gets into the "inner" skills of ChiRunning

As you can see, the first 3 chapters lay out the philosopical foundation- that's so when you get to the specific techniques, they make sense.

Chaper 4: learn about the ChiRunning "focuses"- which are the specific physical and mental methods used to run more efficiently.

Chapters 5-9: covers program development, peak performance training and diet. Note: Chapter 7 also covers some info on common injuries such as muscle cramps, plantar fasciitis (also rec. The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution for more info on this), heel cord problems.

Chapter 10: how to incorporate the ChiRunning principles into your everyday life

As you can tell, ChiRunning, with its mind-body approach, is far from your typical book on running- and shouldn't be missed by any serious runner. Happy trails.

A Critical Review of ChiRunning by a barefoot runner, November 12, 2009
I have been a barefoot runner since 2005, at which time I re-learned how to correctly run using my awareness and the teachings of numerous sources. I have read Danny Dryer's ChiRunning book and watched his ChiRunning DVD. I have also studied The Pose Running Technique on DVD and the workbook. In addition, I have experience practicing Qi Gong (Chi Kung), meditation, and yoga. I have also studied anatomy, posture, The Alexander Technique, and Rolfing Structural Integration. My partner is also a Chinese Medicine professional and Acupuncturist. So basically, I know a thing or two in this field...

In light of the acclaim that Danny Dryer is receiving for his ChiRunning technique, there are some critical errors and marketing misperceptions that I feel should be addressed. I base these insights on my own personal experience and my extensive research into natural running techniques and chi energy.

1. This book does not at all use the chi (qi) energy for running. Dryer teaches a method of using gravity to encourage the body to move through space. After reading and watching Dryer's published material, it is clear to me that he uses the term "chi" as a marketing strategy. All things eastern - yoga, tai chi, etc - are hot selling points these days. Yes, Dryer states that he has practiced Qi Gong under a teacher. However, nowhere in the DVD or book does he teach about the movement of chi the body, its pathways or its functions. Dryer should have title his technique "Gravity Running" instead.

2. Dryer combines a commonly misunderstood Pilates technique (tightening the core), claming it to be engaging the "hara" or "dan tien / tan tien". While the dan tien is the chi energy center below the navel, never are core muscles used when working with this center. Tightening any muscles will take a person's awareness away from the energy and into the muscular contraction sensation. Contracting muscles may create heat which is often believed to be chi by many beginners, however heat and chi are very different.

In the original Pilates technique, as taught by Joseph Pilates, only the largest, deepest muscles of the core are "engaged" not tightened. This is more akin to placing the awareness in the core while using only the softest tension. Most people misunderstand Pilates and tighten the abdominal muscles which then causes improper posture. Watching the ChiRunning DVD and observing Danny Dryer's posture, it is clear that his posture is far from ideal. Improper core tension and running technique could possibly be the cause of this, however other causes could also exist.

3. Dryer teaches to tighten the core muscle to tilt the pelvis. This lengthens the lower back, thus straightening the spine and removing the natural curve. By straightening the natural curve, the natural spring in the spine is removed leading to possible spine injury. Watching the DVD clearly shows the postural flaw caused by this unnatural movement. I am very suprised to see the noticably poor posture that Dryer and his students showed in this instructional video.

Also, by tightening the core muscles, excess tension is created in the body that will interfere with the body's natural movement. By creating tension in the core, the entire body is adversely affected because the core is the body's center of gravity and the psoas muscles in the deep core extend into the legs and upper back and ribs. Tension in the core will also restrict the rig cage's ability to expand sufficiently to allow proper oxygen in the lungs.

4. Landing on the middle of the foot works against the anatomy of the foot. The arch of the foot acts like a rubber band that allows the foot to spring forward when running on the ball and toes. Running with the middle of the foot first causes the ball and head to hit at the same time, causes jarring sensations in the foot, ankle, and leg.

As seen in the photos in the book and in the DVD video, Dryer wears modern full cushion running shoes that elevate the heal. Ask any expert in anatomy and/or Olympic-level running will teach, these shoes are injuries waiting to happen. A person can only get an accurate anatomical running experience by learning to run barefoot. Barefoot running quickly shows us how to correctly run. We can then return to running in shoes in a safer, more natural and more energy efficient way.

5. Danny Dryer encourages the runner to tilt the body forward, taking the work off of the muscles and letting gravity act as a source of propulsion. Yes, this does work. However this style of running does not make effective use of the muscles and creates a very awkward experience that does not feel natural. Observe the running style of the world's greatest Olympic athletes and you will see all long distance runners stand erect while landing on the ball and toes of the feet.

--

If you have read this far into my review, you may be left looking for a solution. My best recommendation is to read the book Running Fast and Injury Free by Gordon Pirie. Pirie has held many world records and Olympic medals. He is one of few runners who, in my opinion, has perfected the art of running. His principles are based upon a lifetime of learning from top Olympic runners and beating nearly all of them or their records. Since age 14, Pirie ran with Olympic record holders. In addition, Dr. Nicholas Romanov's Pose Method of Running contains value insights into the physiology of running.

Above all else, since most of us grew up in shoes, we must re-teach ourselves to walk and run as the body's design intends. We must learn to move barefoot. Even if we choose to run every race in shoes, learning to run while barefoot is a necessary part of the process. So find a soft stretch of dirt, sand, grass, sidewalk or road and get started. Skip 99.9% of the theory and get back to the reality of running. Use your mind to observe your body and make corrections as you go. And above all else - have fun!

Danny's Methods Gave Me Back My Running Life, May 7, 2004
[...] This book is a brilliant print presentation of Danny's methods which are revolutionary. He deserves the much wider following he will get with this (his CD is great too).
My story: I've been a runner for 45 years. I nearly gave up running at age 57. The pain in my knees and lower back made me seriously think of quitting. I literally saw an ad in the newspaper for Danny's class and took it as a last resort. He was at the time in his 50's and a nationally ranked ultramarathoner. I figured he ought to know something about efficient running.
I learned his initial techniques in two hours. It took about five or six runs to feel comfortable with the changes in my stride, but from the first day, there was no back pain and such minimal knee pain at the end that I couldn't believe it. I've taken his advanced techniques workshops too (all in the book). The "sidewise" stride up steep hills is another brilliant technique that literally makes running hills fun.
I went from struggling to run for 30 minutes at a time to 1.5 hour runs on steep hills without pain. I'm not a ranked runner. I run for fitness, for weight control, and for the sheer joy of it. I did finish third in my age group in a local race a year ago -- first medal I've ever won (I'm 62 now). But I got my running life back, and that's priceless. I plan to be running into my 80's now -- pain free!
And for what it's worth, I have a doctorate and I'm trained in physics. Danny's techniques are scientifically valid. There's a spiritual side to his methods too. If you don't think running has a spiritual side, I feel sorry for you, but don't ignore his methods just because of that.
Jerry L Fletcher

Every runner should have this book!, February 25, 2006
I stumbled on this book by accident while researching Tai Chi books. I am so glad that I did! It's a well organized and fun to read book. It opened up a whole new realm of running to me. I ran for years and competed in small five and ten mile races and my longest event was a half marathon. I hurt my knee chasing my dog and was then reduced to walking and thought I wouldn't be able to run again. I missed running horribly, the world doesn't go by fast enough when you walk, if you are used to running. But the chi running book teaches a technique which utilizes different muscles, a different stance which is easier on the body and does not consist of pounding. The author has carefully enumerated an excellent technique to alleviate and prevent injury. Not only does it make sense to me as a long time runner, but it feels right when I do it and it's fun! The other day I was able to run 2.7 miles, it felt great and the next day I had no soreness, no knee pain, nothing but exhiliration and anticipation of my next wonderful run. I am slowly working back up to five mile runs. I would recommend this book to experienced runners who want to improve their techniques and spare their bodies injury, and I would recommend it to new runners who could start out with good form and minimize their lifetime chance of running injuries. I would also highly recommend it to injured runners like me and older runners (also like me.) You wouldn't think there could be anything new in running, I was pleasantly surprised, delighted even!

ChiRunning - give it a try!, October 25, 2005
I got this book only last week, and I'm already experimenting with the techniques explained in it. A major positive effect is that one becomes very focused on running form, proper breathing and relaxation. "ChiRunning" basically involves running with a forward lean, letting gravity pull you forward (as the author describes it). Instead of lifting the knees, you should keep them low and lift your heels instead. Landing should be done on midfoot, and not on the heels. When running this way, you almost get the feeling of falling, which is how it's meant to work! Granted, it's a slightly unorthodox method, but I am willing to give it a try. Danny Dreyer claims that this is a more effective (less effort-demanding) way of running and that it makes you less prone to injuries, compared to what he calls the "Power Running paradigm" (the "no pain, no gain" mindset; developing muscle power to do the work). These claims aren't quite substantiated in the book, at least not scientifically, but many of the underlying principles (keeping relaxed, listening to your body, gradual progress) are quite sound. Despite the author's constant use of "chi" (which is a somewhat controversial and elusive concept), he manages to avoid becoming completely new age-y - there are lots of highly practical tips throughout the book, from exercises to loosen up tense muscles and ligaments, to a couple of creative ways to ensure that your shoelaces don't come untied! I have to admit though, that the chapter on diet had me giggling a little. "Getting the most chi from your food"? But even here, the actual advice given seems sensible: Eat lots of fruit, vegetables and grains, eat meat, fish and eggs regularly but sparingly, etc. Honestly, I'd rather go with the "High Chi" diet than the ridiculous low-carb fad suggested by Atkins and his followers!

ChiRunning is a nice book to add to your library of running books, even if you don't intend to change your running style as drastically as it asks you to. It's a welcome change of tone if you've been reading sundry training books full of training schedules and pace charts. If you desperately want to break 35 minutes for the 10K or 3 hours for the maraton, you'll get a much needed reminder from Danny Dreyer to put less emphasis on externally motivated goals. Instead he tells you to "let your goals be an expression of who you are". That sentence alone made the book a worthwile read for me.

Excellent running technique described better in this 2nd edition, May 2, 2009
I learned about chi running about a year ago and feel it has really helped my running, from the point that a 10k was my max (and a somewhat stressful one at that) to where I can easily do a half marathon and am now aiming for full marathons. The basic idea really is that you avoid a striding form and relax most of your body except your core so that you move forward largely by leaning into your run and coming down on your mid-foot while falling forward. This description doesn't do the technique justice, but this type of running really is designed to be both efficient and low-impact. It works well for my 50-year old body (I used it to complete the Boston Marathon as a "non-qualified" runner raising funds for a Boston charity) and allows me to get through races feeling tired but not overlyl stressed or pained. I know some fast (2:30 marathoners) who say chi running has allowed them to maintain a fast pace without feeling beat up for days afterward.

The first edition of this book laid out chi running in a pretty straightforward way, while the second edition adds about 50-60 pages. A good part of the earlier edition has been repeated, but the second edition has, I feel, really expanded on the first edition by offering more information and advice on the "how to" of chi running. There is a nice new central section appropriately called "How to Learn Chi Running" that takes you through a set of step-by-step lessons that are easy to follow and making it very clear what the components of techniques are and more important to integrate them. Reading this edition along side the first edition, I found that this one is easier to follow and leaves less uncertainty in how to run.

The tone of the book remains informal and conversational, and it generally provides a complete guide to topics related to running, including training, injury prevention (a real plus of chi running is that it easier on the body than traditional running form), and nutrition.

Chi running may not be for everyone but I feel it is worth checking out - I suspect even if you don't adopt the whole technique, parts of it may help your running. For example, the book suggests shin splits are caused by running with the feet splayed outward. As my introduction to chi running, I tried running with my feet parallel as suggested in the book and ran a 10K without trouble when previously even running a mile left my shins sore.

I highly recommend this book and feel this edition adds to what was presented in the first edition.

Enjoy!

Finally, Injury Free Running for the Masses, September 18, 2006
ChiRunning was the first running technique book I'd ever read. I found it because of a silly injury that wouldn't go away and the "injury free" on the cover dragged me in.

Until then, I thought running was something that we did and didn't need any instruction on how to do it. I was dead wrong.

Danny's approach will transform your running form, make running fun, and most of all keep you injury free while you're doing it.

I've told many clients since being introduced to ChiRunning to pick up the book, read it front to back, and do every drill in it. Once they have they come back to me thrilled and ready to give in another shot even though their doctor has told them "never again."

The book will transform your running by allowing you to lighten up and use less force to propel you forward. Danny's approach is to let gravity work with you and lean into your run while you let your legs pick up then swing forward. When you get what he teaches it's almost effortless.

This approach has allowed me to run longer distances and for longer periods of time without getting tired out of breath or injured. Sound good to you?!

I introduced the technique to a client of mine who was suffering from some IT band tightness. We worked to stabilize her side-to-side hip swing (lateral) while she was running using some of the techniques and now the hip doesn't hold her back at all! It even allowed her to participate in her first triathlon, something she thought she could never do because of her injury!

The book is a must have for those with knee, hip, and lower back troubles as well. Try it for a few weeks and you'll be surprised at how good it feels!

It's a must read for all my clients, so it should be for you too!

Kevin Gianni, NCSF-CPT
Author and Personal Trainer

Some good/some bad, June 1, 2006
I'm giving this book a 4 because it's a great start, and there is a major glut of books on running technique (thousands on running, but most are about training regimens and that is something far less important than technique--or at least should come after, and not before). The book loses a star because it is off base on a few things.

I have been running recreationally for over a decade and took up competitive running last year. I get top 10% in local foot races and recently got 9th in a 300+ person triathlon.

I used to be a low-cadence heel striker. I'd tried all the solutions of shoes, muscle imbalance, excess weight, etc. but none solved my chondromalacia (knee cap cartilage wearing). I bought this book because I knew I needed a new technique and I knew that most good runners were either mid strike or forefoot strikers.

I read this book and did my best to apply it but ultimately, things just did not "click". The author promotes a midfoot strike (landing "flat footed", though the lateral part of the foot will hit first). This is a tried-and-true method that a great many accomplished elite runners use. He also promotes a ~90 cadence, which almost all good running coaches agree on. He also promotes a minimalist shoe, which a lot of elites use and it makes perfect sense (have the body absorb impact, don't rely on a shoe, which doesn't even do a good job anyway) These are all spot-on. Something I could never get, though, was his insistance that calf muscles are not used much in midfoot striking. They are and in fact I continued to heel strike, no matter what I did, until I started pointing my toes a bit to flatten the foot, which requires calf pressure. I also found his sand technique (practicing keeping even pressure on front and back of the foot), frankly quite silly. I have watched dozens of videos of elite runners and you will not find a single competitive one who is not launching off the ball of their foot--it being the last point of contact with the ground). This final launch requires calf strength as well.

Another fallacy I see promoted not just by the author, but my other coaches these days, is that the forward lean produces power. Of course it produces none whatsoever. Gravity does not assist with horizontal movement. If a person starts a run on a flat surface and their body never goes down in height, gravity has had no net control of it and therefore none of its force can be translated into a horitzonal force. Gravity does not provide running power, PERIOD. It merely gives the foot the ability to push without breaking from the ground (its coefficient of friction working with gravity's force)...it pushes away from the body (and using Newton's law the body then moves away from the foot). The body has no net vertical movement during a run (it bobs up and down and the lean goes forward and back in a tiny see-saw depending on leg position, but no net vertical movement) and since gravity is a vertical force, it produces no horizontal force. This is basic physics but I see a lot of people not understanding it. Apparently, many people are confused by the fact that when a person is standing up right and then leans forward, they do in fact move forward, but this significant vertical->lean activity is not repeated in a manner than can provide forward movement. With the body ahead of the foot at lift-off, the body will come towards the ground, but to prevent it from smashing into the ground after a few strides, a corrective force has to be applied, which is the foot going out in front of the body.

It's impossible for a runner at constant speed to strike the ground only under or behind their center of gravity. I won't bother getting into why with much detail, but again, nobody here will be able to find an elite athlete (sprinter or long distance runner) at constant speed (excusing the acceleration of a sprinter, when they are able to strike always behind the center of gravity) striking only under or behind the center of gravity. If you don't believe me, find a vid and pause at the exact moment of contact. The foot is ahead of the gcm. Dreyer says as a person speeds up their stride should open behind them and not ahead of them. Impossible. Again, I refer to elite athletes. I've watched 10 second sprinters. All of them have an increased stride and it opens up behind and ahead. If a person applies some basic physics so the matter, it's very easy to understand why. The author also says that as a person increases in speed they should actually feel more relaxed. I again defy anybody to find a 4 minute miler who says they feel more relaxed after that than after their 6 minute miles.

The book IS decent, it's just not entirely accurate or possible. Taking these exceptions above to heart, the rest of it is filled with generally good advice.

I am currently forefoot running (my heel rarely, if ever touches the ground), based upon coaching techniques from other sources. My knee pain has greatly decreased and I recently broke my best mile time. I don't chirun not because I don't think it's valid (it mostly is, but there are a couple of aforementioned problems) but because the exercises recommended simply didn't work for me...I could never "get" it, but the greatest thing I was missing was the calf tension; when I finally started putting more effort in my calves and plantar flexing my foot (pointing my toes), things came and now I can forefoot run and midstrike run with ease, so anybody having problems may benefit from trying that.

The book is a good start. I will not return to heel striking ever. I continue to spend a good bit of time researching running technique from various sources, which is why I take issue with some of the fallacies promoted about running and some of the physical impossiblities that people pretend are possible.

Pretty good, but only for serious runners., August 22, 2005
This book has a lot of good information it - probably too much. Unless you are really going to focus on something, it's very hard to remember more than two or three core ideas. I am a casual runner - maybe two or three runs per week of three to five miles - and I really hoped this book would give me a couple areas of focus that would make my running safer, more comfortable and perhaps faster. Instead, I got overload. There is a single 2-page spread in this book that lists about 50 points to focus on in your running. Come again? That doesn't sound very Zen to me (I know it's a different Eastern philosophy, but you get the idea).

Dreyer ackowledges the length of the list and suggests picking out two or three of these ideas to focus on for each run, but you still need to be pretty serious to do that. I don't want to consult a checklist before each run and I want to plug into my iPod and relax a little while I'm running.

In addition, Dreyer gives a pre- and post-run routine that would add about an hour to any run you wanted to do - again, more than I'm able to commit to this portion of my life.

If you are a very serious runner or want to become one, this is a great book (assuming you can handle a few funky mystical references). On the other hand, if you are looking for two or three areas of focus to make you a better casual runner, they're tough to pull from this book.

Recommended for serious runners who are looking to avoid or recover from injuries.

No pain, lots of gain, April 8, 2004
I bought this book because my wife does tai chi, and I'm a runner. For three years I've run 20 miles a week, with lots of knee pain, so that I always had to ice my knees after a run, and wore braces on each knee. I did all of the leg lifts and workouts to increase my strength. This helped, but not much. Then I read Chi Running, and now I have no more knee pain. I read the book in one sitting, and have reread several passages many times. I've changed my form, and presto, no more knee pain. I feel like a kid again.

Getting confortable with the book's method of "leaning" while running takes some time. I still feel a little akward, now 10 days into this method. But believe me, this book has changed my running life. The text is clearly written, and the photographs are helpful. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

A Hockey Memoir with a lot of Heart, November 16, 2010
I bought this book after reading an excerpt in The Hockey News Magazine. I really didn't know what to expect. Fraser paints a picture of the NHL that is grueling, touching, and funny. He follows his time from his ascension into the ranks as an NHL Referee and follows some extremely memorable moments up until his last game. Fraser discusses some confrontations and experiences with players that are often colorful. What was most endearing about this book were the touching and emotional moments that Fraser experienced. He shows how meaningful hockey has been to him and many of the players he has worked with over the years. As he talks about his last games in different hockey venues, i found myself touched with the admiration and respect that some of the NHL's legendary players had for Fraser. This book is wonderful. I am a college student and amid my various due dates and other responsibilities i found myself reading this book whenever i had a chance. I very highly recommend this book.

David, December 1, 2010
I have been waiting eagerly for this book since I knew of its publication, and after an easy couple of days read, I found that the wait was worthwhile. I believe any hockey fan will enjoy the insights and wonderful stories about hockey's famous and not so famous, as well as what it is really like to officiate the fast paced, hard hitting game of professional ice hockey. If you love the game, this insightful and intertaining memoir is a must. if you're not a fan, it is still a must read that will provide a window into the life of one of the most enduring and revered referees in the history of the NHL. This book will bring not only a smile to your face, but also may bring a tear to your eye. When I finished reading the compelling recollections of Kerry Fraser, I found myself wanting more. Thanks Kerry for putting the same heart and soul you gave to professional hockey, all those years, into this book.

A Must Read Book For All Hockey Fans, November 29, 2010
Kerry Fraser provides readers with an inside look at hockey. Readers are given a rare look at the human side of being an NHL Official. In this book, Kerry opened his heart for all to see. Readers will experience the emotions and pressures that he experienced. This is one book that you will not be able to put down. If you always wanted to know what it feels like to be an NHL Referee, this is the book. If you always wanted to know what is said on the ice, this is the book. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys hockey. This may be Kerry Fraser's "The Final Call", but I hope it is not his final book.

HE SCORES!, November 27, 2010
I ordered this book for my husband after he (like a previous Hockey News subscriber) became intrigued from reading excerpts in the latest issue. It arrived today and my husband can't put it down! For any woman married to a hockey fan, this is the perfect gift for Christmas ... and for those of us who have learned to love the game after being married to a hockey fan, we will patiently wait our turn for the chance to read it after he's done!

The best hair in Hockey, November 25, 2010
Loved reading it... Great stories... cool to learn about what is really said on the ice...Highly entertaining and i would recommend it strongly for any hockey fan...

A must read for hockey fans., December 14, 2010
This is one of the best hockey books I've read in a while. It gave some insight about what actually goes on on the ice between players and officials. Kerry Fraser talks about his most memorable NHL arenas and his most moments in each of them. He references some games that I remember watching on TV, as well as ones that I attended. I recommend this to any hockey fan. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Something for everyone, June 2, 2010
My girlfriend received a free copy of this book at the Big Sur booth at the Boston Marathon Expo. A free copy was given out to competitors that were signed up to take on the inaugural "Boston 2 Big Sur" challenge. Runners were invited to run Boston then run Big Sur on the opposite coast 6 days later.

This book, is manna in the wilderness. There is something here for everyone. Inspirational stories abound in this 390 page book. My favorite is Charles Butler's story on New York City's own Matt Long. Matt, a career fireman, was crushed by a 20-ton bus while trying to get to work on his bike in 28 degrees during an illegal strike by the Transport Worker's Union. The bus, hired by brokerage firm Bear Sterns to get its employees to work, made an illegal turn and Matt paid the price. The police arrived to find what was left of Long under the bus with his handle bar through his intestines.

The story goes on to tell of the epic struggle of this man to regain his will to live and then train to take on the New York City Marathon!

Readers are also treated to two stories from John Cheever's son Benjamin H. Cheever. I will never refer to Benjamin H. Cheever as John Cheever's son again. The son moves out from beyond his father's shadow and is easily the finest writer in this collection.

This book is a must for any running enthusiast. I got a lot of pleasure out of devouring the 30 stories. I'd buy it at twice the price.

Super Motivational, July 22, 2010
I'd like to thank the Runners' World crew for putting this book together. Great, great read about a set of truly inspirational runners. It's a very quick read (and I'm a slow reader) and the stories are as interesting as they are motivational. Highly, highly recommend this book.

Quality Stories from Runner's World, June 2, 2010
These stories are all from "Runner's World" Magazine from the previous 7 years... and they're all exceptional in their own way.

The stories are told well and they come in comfortable bite-sized chapters.

They inspire, entertain, motivate, enlighten and hit all the low and high points of your emotions throughout the book's journey.

I'm surprised by the quality of this book! I highly recommend it!

Great Inspiration, November 16, 2010
This collection of short stories is perfect for a busy runner. Most of us are already "squeezing in" our runs between work, dinner, childcare, etc., so it's gratifying to be able to read a whole story in a few minutes. The Table of Contents gives you a hint as to subject/content of each of the stories; thus, you can choose what you need to inspire you at the moment. I am thoroughly enjoying this book.

Can't put this down, November 14, 2010
I wish I had not waited so long to buy this book. A few of the stories I have read before in the magazine, but I'm enjoying them again. I can't wait to get home from work, or from running, to read more of this book. I am so glad to own it so I can read it again and again.

Great Reading !, September 3, 2010
The chapters are a collection of informative and inspirational stories that have been printed in Runner's World in the past. All were worth reading again (even if you read them all the first time around) ! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Efficient Training Method, March 30, 2008
I've always had the theory that if everyone who trained for a sport would cut their training time in half, their performance would improve. While this book doesn't advocate that exactly, it proves the idea that training a lot less does improve performance. The method is called the FIRST program, which stands for Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training.

The book is for anyone who wants to improve their running performance and is divided into 4 sections. The first section explains the FIRST approach, where a "3 plus 2" format is the foundation. This means you have 3 quality runs each week and 2 cross training workouts.

The second section is how to follow the program. Briefly, one day is a cross training day, then a "track repeats" day, then a cross training day, then a "tempo run" day, a day of rest, a "long run" day, and then either another rest day/or optional cross training day. Cross training days include activities such as cycling or swimming.

The 3rd section covers performance factors which include such things as running in hot and cold climates, nutrition, and injuries (readers who have plantar fasciitis that interferes with their running might also be interested in The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution).

Lastly, Section 4 covers supplemental training, which I feel is an often overlooked/skipped part of running training. Here you get info such as instructions and pics on how to strength train and stretch for running (important!!).

The book ends with a bonus section on how to qualify/train for the Boston Marathon. Additionally, you get an Appendix A (pacing table) and an Appendix B (how to calculate pacing).

Backed by studies conducted by the authors, this is a great resource for anyone who wants to get better results with less training.

Dramatically change and improve your training methodology!, May 29, 2007
I've studied numerous training programs and methodologies (Daniels, Pfitzinegr, Higdon, others) and the FIRST program beats them all, hands down! I can't say enough about the 3-day/week training programs that have come from Bill Pierce and the folks at FIRST. I began using their marathon program 2 years ago to train for the Atlanta Marathon. In my previous marathon training, I was constantly dealing with nagging injuries from too much running, and trying to balance the demands of 50+ miles/week with family and career. Utilizing their method, I dropped my PR from 3:10 to 2:59 (set at Boston), and I stayed healthy and injury free in the process, while never running more than 35 miles in a week. I've since used their programs to train for 1/2 marathons, 10Ks and 5Ks, all with the same results - improved health, performance, and new PRs. If you're trying to juggle a busy life (work, family, running), or a multi-sport athlete balancing the training needs for 3 sports, then this is the perfect book for you. The addition of their insights on nutrition, strength training, and injury rehab/prevention, make this book an invaluable resource that goes much deeper that the articles that have appeared in Runner's World. Break away from the traditional 7-day/week, massive mileage programs, and take up the FIRST program. Your running times, and your health, will benefit.

Great method poor book edition..., December 11, 2008
I just bought this book a couple of weeks ago and was very intrigued and motivated about starting an actual training routine. However I was very dissapointed with the book in many aspects that should be weighted before buying the book.

Positive things first:
-the methodology and routines described in this book are great and pretty much proven scientifically which is rare in this kind of books
-a bunch of tables, statistics, etc.
-different programs for 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon
-lots of letters from runners and answers to their questions makes this more human and you feel less like a guinea pig for an experiment
-stretching diagrams are very detailed and well explained

Negative aspects:
-almost all the tables and programs are available for free from the FIRST web site: http://www.furman.edu/first/fmtp.htm so is it really necessary to write a book this extensive to repeat the information?
-I absolutely HATED that they use english system and then metric system at will.... I was completely lost at some points regarding the distance I was expected to run or my tempo... again, this is solved in the website where you will find the same information in metric units or english units but not mixed together
-first chapters are terribly repetitive, the insist on how less is better and it avoids injuries but is it necessary to repeat it over 50 pages?
-The book seems completely oriented towards qualifying for the Boston marathons... which is fine by me but not every reader cares about a marathon that is mentioned every 2 pages as reference against which all times are measured. I dont see why you cant focus only on 5K or 10K training and enjoy the same method created by FIRST. Yes those 2 programs are available but only about 5% of the book is dedicated to them.
-editor's did a lousy job and some tables go on for pages and pages or sometimes text is interrupted by a runner's letter and then a table and you are suddenly lost and need to focus on what page and what text you were reading


Overall I think its a pretty good running method and program but think twice if you really want to read or buy a book for a program that is already detailed for free in their website and occasiona Runner's World articles.

Stick with the program, March 7, 2008
The book might not be for everyone, but as a fairly new runner at moderately fast pace (sub-19 5k, sub-39 10k) it gave me lots of good advice pitched at an appropriate level. It does give information for people building up for a 5k, 10k, or half-marathon, but the focus is definitely on the marathon.

The program definitely caters to my obsessive tendencies, and I like the structure it brings to my workouts, but one could also use this book without being quite so detail-oriented.

I switched to this training program last summer, soon after the book came out. I've used it for two full-length marathon buildups. As other descriptions have said the basics of the program are straight-forward: (only) three days per week running, but also two or three days of solid cross-training, as well as strengthening and stretching exercises. In my case the cross-training meant swimming and cycling three days a week and one rest day.

The runs are organized into an interval workout (total mileage at speed of about 3 miles, plus warm-up, recovery, and cool-downs), tempo runs (some of which become longer "pace" runs closer to the race), and long runs, with the latter ramping up to much closer to race pace than my previous training plans.

The program is customizable to runners, basing paces for workouts off a recent 5k race time.

It took me a while to adjust to the different kind of workouts, and though I imagine I would also have benefitted from some other training methodologies it is hard to argue with success. This Spring I was able to achieve a new PR and made my Boston Qualifying requirement for 2009 with twelve minutes to spare. Not only a good time, but my recovery from my most recent marathon was much quicker than previously and I haven't had problems with fascia and shin-splints that have plagued me in the past.

I'm very happy with the results and I plan on using the FIRST program in my preparations for Boston 2009.

It works!, February 21, 2008
I just finished my 2nd marathon a few days ago using the FIRST training program. I cut down my time from last year's race by about 30 minutes (I don't have the official chip time yet).

For my 1st marathon, I used a different training program which required me to run at least 4 days a week. I can sum up that program in three words: fatigue, injury, boredom.

With the FIRST program, on the other hand, (1) I did not suffer from injuries; (2) I was less tired, even after long runs; (3) I in fact ran more kilometers (including more long runs) compared to my previous program; (4) I enjoyed the training, so much so that I missed only 3 sessions (all due to very hectic work schedule) - it was not difficult to get up in the cold winter morning, even when it rained or snowed; (5) I was able to easily re-arrange my running schedule to accommodate sudden surge in office work load; (6) I generally felt a lot stronger; and (7) I had a life outside of running while training for the marathon.

The book is well-structured, well-written, easy to read and accessible to runners like me who are not familiar with running terms. It explained everything in remarkably simple terms without talking down at the readers. The program is based not just on the experience of the authors as runners and coaches, but also on scientific studies they conducted with non-elite athletes. Unlike other books which provide a generalized program for mass consumption or require the reader to actually figure out his own program, this book has a program ready for a wide variety of runners depending on his current running ability. You will know how to do each key run and why you are doing it. No time or effort is wasted on junk miles. Since the program is based on each runner's ability, you will know how to adjust your runs as your performance change. Even if you are a very slow runner whose current running pace may not be covered in the book, you can easily adjust the FIRST program to suit your needs.

This book is definitely worth what I paid for it, if not more. I very eagerly recommend it to all runners who want to train smartly and improve their performance while having a life and avoiding injury.

Great Book, August 16, 2007
I was already familiar with the FIRST program from Runner's World and from their magazine. This book was great because it answered a lot of questions and went into more detail than the website. Any non-elite, real world runner who wants to improve their running times at any distance should give this a good look.

Another testimonial, October 15, 2007
The other reviewers pretty well summarized the book's strengths, so I'll just add another data point here.

I ran my second marathon two days ago, after having trained according to the book's program for my target time. I hit the target almost exactly - knocked 16 minutes off, achieved a PR, and qualified for Boston. More importantly, I did not hit the wall. No cramps, and only suffered in the last mile. I attribute some of this relative lack of pain to accumulated racing experience, but believe the training program's speed work and tempo runs helped.

Sure, you'll have to put the work into the 16 week training schedule, but the schedule won't take over your life.

You should be skeptical of any claims that promise more return for less investment (in running junk miles and risking injuries). But the authors seem to have based their recommendations on research rather than dogma. For what it's worth, here's another testimonial that this works.

Terrific all-around advice, September 10, 2007
I am not "well read" in the ways of running, so I can't comment on how this book compares to the myriad other available options. What I can do, however, is offer my opinion as a "newbie" to these issues. In short, this is a terrific, valuable, "easy read" for anyone looking to train smart.

The book offers both running theory and practical guidance. It does so in a light-hearted and fun manner. Readers interested in a dense tome detailing running mechanics should therefore look elsewhere. Instead, this book will appeal to readers interested in receiving guidance on what to do, as well as a basic explanation of why a certain approach is valuable.

Though I love the book, two caveats are in order.

First, this book's training plans require patience. Beginning runners looking for the "one month to marathon" race plans that seem so popular today will not be pleased by this text. In fact, if you are a true beginner, the book details a preliminary 12 week training plan, followed by a moderate 12 week training plan, after which the runner can finally use the book's primary 5k training schedule, which itself is another 12 weeks. In other words, it would take a beginner nine months to complete the book's full 5k training schedule.

Second, it appears the book may have been rushed to press as there are numerous editing mistakes. Some corrections have already been posted on the author's website. For example, page 81 states that runners should not start the training programs unless they have a minimum of 15 miles/week of base training for the preceding 3 months. On the other hand, page 51 states that runners can proceed to the official training plans if they have completed the book's intermediate training plan, which calls for far less than 15 miles/week for 3 months.

That said, let me say again, this is a terrific book, with lots of useful tips, advice and guidance. A terrific read.

The program really works!, July 16, 2007
Excellent description of the Furman 3 day per week running program. The book provides more detail than the Runners World article and the Furman website, and simplifies the splits for your target tempo, long run and track workout paces. I've used the program. IF you're willing to put in some intense workouts, you really can run less and become faster, while avoiding injuries.

Training Plan, but little more, April 13, 2009
This book provides with very specific paces, for three specific workouts. If you stick to the plan, I believe it works and it did, in fact, work well for me. However, every run has a pace and a purpose and unless your buddy is doing the exact same program, at the exact same pace, you're doing every single run alone over those 12 weeks.

My problem with this book is not with the training plan, though. My problem is that it is VERY SHORT on information other than the training plan. Instead it is filled with "hey, it worked for me letters." Yawn.

I had many questions which were never addressed in any way. The paces are all challenging, I was surprised they didn't address how to cope with the pain mentally. For me, I could hit all my paces, except the short tempo pace. I didn't know if I should change all my paces or just that one, or if I should run at that pace until I had to stop. In fact, the basic question of what to do when you weren't running at the desired pace was never addressed, other than to say that it should average out to the specific pace. Well, when you're having an off day the averages don't always work in your favor...It was difficult to find a cross training activity that left my legs alone so that they would be able to perform at their peak for my next run. Running a hilly course is never addressed; my paces were completely off when I had to run any hills at all. I've got a long list of issues that they apparently never thought of.

I found myself seeking out flat runs where I could maintain the challenging paces, and that in itself also got boring.

Ultimately, I felt like the authors took the easy way out in not addressing many of these issues. It's easy to say "go do this." It's much harder to write a book that helps you figure out what to do when you can't just go do that, for any reason.

Instead, I recommend Brain Training for Runners. That book also has 3 key runs a week, and gives you paces, however it delves a lot more into running: what it means when you are sore, how to combat fatigue, what to do when you are off your pace, how to mentally cope with pain. Run Less, Run Faster, doesn't deal with any of these questions. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Get in the best shape of your running career with the scientifically based training in Daniels’ Running Formula. In the book that Runner’s World magazine called "the best training book," premier running coach Jack Daniels provides you with his proven VDOT formula to guide you through training at exactly the right intensity to become a faster, stronger runner.

Choose from the red, white, blue, and gold programs to get into shape, target a race program, or regain conditioning after a layoff or injury. Race competitively with programs for 800 meters, 1500 meters to 3000 meters, cross country races, 5K to 15K, and half-marathon up to the marathon. Each program incorporates the right mix of the five training intensities to help you build endurance, strength, and speed, and Daniels’ intensity point system makes it easy to track the time you spend at each level.

The formula can be customized to your current fitness level and the number of weeks you have available for training, and it provides the perfect solution for short training seasons. Get the results you’re seeking every time you lace up your shoes for a training run or race with the workouts and programs detailed in Daniels’ Running Formula. ... Read more

Reviews

Best running book for the scientifically minded!, February 9, 2004
My running library contains more than 20 books and I rate this one the best. It offers a truly scientific way of training. Each and every point is thoroughly explained. A book like this is an absolute delight for the thinking runner who not only wants to know what to do, but also why. The book is very practical too, as the instructions are distilled into just a few tables - all easy to use. You will learn Daniels' proven methods to improve endurance, lactate threshold, VO2Max and mechanical running speed. The real beauty of this book is that it can be used by elite runners and slow beginners alike; the tables accommodate all runners and tell us exactly what to do based on our recent race times. If I could choose only two books on running, it would be this one and The Lore of Running by Dr Tim Noakes.

Excellent, Excellent book, May 19, 1999
This is the simply the best book on training I have ever read!!! I have read at least a dozen books on running and training from coaches like Dellinger, Lydiard, Bowerman, etc and runners like Rodgers, Liquori, Shorter etc and Jack Daniels book is the best of the bunch. For years I have trained by the seat of my pants trying to incorporate all I have read but with little real understanding of the affects of the different types of training I was doing. Daniels simply and clearly outlines the parts of training and their purpose. The training schedules laid out are easy to use and adaptable to any level. I feel like I now understand my training and my race times are faster. I am recommending this book to all my running friends.

Damn good book, July 20, 1999
You should buy this book! There is no other running guide out there that is as intelligent, easy to understand, practical, and accurate. Though the book is not the much sought after, all inclusive "Bible of Running" type book, as it lacks important non-running information (strength training, nutrition, strectching, plyometrics, etc...) However, what it lacks in completness it makes up for with its extremely intelligent approach to training with excellent workouts and an effective approach to training. So, I can't say this is the only book you'll ever need, but if you want to make major improvements and learn alot about the proper way to train, buy this book.

Daniels' Running Formula made me FASTER, June 22, 2001
Jack Daniels, the author of this book, holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He first got involved with running when he used to compete in triathlons. He is currently the head coach of the SUNY-Cortland women's Cross Country team. This book is FULL of EASY TO UNDERSTAND technical information that will make you FASTER...period.

Personally, I am a high school distance runner and on our cross country team we run about 40 miles / week. Our coach started using this book before our outdoor track season started. I ran a 5k road race in 19:50 (6:23 pace) on March 11th, 2001 before the track season had started and before we started using Daniels' formula. Daniels' book has you establish a VDOT based on recent race performances. He explains the PURPOSE of every workout you do. He believes it's important that you realize what you're trying to accomplish with every running session that you do. Therefore, Daniels has easy to use tables which set intensity guidelines to prevent overtraining and injury. He shows you that if you train anywhere in between the intensities, then you're training in "no-man's land." This means that you are doing "junk-training." There are four training paces in all for high-quality running sessions: the easy/everday training pace(65-75 percent of VO2 max), the interval pace (designed to stress VO2 max or maximum oxygen uptake, performed at 98-100 percent of VO2 max), the threshold pace (designed to improve lactate threshold, about 86-88 percent of VO2max), and the Repetition Pace (designed to improve running strength and economy, at a pace greater than one's VO2 max).

For me, I ran a 5:15 mile at the beginning of the track season so my coach used this to determine my VDOT. According to the book's tables, my VDOT was 56. I trained by doing "R Pace workouts," "T Pace Workouts" and "I Pace Workouts." R Pace workouts, designed to improve running strength and economy, consisted of 200, 200, 400 meter repeats with a 1 to 4 effort to rest ratio. For a 56 VDOT, the paces would be 39 and 80. The T Pace Workout, designed to improve lactate threshold, was 6 x 1000 for me with only 1 minute rest, at 3:53 pace. The I pace workout, to stress VO2 max, is also repeat 1000s. However, we do only 4 x 1000 at a faster pace, 3:34, but get 3:34 rest as a result of the 1 to 1 effort to rest ratio.

In addition, he shows you exactly how to schedule your training sessions around races so you can be in peak physical fitness to set a HUGE PR!!! As a result of his training for less than 2 months, I ran an 18:14 5k (5:53 pace) on May 6th, 2001. I was 7th overall out of 166 runners in the race. In the race last March 11th, 2001, where I ran 19:50, I was 47th in my race, PATHETIC!!! I have no idea what I would run the mile in if I were to race it now, but I would guess that I'd be around 4:50 thanks to his workouts which have resulted in an increase in my fitness level.

Jim Ryun, a former world record holder in the 800, mile, and 1500m says "Simply put, Daniels' formula works. This book is a must read for every runner and coach interested in achieving peak performance."

One of the Better Books on Running, March 25, 2004
It is amazing how many bad books on running are out there. This book is one of the better ones I have read. It defines various types of training speeds and their purposes. They are E(easy), T(Tempo), I(Interval) and R(Repetition). It goes on to tell you exactly how fast and how long to train at your current fitness level. The premise behind this is that you should try to get the most for your training, and you can do this by training at the correct intensity and duration. This is useful for training efficiently and preventing overtraining. Even casual runners like myself can benefit from this book.

The training bible for the serious runner !, August 17, 2004
I consider Jack Daniels' Running Formula my running bible. I have read it 5 times and will likely read it again a couple more times. In addition, I refer to it on a weekly basis (VDOT's, time charts).

The good:

* He describes the types of running, the frequencies, the intensity that they should be ran at "immaculately".

* I love the pace charts and the predicted racing times, they are "dead-on".

* Book is packed with his extensive experience and knowledge (definitely not one of those books to make a quick buck !!!).

The bad:

* He is not the best writer (but the information is great)

Caveats:

* I would say his book is for serious runners (40++ miles a week)

* I would highly recommend using a heart rate monitor. Basing the
VDOT on easy, tempo and race pace can easily lead to injury since your intensity may creep up (the HR monitor does not lie !!!).

* I take his long run rule with a grain of salt (max 25% of weekly mileage). Maybe this applies to 80 mile+ runners, but if you are like me and train 50-60 miles a week and run marathons this seams not helpful.

Superb training guide for serious runners., June 13, 2001
Jack Daniels is recognized to be one of the world's leading authorities on distance training. This book encompasses the bulk of his wisdom, with a detailed approach to training for all races between 1500m and marathon distances. Daniels focuses on utilizing periodization training, with blocks of about 4 weeks dedicated specifically to repetition, threshold, interval, or aerobic training. The blocks are arranged according to your long-term season, resulting a very serious and demanding training program.

While extremely detailed and effective, Daniels' book is clearly oriented toward the serious runner with the ability to plan out his or her season and make regular visits to a track. Daniels provides specific workouts for each type of training (repetition, threshold, interval, or aerobic) and offers sample training programs for various distances. He devotes a good portion of Daniels' Running Formula to the physiological mechanisms of faster times, as well as racing, training conditions, taking time off, etc.

Ultimately, it is his extensive approach to periodized training that truly stands out. Complete with detailed explanations of each kind of training and effective workouts for serious runners, Daniels provides the kind of coaching that the elite use. Nevertheless, the specificity and dedication demanded by his training program is clearly oriented toward intermediate/advanced runners, and beginners would be at a loss with this otherwise exceptional book.

It all makes sence!, December 27, 2001
After 10 years absence of training I've started again 2000. My personal best on 10 000m is 31:30 (-87) and I'm now at a level of 39 min and I've set an ambition to decrease my time by 2min per 10K per year.
During my "come-back" I sketched on a training program based on my previous experiences. But to get some external input to my training program I ordered Jack Daniel's "Daniel's Running Formula" and I found it very valuable. It explained things and I found especially the VDOT tables very usefult to base my training pace upon. I would like to say: -it's all about speed when it comes to training. Not as fast as possible, but the RIGHT speed. Jack Daniel's explain why and what the right speed is.
After reading this book I can clearly say that I know *why* I should perform the particular intervall and at what speed, etc.

It all makes sence!

/Lars
PS. I can also recommend "Road Racing for Serious Runners" by Pete Pfitzinger, Scott Douglas. DS.

Having this book is like having my own running coach, August 2, 1998
On the Fourth of July, my 11 year old son and I ran our first 5K race. We had a blast! My son told me he wanted us to run faster in the future. Shortly after the race, I read some nice things about "Daniels' Running Formula." Being that I knew nothing about how to actually train for a race, I decided to purchase the book for myself.

Dr. Jack Daniels provides running instruction that anyone can follow - beginner to experienced. The book contains some technical material, but overall it is very easy to understand. It includes useful charts to determine your fitness level, based on your most recent race results, and from that fitness level another chart tells you at what pace you should perform different workouts. Dr. Daniels offers sample training schedules that are very helpful to beginners like me. I am especially impressed with his placing limits, based on total weekly mileage, for the various workouts in order to avoid over training. My son and I ar! e following Dr. Daniels advice and are making improvements in our conditioning. We are also enjoying our workouts more! And NOT because they're easy! But they are worth it!

In summary, if you are looking to improve your running performance, or if you have a child who is, get this book. I think you, and yours, will benefit greatly.

This is the only running book you'll ever need, August 5, 2001
This is the one, for a number of reasons.

First of all, Daniels has done his homework, both on the track and in the lab. He is a practical coach who also has serious exercise physiology credientials. There is no mumbo-jumbo and no personality cult stuff happening here. This book is NOT about Jack Daniels, but about the science and art of training.

Second, the racing and training pace charts alone are worth the price of the book: nowhere else will you find a way to link your current race fitness to pacing for easy, anaerobic threshold and VO2-max workouts -all of which are explained with great clarity for us laymen and women.

Third, Daniels' guidelines for different events are neither so vague that they leave the reader still wondering what to do tomorrow, nor so precise and specific and/or personal (a la the Peter Coe book) as to preclude any adaptation to your personal situation.

If you want to be a better runner, you have to be a smarter runner, and this book will take you at least part of the way there. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Do you want to run faster? Are you trying to peak for a particular race? Would you like to find your true running potential? Brad Hudson, former Olympic Trials marathoner and current coach to Olympians like Dathan Ritzenhein, will show you the way in this practical, reader-friendly guide. Hudson is the most innovative running coach to come along in a generation. Until now, only a handful of elite athletes have been able to benefit from his methods. Now Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon shows all runners how to coach themselves as confidently and effectively as Brad coaches his world-class athletes. Becoming your own best coach is the ticket to running faster at any distance.
First you will learn to assess your abilities. Then you’ll learn how to devise a training program specifically geared to you. Filled with easy-to-follow sample training programs for distances ranging from the 5K to the marathon and abilities ranging from novice to advanced, Run Faster is the cutting-edge guide for optimal performance.
With Hudson’s guidance, you can train smarter and more effectively—and avoid injury. And you’ll soon be running faster than you ever thought possible!

Reviews

One of the best, August 7, 2008
This is one of the best books ever written on running training. I'm a masters athlete racing mile, 5k and 10k and I think I've just about read them all -- Brad's is the clearest breakdown of what you need to do, and when, that I have ever read.

If you've struggled with Daniels and Noakes (great though they are), this is the book for you. I predict you will finally understand what you are doing!

What I loved about Brad's book is that he can explain thing so simply. In his system/no system he's got 12 most effective training methods and three - yes just 3 - basic types of training. I love it.

System/no system? Yes; the book's plan is kind of interactive. Brad insists that your schedule MUST be individualized. You need to read, absorb, plan, try stuff out -- and adjust according to the feedback you get, not just blindly follow tables of speed and distances. He gives all the tools you need to work things out.

Bear in mind, too, that Brad is not coming at this from an academic/theoretical point of view, but is a highly successful coach currently training Olympic-level runners.

Totally recommended. A caveat for fellow masters runners: the typeface is small and sans serif. It's a 278-page book that should probably be twice that size with a more readable typeface. It's the only book I've read for months for which I've had to dig out my reading glasses!

Bingo!, December 27, 2008
Bingo! At the age of 50, with 21 marathons and somewhere around 400 races under my belt, I thought I had read everything on the subject of running.
I was wrong!
This book really gets to the point on how to improve your running.
As nice as the running books are that discuss shoes and sports drinks, etc, Run Faster is more advanced and to the point.
If there is any one thing that will really help you improve alot, it's HILLS, pay special attention to the Hill Training!
Don't be afraid to experiment with your training.
Buy this book, read it at least twice and do your HILLS!
Well done Brad.

One of the best running books, March 6, 2009
This book in my opinion conveys what I've been looking for all over the internet, blogs, forums. It describes cutting edge training methods that are used by current elite athletes but explained in a way that a runner with lesser experience can get quite a lot from it. Brad Hudson's training philosophy is not one size fits all kind, as every athlete and runner is different, he articulately shows how based on a template training plan one can do adaptive training, where runners can modify their workouts based on how physiologically they are feeling on the day of running. He has also given deep insights as what it takes to be a great athlete for an athlete of any ability and how to improve year after year, a knowledge previously held only by top national coaches and not available in one place. He also gives out various training plan templates for athletes of varying abilities and methodology for readers to devise their own training plan once they understand all the principles for adaptive training written in this book. In all a wonderful training book that can open your mind to lot of useful new information and change your training forever.

Some good information., March 20, 2009
This book is good if you are a fairly serious runner. I am a novice runner who wants faster times at the half marathon and 10K. While this book does provide some insights, the anecdotes were tiresome and this book really did not provide the guidance that I was looking for. The FIRST program -- "Run Less/Run Faster" is a more beneficial book to me.

Worthwhile if you are serious, December 28, 2009
Intuitive, excellent work. Take advantage of Brad Hudson's years of experience in research and application of running methodology and technique and directly apply it to your running. Warning, not for the casual "I wanna finish a marathon someday" crowd, this is real and it works.

Big negative on Kindle is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to read the workout charts at the end of the book. Would appreciate if anyone can provide a link to those charts online.

Run Faster, March 20, 2009
Brad Hudson is an experienced coach, working mostly with elite athletes and competitive runners as far as I can tell. I am neither, but like all runners am interested in running faster. The solid basis he provides for his schedules I found very helpful, but the actual schedules were of only limited value to me.

For me, the best thing about the book is his concept of adaptive running schedules. In summary, the idea is to use the schedule as an outline of what you plan to do, but adapt it to your own experience as you work with it. This means adapting the schedule to the way your body responds each week, each day, even each run if need be. The book helped me clarify my own approach to running schedules, which I term "flexibility". "Adaptive" is a more appropriate terminology than "flexible", since it implies adapting the schedule to fit your body's needs, rather than just changing it randomly.

I recommend this book to competitive runners and elite athletes. For plodders like me, it has value in understanding more of why we are plodders and how we can choose to change this. By adapting his aggressive schedules to our own needs we can maximize the benefits of our training.

Think about what you are doing, November 28, 2008
I am not a new runner, and I have been blessed with some of the best coaches in the country at every level: high school, college and beyond. I found that at each level I questioned why I was being told what to do a little more, and this is the first time I have really picked up a book on running. I now wish I had started reading running books a long time ago. I have learned so much about the physiological reason I do things from this book, that my day-to-day training awareness has reached a whole new level. Brad gives the real physiological explanations as to why training stimuli has to change and what it should change to. He explains why hill sprints are so beneficial, why the different threshold levels of training are so important, and how to train as hard as possible while avoiding injury. Most importantly, he teaches the reader how to own their training, which makes training for a race feel so much more like an adventure than a formula. I recommend this book for every level of runner & especially those who want to understand what they should be doing and why.

If you're halfway smart, you'll get a lot out of this., January 10, 2010
If you're after a training guide based on solid science, that requires you to think a bit about your running... that will teach you the principles of running physiology, so you actually understand WHY you're doing your workouts... you'll love this book.

If you just want a dumbed-down training program (think "5 easy steps to your fastest-ever 5K!!!")... and you're just after someone to tell you exactly what to do, and when to do it... you're better off buying a running magazine or just downloading a training program from some website.

As others have said, this book is concise, well-written, and smart. Hudson's methodology makes perfect sense, and because he insists you adapt his methods to suit yourself, it forces you to at least attempt to create for yourself a tailored program.

More than any book on the subject I've read, this is as close to having a real living, breathing actual in-the-flesh coach as you can get. Obviously not as good, but if you enjoy the challenge of racing as a self-coached athlete, this book is a must.

More Advanced Than You May Want, September 22, 2010
I have been running for two years and have read a few books about running, primarily beginner running books. This book does offer some good advice about training as a whole. But I think it is more geared to the serious and / or competitive runner rather than just the casual runner. For the record I typically run 5k races in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, and my times are generally in the 25-27 minute range.

The approach offered as a whole will help me. I really feel like I'm "training" now rather than going out for a run. Varying the running distances, speeds, and hill / strength training has already boosted my performance after three weeks.

But I just found the whole "adaptive" running thing, that is to run how you feel, to be impracticle. I think it may be good advice for a college athlete or someone with a lot of time on their hands. But if you're a working professional like me, you have about 45 minutes a day to work with. I've got to get certain workouts in on certain days. Also, I'm more of a routined person. I like to do certain things on certain days.

I just found the overall tone of this book to be much more geared toward the true running junkie, the ones who run the 5k in 16 minutes, versus the casually competitive runners like myself. Some of the training recommendations are great, I just didn't have a use for about 3/4's of this book.

Very helpful, informative, easy to read!!, August 25, 2010
I consider myself a beginning to intermediate runner. I'm in my 40s and have been running for a few years and still learning.

This book was excellent for explaining different aspects of training to improve my running. It is clear, concise and very easy to understand and apply.

I definitely recommend it to any level of runner!

Additional KINDLE Note: I purchased the Kindle version of this book which was fine for the most part but some of the tables in the book ran off the edge of the page. Plus the schedule templates in Chapter 12 of the book were images that were VERY small and at times difficult to read. Just FYI for Kindle users. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Drawing on his work with some of the top teams in professional sports, noted sport psychology consultant Gary Mack shares with you the same techniques and exercises he uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle." These 40 accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes will help you gain the "head edge" over the competition. ... Read more

Reviews

Well worth the time and the price. If more tactics, better, December 6, 2005
Many readers said that it's clumsily written. I really cant agree so. It's a little repetitive especially in the second half of it. However, the author did quote a lot of real life examples including successful players' personal quotes to stress the importance of the mind on performance. The key message had been well delivered, for sure. However, it would be better if he could tell more on the "how" side, as in page 9, "One key to achieving success in sports is learning how to focus on the task and not let negative thoughts intrude. The mind can concentrate on only one thing at a time. So, rather than suppress what you dont want to happen, you must focus on what you do want to happen or on some neutral thought. In working with the placekicers, I use a distraction technique. I ask them to create a word that, when said to themselves, will block out all negative thought and help relieve tension."

Certainly a good read for aspiring athletes, for leisure and for life. Anyway, below please find some copy and paste of my favorite messages for your reference.

Competition is won or lost on the six inch playing field between the ears. Practice the seven C's (Competitive, Confident, Control, Committed, Composure, Courage, Consistency) of mental toughness. Learn to love the competition. Pg 28

It takes years of hard work to become an overnight success. Are you willing to make the committment and pay the price. Pg 69

Learn how to fail successfully. Hate to fail but never fear it. Learn to view failure as feedback. Pg 80

You cant outperform your self image. - Dennis Connor. Pg 81

Discipline means doing what you have to do when you need to do it, whether you want to or not. Pg 95

The more you hurry the later you get. When you find yourself rushing you are no longer in the present. Pace instead of race. Pg 144

The less tension and effort, the faster and more powerful you will be. - Bruce Lee / The way to run faster is with four fifths effort. Just take it nice and easy. - Bud Winters Pg 145

The will to win is important, but the will to prepare to win is vital. - Joe Paterno / Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. - Wayne Gretzky Pg 155

Excellence for all life's pursuits, April 30, 2005
Mind Gym is one of my favorite books to pickup whenever I need a little inspiration and encouragement. While the many stories and quotes are derived from the world of professional athletics, the book is really about creating excellence in one's life with applicability to any pursuit and any profession. The main theme is that once one reaches a certain level of competency, the level he achieves in performance will be determined by how well he learns to utilize his mind. With this, the author takes us on a fascinating tour of the minds of some of the world's greatest coaches and athletes; their successes, their challenges, and the mental tools they employed to succeed. To borrow a line from the book, "it takes years of hard work to become an overnight success", Mind Gym is an excellent coach along the way.

Not well written, rehashes other books., June 21, 2005
I have just about every book on the topic of sports performance.

I've read others that were more impactful and helpful.

Granted, this book is good if you're just looking for some inspiration that might eventually lead you to results. For immediate results to use on one's game, however, this book isn't it!

As another reviewer said, it's clumsily written. For my hard earned money, I'd like something that I can actually use on my game right away.

If you're a couch potato athlete that only watches a game, this book is probably good. My brother-in-law loves it. He's never played a sport in his life, but is a big fan. For competitive athletes who are more interested in RESULTS and can get their cliches from TV announcers, this book isn't for them.

I'd give it one star, but those who've met the guy seem to like him enough to log onto amazon and write a review. Nothing personal, but I can't give this anything like the rating the others did.

Crippled by one jaw-droppingly awful flaw, April 5, 2009
Mind Gym's theories on sports psychology are not all that revolutionary. Any good coach will already understand the author's thoughts on discipline, preparation, confidence, positive imagery, etc.; however, there is substantial value in the dozens of anecdotes and stories from household name athletes. These examples make great talking points when explaining psychological concepts to kids.

So, until I was almost finished with the book, I definitely enjoyed it. That was until the author revealed that he has all of his clients close their eyes and listen to "Hero" by Mariah Carey. Wow - talk about a blow to his credibility.

If you believe you can overcome this horrendous nugget of info, then you will probably like this book. But if you, like me, find this just too much to bare, then don't waste your time.

Gary Mack, October 23, 2002
Gary Mack is the author of the sports psychological book "Mind Gym." I rate this book with 5 stars becuase I feel that it is at the top of its catagory. For the athlete who desires to gain a mental edge over his/her opponent, there is no better book to shed light on that subject. I read this book while I was healing from a broken back and it turned me around about how I thought about my sport of gymnastics. Garys book opened many doors for me in the way I thought about competition, training, and everyday life. I recommend it to every athlete in every sport because the psychological side of sports is often overlooked. Gary does a great job creating motivation, and better yet--sport and life lessons.

A great book from a great author, August 24, 2004
I had the fortune of knowing Gary Mack personally when I was playing for the Arizona State's Sundevils men's tennis, back in the 2000. All I can say is that the book was extremely useful to me, both in tennis and private life. The bottom line that we can all learn from it is that it's really all about attitude.
May Gary rest in peace.

Clumsily written, cliched, but with a great message, July 10, 2003
I had initially planned to give it just a skim, but then could not put it down. It is full of cliches and hoary coaching bromides, and is obsessed with commercial spectator sports; but its overall, can-do message negates any faults.

No depth at all, October 18, 2010
The author starts by stating how important psychology for sports is. It is.
After this promising start, however, we are presented with chapter after chapter of - well, nothing.
He states something obvious like "belive in yourself" and underlines this with some quotes and success stories from profs.
Great. This does not help at all. I already knew that I need confidence to excel.
No "how to", no in depth tipps, nothing usefull at all :-(

Best one for athletes!, October 4, 2007
I have read several books on the mental game in sports and this is by far the best. I work with collegiate and professional athletes and recommend this so often that Gary Mack should send me a commission!!!

The Most Important Part of the Game, February 12, 2002
As the mild winter weather promises an earlier than usual start to the golf and tennis seasons, I am thinking about equipment, exercises, instructional videotapes and maybe a short "spring training" trip to Florida. But at the top of my list this year will be a re-read of a little book by Gary Mack that will have more impact than all of the above preparations combined. I learned from "Mind Gym" that, for most of us, how we approach our games mentally is the greatest key to improvement. It made a dramatic difference for me -- in attitude, enjoyment and score! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Now revised, expanded and updated, Lore of Running gives you incomparable detail on physiology, training, racing, injuries, world-class athletes, and races.

Author Tim Noakes blends the expertise of a physician and research scientist with the passion of a dedicated runner to answer the most pressing questions for those who are serious about the sport:

• How your body systems respond to training, the effects of different training methods, how to detect and avoid overtraining, and genetic versus trainable potential
• How to train for the 10K up through ultramarathon with detailed programs from Noakes and several leading running experts
• How to prevent and treat injuries, increase your strength and flexibility, and use proper nutrition for weight control and maximum performance

You'll also find a candid analysis of supplements and ergogenic effects and training aids. The book includes new interviews with 10 world-class runners who share their secrets to success and longevity in the sport. Features on legendary figures and events in running history provide fascinating insights.

And that's just scratching the surface. Lore of Running is not only the biggest and best running publication on the planet. It's the one book every runner should own. ... Read more

Reviews

A Comprehensive and Current Work, April 13, 2004
I think it is important that readers understand precisely what this 931-page books IS, and what it is not. Dr Noakes is a trained physician, a professor of exercise science, and a highly published researcher in the field of exercise physiology. His meticulously researched book (the online references occupy over 100 pages) offers an authoritative compilation of the latest and best research to guide the intelligent coach or self-coached runner in the structuring of productive and safe training regimens. For those who lack a PhD in physiology but still want to understand WHY they should perform specific types of training, based on current research, this book is simply unsurpassed. If all you want is a "table" of training prescriptions with no grounding in research or explanation of validity, then look elsewhere: this book is not for you.

In my opinion, Dr Noakes has done an excellent job of extracting results from current research and translating them from the highly specialized language of sports physiology into language that the intelligent layperson can understand. Indeed, I found the book pitched at a slightly less technical level than the popular competitor by Martin and Coe---a book I hve also found to be invaluable.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Fourth Edition is Noakes' unapologetic challenge of THE prevailing paradigm in distance running; he questions the widely accepted belief that an individual's VO(2) max, or maximal oxygen uptake figure, is the key limiting factor in distance running performance. In a carefully argued Chapter 2, complete with dozens of references to research of the past decade to support his claims, Dr Noakes argues for an alternative "Central Governor Model" in which exercise capacity is primarily limited by coronary blood flow to supply oxygen to the heart. I cannot even present an outline of this fascinating alternative model in the brief space allocated here, but suffice it to say that Chapter 2 of his book, in which this theory is developed in detail, is alone worth the price of the book.

In addition to the physiology of training, there are entire chapters devoted to temperature regulation, ergogencic aids, injury prevention and treatment, apparel (emphasis on shoes), etc: all of the usual topics with which self-coached runners must eventually cope.

If I were to offer criticisms of the book for the sake of balance, there would be only two, both relatively minor.

(1) Chapter 6, entitled "Learning from the Experts" offers training programs from a number of famous past champions who raced over distances from 1 mile to the ultramarathon. However, as Dr Noakes points out clearly and often, many of these runners, almost inhumanly gifted with natural ability, became champions IN SPITE OF their obsessive, unbalanced training programs, and not because of them. For the person of average gifts, emulating the training programs of, say, Dave Bedford (who occasionally logged as many as 160--200 miles per week!)is a certain prescription for injury (as it ultimately was for Bedford). I would therefore suggest changing the title of this chapter to "Learning from the Champions." The accomplishments of these highly gifted people all too often had very little to do with "Expertise" in rationale training, as the current title suggests, and far more to do with natural endowment.

(2) Since Dr Noakes is willing to challenge the VO(2) max paradigm so openly, I think it is necessary that he offer some guidance on precisely what differences to the training program his alternative Central Governor Model implies. It is not easy for the non-specialist to see what amendments to training are implied by this alternative model; perhaps an addition to be incorporated into the Fifth Edition?

In summary, if you are a self-coached runner looking for an intelligent basis on which to construct a training program, then this 931-page book is comprehensive and has no real rival. If, on the other hand, you would prefer a 5-page pamphlet offering some training tables for the beginner, then I advise you to look elsewhere.

Running Bible, February 17, 2001
If you have a top notch personal coach who tends all your needs, you don't need any book to improve your running. If you are like me who have the passion for serious running, enjoy reading and analytical thinking while having a full-time job + other professional activities, this book is a must-have. I got one for me and two as presents to my friends. Using this book as the major reference to coach and heal myself, I qualified for the Boston Marathon at my marathon debut after about one year's training, took 10 minutes off in another year and I am on my way to beat NYC marathon qualification time for guaranteed number. Running programs are everywhere. "Individualizing" has become a clich�. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms and principles behind body and training is essential to derive a healthy and effective training program that adapts to the body's response. Lore of Running distinguishes itself from other running books by offering a large volume of solid evidence to support the principles concluded by the author. The readers have the freedom of utilizing these materials, often presented in interesting ways such as stories about famous runners, to make their own conclusions. I feel like having a very pleasant academic discussion with the author who is convincing, but not dictating while reading the book. The background of the author - ultra-marathon athlete, researcher and practicing sports MD is perfect for writing such comprehensive running book.

This book is certainly not a quick recipe. It takes time to digest the material. If you enjoy reading, it is a plus. I have read some section multiple times. Another very good running book that takes much less time to read is Daniels' Running Formula by Jack Daniels that is geared more toward elite runners, but still very helpful for midpack runners like me.

Phenomenal book on running, best I've come across., August 12, 2007
I have been reading about running for the past couple of years--probably more than I ought to. I came upon this book recently in the library (most of my reading is online!) and upon poring through its pages have realized that a lot of what I've read either came from this book, or this book has a lot of what I've read in it. Noakes has written this tome relying upon the best science we have for running with all of its available studies. He bases his conclusions and statements on journal articles where possible and where not does not go overboard in conjecture.

He is an accomplished marathoner and ultra marathoner and in his practice has treated a lot of runners.

Go ahead and buy any book on running. It will have a section on nutrition with the basics that we all know. Contrast with the nutrition section in this and it's actually worth reading; he spends many pages on such details as the proper sodium levels in a beverage, the amount of liquid we need to drink while exercising (not the vague catch-all of "drink as much as you sweat"). His guides on injury and footware are the best researched I've found anywhere.

This is not just the best book on running I've seen, it's the best book _by far_.

I slight this book in two areas:

1) Injury treatment seems to be really slanted substantially toward footwear and orthotics. Now, there may be a reason for that I'm not aware of, and he does give time to exercises and "holistic" approches for injury prevention, including training the hips for, say, a knee problem and not just the feet, but I would have just preferred a bit more.

2) Running technique. He describes in detail the typical heel-strike of most runners but doesn't spend much time that I have found on particulars of technique, such as possibly forefooting or midfooting. Bits and pieces are throughout the book in this, but a subsection on what is now in vogue (pose technique, chirunning, etc.) would have been nice. I don't know that it's reasonable to dismiss these simply because he feels they're useless; I feel like he missed out.

That said, I really can't stress enough how much solid, quality stuff is in this book. He's not simply taking what "everyone knows" about running and making a thousand pages out of it; he does go into meaningful detail.

This is the final word on all things running, March 23, 2006
It would be hard to overstate the reach of this landmark tome on running. Noakes has put together, quite simply, THE authoritative resource on all things running. With a stunning level of historical and scientific research, Noakes reviews the entire global history of running, drawing well-reasoned conclusions about sports medicine, psychology, all aspects of training, injury prevention and acheiving the highest level of performance possible. Then he backs these theories up with irrefutable testimonials from the world's best runners of all time.

Noakes does all of this with a measured and humble attitude that presents his views with confidence, while acknowledging that there are always exceptions to any theory. Most importantly, he recognizes the importance of self-discovery and the illusory nature of "training secrets."

I can't recommend this book more highly, but offer one word of caution: don't try to digest this all in one sitting. It's a read best taken in small doses.

From a guy who makes a living from coaching running, April 19, 2000
This is an absolute must. It is excellent in the exercise physiology department which is the bases of a successful performance. It is like a map which has all the information one needs to succeed, (pending on ones genetic makeover as well as the other little bits and bobs)however, that map is only as good as the map reader.

Also if you are studying exercise physiology or sports science, biomechanics etc. it has loads of references which are great to sling in the back of the bibliography...ooophs.

Finally I have a library of over 200 running books and if I had to take one to my grave this would be it.

Refreshing, June 16, 2004
For the serious runner this is a must. Simply open the book to any page at random and you'll not only be hooked, but also enlightened. The medical advice is excellent. All distances are in kilometers, however, so have that conversion calculator going in your head.

Authoritative Reference Work, February 29, 2004
I've read scores of running books and nothing compares to this one. It addresses every conceivable topic -- from training to injuries to equipment to nutrition -- with insights synthesized from the best scientific studies, leavened with the author's own intelligent extrapolations. The biographical analyses of history's greatest runners also happen to be immensely absorbing and entertaining.

LORE OF RUNNING, March 2, 2006
Superbly written. An excellent book for the technically oriented individual who wants to know the what and why of everything that happens in running. Still simple enough for any good coach to get important ideas as to how to train future and long time runners.

A complete running phillosophy, December 14, 1998
This book provides a common sense approach to running backed up by detailed sceintific data and analysis. As such it very usefull for everyone in athletics from the novice to pro and coaches. It will definitely help you get the best out of yourself while avoiding the pitfalls. The best I have seen and one that I continue to find usefull after 4 years of reading and 15 years of running.

The Best Scientificly Oriented Book on Running, March 11, 1998
This book is applicable to beginners as well as pros. Noakes' excellent scientific based descriptions of most aspects of running and endurance sport in general make this book an essential title for anyone who intends to get a little more serious about this sport. The book also contains a lot of useful information about the history of running and ultradistance running. I hope that a new release of this book will incorporate some of the more recent training methods like heart rate monitors and new nutritional supplements. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Every year thousands of people decide to take on a sprint triathlon for the first time. Now USA Triathlon and USA Cycling certified coach Joe Friel provides a complete guide to finishing that first triathlon. The same principles and training methodology that the pros and committed triathletes rely on are presented here in language that a beginner can easily understand. Friel maps a course to prepare for a sprint-distance triathlon in 12 weeks, with five hours of training each week, plenty of rest, and the beginnings of a lifestyle marked by a commitment to health and fitness and personal growth. Your First Triathlon provides the training plans, workouts, checklists, and instruction that first-timers need. Joe Friel is known for his thorough approach and with his help, what may have begun as a challenge to complete a sprint triathlon will grow into a love for this demanding yet rewarding sport. ... Read more

Reviews

Got me through my first triathlon!, November 24, 2007
I did my first triathlon (sprint distance) in September after three months training, and I was lucky enough to have found this book towards the beginning of my training. Needless to say I am hooked and can't wait to do another one!!! The book did an amazing job of preparing me by arming me with the information I needed to train properly, learn new sports (I had never biked or swam seriously before), eat right, and avoid injury, and yet avoided getting too "hard core" (when you do your first triathlon you keep wondering whether or not you're crazy). Joe keeps it manageable. There is a scary overwhelmed feeling you can get when you start reading about some of the crazy training schedules and techniques out there -- and he really clears through all that and gets to the essentials you need to know to make it through your training and cross the finish line. For example, his race day prep chapter really helped me visualize what to expect on the big day. Also, I really liked his approach to gear -- you can really get sucked into buying a bunch of stuff -- and he emphasizes ways to work with stuff you already have (ex: your old mountain bike) until you're more experienced and can better select the right gear to invest in. Overall, I really liked his fun-first emphasis, while providing what is clearly well-researched and high quality information. Two thumbs up!

Good but not great, March 2, 2007
More than any other peice of equipment, this book definitely gave me what I needed to get to the starting line. It gave me the confidence that I would need to finish my first tri. The book was definitely for me, the person who really doesn't know much about how to even start my training. The drills were helpful and the training calendar worked well to get me to my goal.

But, it is not without it's flaws. As already mentioned in other reviews, swimming is not covered enough to really help you out. My only real struggle was in the swim and his lack emphasis may have led to some over confidence from the attitude her presents. Also, the simplistic way it covered the training regimine was not helpful; I never understood why the drills I was doing were going to help.

Good for someone training for their 1st time, May 4, 2008
I was a little hesitant to buy this book after reading some of the reviews saying it was "too basic." I found it very helpful, esp the nutritional info. The training plan seems a little unrealistic -- its a 12 week plan that starts out with only 15 minute workouts. All in all, the book included a lot of valuable information that has helped me progress in my training for my first tri, but I wouldn't follow it word for word.

Your First Triathlon, May 9, 2010
I guess if you had no access to the internet or a library this book would be good for you. You won't learn any eye-opening tips or tricks from it, and the training plan is geared toward someone who is basically a couch potato attempting a sprint tri. If that's you, go for it, otherwise, save your money and just google 'beginner triathlete' for plenty of websites and forums that offer the same information.

Practical, November 20, 2006
I found this book a valuable help for who is new to Triathlon and also for starting from scratch both running and cycling (NOT for swimming).
Maybe too much enphasis on nutrition, but averall it's a very practical and usful book. Good value for your money.

Great book for beginner triathlete, August 18, 2008
I read several books while preparing for my first sprint triathlon. This book and "Slow Fat Triathlete" were my two favorites. Neither is too technical, but full of helpful "newbie" info.

All you need to begin., July 2, 2006
This is not the "athlete's bible" and this is not the resource for Ironman. Therefore the author accomplished his mission : to provide the newbies with the most information available to begin a new life as triathlete. Pay attention i said a new life, that's it. It's not a list of training plans or a generic line to follow, it's the first step to change your life with fun. Really recommended.

Good for motivation....that's all, July 7, 2006
This book is great to help you get motivated and mostly teaches you that attitude is key to success. It will not teach swim, run or bike techniques, so don't waste the money if, like me, you are looking for actual instructions. Basically, the swim section tells you that you shouldn't learn alone, to go find an instructor. Thanks...I sure wouldn't have thought of the obvious without paying $20 for Joe to tell me! Hopefully his other books are better, but I sure won't pay to find out.

Good intro to triathlons, January 30, 2008
This book offers a good inital overview for those just starting in triathlons. Might be a bit basic for those who are already accomplished in the swimming, biking, and running. Liked the chapter that outlined what to expect in your first race - good pointers.

Good book for a first time triathlete, June 28, 2006
Friel does a good job of speaking to the first time triathlete without watering it down too much. This book is an excellent starting point in your training journey, but you will most likely need to follow up with some more in-depth reading on biking and swimming. Overall, I think it was worth my money. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Going Long is the most comprehensive guide to racing long-course triathlons ever written. Combining science with personal experience, Friel and Byrn prepare every triathlete, from the working age-grouper to the podium contender, for success in triathlon’s ultimate endurance event. Sport-specific chapters outline training for each triathlon discipline and describe drills to improve form and efficiency. A newly expanded section on training the mind explores the all-important psychological aspects of racing, including goal-setting and visualisation. A detailed appendix includes key training sessions, workout examples, and strength training progressions. Going Long has long been the best-selling book on the subject of training for the long course. With expanded content and a new, two-colour format, this second edition is once again the premier sourcebook for triathletes who are serious about succeeding in the long-course distance.

Reviews

change of heart, June 23, 2003
AFTER THE RACE: THIS BOOK WORKS! I offered the below review before my first "official" ironman triathlon. I followed the advice and completed an Ironman in 11:51 (not blazing, but good enough for the first time). My longest training week was a 18 hour crash week, but none of my other weeks was longer than 10 hours. I focused on key workouts, made sure they were of the highest quality, and let the rest go. My time is even better, when you consider that I was out for 9 weeks in the early summer due to a broken arm (I couldn't do any of the sports and walked about three times a week). So I put together a sub 12 hour performance in 13 weeks, with only one week being over 10 hours. Next time I will do more, and hopefully race better, but overall I am very pleased with the results this book yielded. It gave me a means for spending Sundays with my children rather than my running shoes, let me know that my swimming was not going to get much better without 10000 more yards a week, and helped me learn to be patient on the bike. If you have a life, but want to do an Ironman (yes!!! you can have both) purchase this book.


ORIGNAL REVIEW:
At first a lot of the information in this book seemed to be a rehash of "The Triathlete's Training Bible" as stated in my original review. But after reading the book carefully and really pondering what the authors have to say, there does appear to be a lot dedicated toward the art of completing an ironman triathlon. In all fiarness, I must change my review. And if some of the information has been printed in "The Triathlete's Training Bible," at least in this book it is all arranged with one purpose--to finish a full ironman.

First, I must applaud the authors for their inclusion in the introduction. They admit that anyone can finish an Ironman triathlon if they have one thing: will. The down-to-earth tone permiates throughout the entire book.

There are excellent lists for pacing on the bike, mental condition, getting the most from nutrition and the common sense notion that endurance on the bike leg is the most important portion of a successful ironman seems so simple that one does need to constantly remind oneself about it.

Too often triathletes train, train, train, and then train some more. I get sick of hearing about macho-style workouts, and triathlon is just one portion of my life. If you work, have a family, practice other hobbies, actually give yourself to others, and don't spend every dime you make on triathlon, the philosophies in this book will suit your lifestyle. The authors make a very convincing argument for having three major endurance workouts a week--75 to 100 minutes for the swim, 5 to 6 hours on the bike, and 90 to 150 minutes for the run. Instead of the megablock weekend torture fests that most triathletes brag about, they suggest doing runs in the middle of the week, and the bike on the weekends. All other workouts are secondary to these three. They also suggest that if you cannot find a purpose to a workout, simply leave it out and get more sleep.

If you are preparing to embark on your first ironman or if you are a repeat customer, buy the book. 20 dollars now, might save you hours of wasted training time and minutes (if not hours), and personal suffering in your big race.

Very useful ironman survival tips, July 31, 2003
First of all, Going Long is not a rehash of Triathlete's Training Bible. TTB gives you everything you need to prepare yourself physically to get to the starting line. Going Long gives you what you need to get to the finish line.

The book addresses psychological and emotional issues during races, nutrition issues specific to ironman racing, not ironman training, as TTB does, and provides a lot of other useful information, such as race strategies.

Compared to the other offerings available, this is one of the few that provides long distance racers the wisdom and experience of the author's years racing, and can be put to immediate use.

A little confused, October 26, 2004
First of all let me say that this is about the best ironman training book out there. However, there are several severe flaws. First, the authors are confused about their audience. It is never clear when they are talking to novices and when they are addressing elites. They float around willy-nilly first addressing one then the other. Warnings are given to beginners right in the middle of long spiels obviously addressed only to pros. I believe this book is probably meant for novice to intermmediate triatheletes. But the authors are inconsistent in their approach to this. Second, most of the equipment information is very shallow but nevertheless useful to novices. However, once again the intended audience is unclear. Thirdly, the training bricks, many workout, and much of the advice are clearly geared to triatheletes who are very advanced. Any first-timer is going to overtrain and many advanced atheletes will as well if they utilize some of these workouts. They authors recommend no more than two breakthough workouts per week!! Is anybody else reading this? So once again the audience is unclear. If the authors are going to address novices then they need to do so in a consistent way throughout the book. The same with elites and intermmediates etc. Despite these flaws I managed to extract a great deal of useful information from this book and will continue to use it.

It's all here in one little package., June 17, 2003
I've been in search of the right Ironman training book for a while. Most regular tri books devote little time to IM training, and others are so complicated they're intimidating (The Triathlete's Training Bible has great information, but I find it really complex.) This gets it right. If you're a nerd like me who likes to understand the logic behind a training program, you can get it here. You can also skim for tips or workouts if you just want to know what to do and when. Especially great is the nutrition section -- Gordo has some very logical, no-hype tips that really work.

Ahmmm....needs more work, October 30, 2008
After reading Joe Friel's Triathlete's Bible, this book looks like a puzzle. The information in it is very good, but is given in a so unstructured way, that the reader have to go back and forth to put the pieces together. It's a book that one who is getting prepared for Ironman should read, but not really needed if you have read the Bible from Friel.

Great book, September 15, 2008
This book is very informative and helpful to those making the transition to Half and Ironman distance tri's. I would have given this book a five star if I didn't already have Gale Bernhardt's training plans for multisport athletes. All the info in Going long is in Gale's book. They obviously consulted one another when writing their respective books. I recommend Gale's book if you plan on doing different distance Tri's. Joe's book is more specific to the Ironman distance athlete. Good luck and always ride with a tailwind.

best triathlon book, May 5, 2004
This is the best book on triathlon that I have read. I am training for an ironman and I refer to the book almost every day. Also, I used tips and workouts from the book for a 1/2 ironman last year and improved my time from by 2 hours.

A must for Ironman training, February 23, 2009
I had done 5 Ironman before reading this book and my time were always around 12:15. Following the principle I broke my 12hrs barrier advanced 45min from my personal best. I will recommend this book to any intermediate to advance Ironman athlete.

Informative and easy to follow, August 11, 2009
This is essential reading for anyone attempting their first IM or long-distance event. Unlike some of Friel's previous publications, this book is quite easy to follow and does not get too bogged down on technical aspects of training (lactate threshold, Power wattages etc). Some of the technical information is still contained in this book but it is not as overbearing. There are also useful snippets for newbies. This is a book that I periodically pick up and read a few pages. It was also useful in putting together a training plan leading up to the big event. Overall, a must-have for newcomers to this distance and a useful reference book for more experienced triathletes.

Need encouragement for an Ironman...this is book for you!, August 6, 2009
This book is great! I got it with 6 weeks left until race day and I wish I had it before I even thought about doing an ironman!! It doesn't tell you an Iron distance race is easy, it just guides you on how it is possible to do! From very basics to detailed information. It still gave me plenty of information that I incorporated the last 6 weeks, so I was very happy to have it clear some questions. I plan on lending to anyone that says, "I don't know if I could do one." or "That's crazy, I could never do an iron distance race!"

I recommend it for folks thinking about doing one or someone just starting to train or someone who hasn't done one in quite some time. Someone who is a multi-time ironman finisher would not benefit. ... Read more

Editorial Review

See what it takes to maximize running strength, speed, and endurance! Running Anatomy will show you how to improve your performance by increasing muscular strength, optimizing the efficiency of your running motion, and minimizing your risk for injury.

It features 50 of the most effective strength exercises for runners, each with clear, step-by-step descriptions and full-color anatomical illustrations highlighting the muscles in action. But you'll find much more than exercises--you'll also see their results.

Running Anatomy places you in the action, fundamentally linking each exercise to running performance. You'll see how to strengthen muscles, reduce injury, and improve gait efficiency for faster times and more fluid runs.

This book will prepare you for any challenge that comes your way. You'll find exercises for varying terrains and speeds, from hill running to off-road running and from sprints to marathons. Plus you'll learn how to evaluate and rehabilitate the most common injuries that runners face, including lower-back pain, knee aches and strains, and torn muscles and tendons.

Whether you're a fitness runner looking to conquer hills with more speed or strength or a competitive runner looking for that extra bit of performance and a finishing kick, Running Anatomy will ensure that you're ready to deliver your personal best. ... Read more

Reviews

Very comprehensive and easy to read, with wonderful illustrations., February 15, 2010
This is a book that strives to give the runner an understanding of human anatomy and the mechanics of running. The authors have linked the two in such a way that the reader gains a true knowledge and appreciation of the timing and intricacies involved in something that seems so outwardly simplistic, yet is anything but.

Examples of just how thorough a book this is are found in Chapters 4 and 11. These two chapters discuss how outside influences in the running cycle (shoe mechanics, uneven ground reactive forces, differences in terrain, etc...) have a direct effect on the biomechanics of running. Providing an in-depth explanation of the internal and external mechanics of the running cycle. At the same time, like the rest of the book, these chapters are written in a way that is both very easy to understand and absorb.

Together with wonderful illustrations and thorough easy to understand descriptions, both Joe Puleo and Dr. Milroy have provided a great tool in helping the running enthusiast to improve his or her overall performance, fitness, and prevention of injury. Whilst at the same time gaining a better appreciation of the human body's form and function.

I highly recommend this book to any person who loves running. Whether it be novice or pro, short track to ultra distance, you will truly never look at this great sport/lifestyle again in the same way.

Dr. Gregory Ng

Excellent training resource, January 6, 2010
This is a terrific resource depicting the connection between muscles and running. The illustrations are fantastic and have really helped my understanding of the whys and hows between the gym and the road. Will be a great asset to my training!

Clear and useful, February 26, 2010
This is a great book. If you want to understand *why* you are supposed to do various strengthening exercises and be able to make intelligent choices about which exercises would be most beneficial for you, you want this book. There is a lot of information on every page, but the organization and quality of the information make the information easy to process. Each exercise gets a page or two, with beautiful anatomical drawings and concise text describing how to do the exercise, the muscles involved, and the specific running benefits.

Great Book !, November 9, 2010
I was a little unsure what to expect from this book but must admit it's become a regular 'tool' for my training. For the past few years I feel like I'm constantly 'rehabbing' from various minor but annoying injuries. This book has helped me understand more clearly how things work and affect one another when not working properly.

Great tool for identifying the various area's that runners need to focus on and how to build the strength to achieve a powerful runner's stride.

Love it - highly recommended

An excellent book!, September 7, 2010
This is an excellent book for any runner who wants to design strength exercise for injury prevention and performance improvement. It explains how each muscle group works in our running, how they can be trained, and how that training improves our running. Exercises also explained with illustrations so that you can visualize how you are supposed to perform them. Most exercises also have alternatives that work on the same muscle group so that if you don't like a particular exercise, you can substitute it with another one that has similar benefits.

The title says it all!, June 2, 2010
An excellent presentation of anatomy and how your muscles affect your running (and vice-versa). The muscle specific strength exercises are the key to this book w/good illustrations, step-by-step instructions, pointers on technique, and explanations of how the affected muscles impact your running. Highly recommended for anyone interested in running-specific strength training either for performance or rehabilitation.

Any sports or general library catering to runners needs this approach, April 19, 2010
RUNNING ANATOMY offers a fine illustrated guide to running strength and building endurance that focuses on improving such performance by increasing strength and optimizing running efficiency. Fifty of the most effective strength exercises for runners accompany step-by-step directions and anatomical illustrations showing these muscles in action. Any sports or general library catering to runners needs this approach.

Informative, March 22, 2010
I think that is an excellent book for people who have a good base of knowledge about the human body and its anatomy.It is a must for anyone who runs and especially for those with minor injuries and aggravations such a patellar tendonitis,patellar femoral syndrome;aka "runners knee" and shin splints.
There are no suggested running programs in this book, just solid information and advice on how to avoid injuries, how your body moves in the gait cycle and different exercises you can do to build the strength and flexibility you need to be a successful runner.

great for fitness runners, November 9, 2010
Think it is a great book for a runner - especially fitness runners that are interested in lifestyles that include a mix of cross training: the emphasis in this book will be strength training for running. There is a wide range of exercises presented with rationale for each. More experienced runners will have their ways established so may not get a lot of "new" from this, but from my experience more advanced athletes are more advanced because they have a keen interest in what they are doing, thus; the book is also a good read for pure interest sake.

Sometimes when I want a variation for a workout I flip through the pages just for ideas - I think it should be on the runners bookshelf - but not before books like Jeff Galloway's books or Tim Noak's.

Again - if you are purely a gym runner (non-event participant) this book may be best for you.

A Bit Too Technical For Me, June 3, 2010
I was super excited to get this one. I've been a somewhat serious runner since 1994, running moderate distances (anywhere from three to seven miles at a clip) and have recently returned to a regular running schedule after a six month hiatus. I figured a more technical text would give me the edge to improve my speed and distances.

Unfortunately, this one is a bit too technical for my taste.

While it does include a lot of weight training routines designed to build the muscles needed for strength, speed and general good running form, I feel as if I've seen all this information elsewhere - like Runner's World or Women's Fitness magazines. It's nice to have it all in one place, I suppose, but it feels a bit redundant to me. As far as the opening chapters of the book, this was where I kind of zoned out. I imagine a coach or seriously competitive runner might find a lot of really great stuff here, but I was having a difficult time concentrating on sections with titles like, "Results of the Training Progression Model," and "Event Specific Body Characteristics."

I think this is a great resource for dedicated athletes interested in serious training, but I'm not really qualified to review it from that perspective. For a casual runner like myself, I'd recommend skipping the first third of the book, which is a bit intimidating, and focusing on the weight training information in the back, particularly the butt-kicking core and lower body workouts, which I've begun to incorporate into my new, tougher, regimen. Hopefully, this will be just the thing to get me back in top form. ... Read more

Editorial Review

You've never seen Lacrosse like this before - photos that put you right in the middle of the action!Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in North America.And here's the calendar for lacrosse fans everywhere.Every month you'll get an inside look at the fastest game on two feet.The bone-jarring hits.The 100 mph shots.It's no wonder that the enthusiasm for lacrosse is rising exponentially. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In RUNNING WITH THE BUFFALOES, writer Chris Lear follows the University of Colorado cross-country team through an unforgettable NCAA season. Allowed unparalleled access to team practices, private moments, and the mind of Mark Wetmore--one of the country's most renowned and controversial coaches--Lear provides a riveting look inside the triumphs and heartaches of a perennial national contender and the men who will stop at nothing to achieve excellence. The Buffaloes' 1998 season held great promise, with Olympic hopeful Adam Goucher poised for his first-ever NCAA cross-country title, and the University of Colorado shooting for its first-ever national team title. But in the rigorous world of top-level collegiate sports, blind misfortune can sabotage the dreams of individuals and teams alike. In a season plagued by injury and the tragic loss of a teammate, the Buffaloes were tested as never before. What these men managed to achieve in the face of such adversity is the stuff of legend and glory.
With passion and suspense, Lear captures the lives of these young men and offers a glimpse of what drives a gifted runner like Adam Goucher and a great coach like Mark Wetmore. Like Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike, RUNNING WITH THE BUFFALOES is at once a glowing celebration of a sport and an inspiration to anyone who has ever had the courage to beat the odds and follow a dream.
... Read more

Reviews

The best running book since Once A Runner, August 9, 2001
People generally read books about running because they truly love running itself. But only a few such books provide even a fraction of the enjoyment of a simple run. The classic, Once A Runner by John L. Parker, comes to mind, but there aren't many others.

You can add Running With the Buffaloes to the short list. Lear was shrewd, talented and lucky in writing this book: shrewd because his main subject is Olympian Adam Goucher, the strongest and boldest American distance runner since Bob Kennedy; talented because he has a clear, interesting, energized writing style; and lucky because his nonfiction, real life drama has a happy ending after an all-out struggle.

The core of the book is a daily description of cross country practice at the University of Colorado in the fall of 1998. For most people, reading about cross country practice would seem to fall somewhere between drudgery and torture, but Running With the Buffaloes is actually thrilling. Goucher's intensity, his coach's counsel and depth, his opponents' strengths and abilities and his teammates' successes and failures all weave together in a completely gripping tale. Lear keeps his chapters short, resulting in a pace that moves urgently. He assumes a level of awareness about running that is refreshing. For once, reading about running is like talking to someone who cares as much as you do, someone who is excited and knowledgeable.

When the Colorado team returned to campus for fall classes in 1998, they had two goals: win the NCAA championship and have Goucher win the individual title. Championships are built deliberately, with passion and anxiety. Goucher faces this with more than a little Prefontaine running through his veins. Describing him and his teammates, the Colorado coach observes:

"In football, you might get your bell rung, but you go in with the expectation that you might get hurt, and you hope to win and come out unscathed. As a distance runner, you know you're going to get your bell rung. Distance runners are experts at pain, discomfort, and fear. You're not coming away feeling good. It's a matter of how much pain you can deal with on those days. It's not a strategy. It's just a callusing of the mind and body to deal with discomfort. Any serious runner bounces back. That's the nature of their game. Taking pain."

In Running With the Buffaloes, Lear makes this wonderful, alive and memorable. Reading it, you are actually a part of every step, every run, every test and every triumph.

a fascinating look into a top cross country team, July 28, 2003
Running With the Buffaloes chronicles the 1998 season of the University of Colorado Men's Cross Country team. As a former collegiate cross country runner (NAIA Division II), I am very interested in any book that focuses on cross country, and the fact that this is of an elite squad filled with interesting men makes the reading all the more entertaining. While the subject of the book is the entire team, Chris Lear focuses the most on Coach Mark Wetmore and Senior Adam Goucher. Chris Lear follows the team from their arrival on campus for preseason practice all the way through injuries and tragedy up through the NCAA National Championship meet.

Adam Goucher is the elite runner of the men's squad. He placed second at nationals as a freshman and has spent the next two years trying unsuccessfully to win the race. This season is his last chance at winning the National Meet and is one of his last chances to ensure financial security through running (winning the National Championship will all but ensure major sponsorship so that he can be paid to continue running at the elite level). While Goucher trains with the team, he also trains at a higher level than the cross country team, so much of his training is by himself because of the intensity of training. We see Goucher progress through the season, tested by Wetmore's high mileage training and by the high cost this training is taking on his body as the season wears on.

Mark Wetmore is the coach of the Colorado Cross Country team, and ever since he first started coaching at Colorado, he has preached a high intensity, high mileage regimen for his men. He trains them hard so that when it comes time to race he knows that their bodies are capable of what they will have to do. He is tough, but effective. He demands discipline as there are many who want to be in contention for the National title, but they must be willing to put in the work.

While Goucher and Wetmore are given extra attention, Chris Lear gives sufficient time to the other runners on the squad. We get to get a glimpse of who these men are and their personalities start to shine through. The season starts with so much promise, but injuries start getting in the way, and late in the season one of the runners dies in a biking accident. Lear shows how everything affects the team and how they deal with the season and the loss of a friend.

I don't know if Running With the Buffaloes would be interesting to everyone, but I found this book to be fascinating. It gives a very good look into an elite collegiate squad, and for anyone interested in running or just reading a very interesting story that happens to deal with sport in general and cross country in specific, this is the book to read.

Excellent! A fine tale of competitive cross country, October 1, 2001
Finally, someone gets it right when explaining the world of cross country, and that would be author Chris Lear. The diary format takes the reader through the ups and downs of one riveting colleigate cross country season. Having been a former high school and college cross country runner, I always had a difficult time explaining to my baseball-playing friends why I ran so much, and why did I compete in something as whacky as cross country. This book is a perfect explanation. He explains that there's more to just going out and running, that it takes discipline, stamina, strength (man, lots of injuries in this book!) and courage. Lear also shows how runners bond together through the miles and miles of training and racing.

His last piece on the NCAA championship, a play-by-play of Goucher and his teammates, is poetic. I've never read a better race description ever.

Why four and not five stars? First, I'm picky and think five starts should be saved for truly epic sports books like "Friday Night Lights." That said, Lear could've improved on some things. First off, the author was at his best when diverting from the diary format and going into the lives of Goucher, Ponce and Severy. We didn't read enough detail about their lives. Apparently they hang out and are revered at a local coffee shop. We never got more than they just hang out there. I wanted an explanation of this place and why they love steeplechasers so much. Also, the CU runners go to a party, we get a paragraph on it. Do they date, study, hang out, do anything but run? Every little injury is described into minute detail, and that gets old.

Also, the photos are horrendous. It's as if Lear took a point and shoot to practice. On one they twice had "Goucher in full flight" as the caption. A fuzzy picture with the same person in the background -- it was weak. Lear could've hired the photographer from the local paper for chump change and had done better.

But those are just some things to improve on. Truly this is a great, great book and I recommend it to all runners and those wanting to understand cross country.

This is Lear's first effort and I hope it's not his last.

A must-read for cross country runners..., September 3, 2000
I was lucky enough to go to the second and third weeks of Green Mountain Running Camp in Lyndonville, VT. Both weeks I heard Chris Lear speak of Adam Goucher and I also heard my coach praise this book so I decided that I had to read it for myself. I have to say it truly captures the essence of distance running and the pain involved. It really inspired me to run my hardest on every run and proved to me that natural talent has nothing to do with success, it's how hard you train and how good your coaching is. I am lucky enough to have an excellent coach who has coached through 5 undefeated seasons and I can see that I have a chance to improve significantly if I just stick to it and believe in myself. Anyone who runs, especially anyone who runs cross country must read this book in order to fully appreciate what real champions are made of. You may think books like this would be humbling for people like me since the men consistently run 5:00 minute miles in workouts and I have yet to break 6, but instead it looks beyond the times to the personal accomplishments of these men. (long live chis severy in our minds)

Glad I'm not Div I..., June 27, 2001
As a Division III cross country and track runner, I found this in-depth look at one of the nation's premier programs both enlightening and distancing. Chris Lear does an excellent job of getting access to every aspect of life at Colorado, but the overall effect of the book is to describe life in truly rarefied air. Very few runners have the facilities, talent, or wherewithal to devote so much of their lives to training. In fact, only the elites (that occasionally show up for CU sunday runs) and the soon-to-be elite collegians have made such a decision to devote their lives (and souls) to the sport. Lear gives a tough-minded portrait of Adam Goucher, the CU star who finally wins the national cross title he's been lusting after since the begining of his career, as well as a dynamic look into the team psychology and training. Perhaps the most ellusive character of all is Mark Wetmore, CU's Ahab-like coach, who admits in an afterword interview with Lear that his training might have been a touch too intense. With 'Running With the Buffaloes,' the average reader is given a front row seat in the trenches of Colorado's season, which insists on remaining delicately balanced a stress fracture from failure.

a real great inspirational read, for any runner. Even if you'll never train like this, you can always dream...

Interesting for what it reveals, July 6, 2006
The writing could be better, but Lear does provide a fairly unvarnished look at CU's nominally successful runners--a scrappy program with comparatively little scholarship money to pull in nationwide high school talent. And while many reviewers below have (gushingly) noted how inspirational this book is, I found it had some curious gaps.

For instance, very little is noted about the interactions of the runners outside of workouts. Cursory mention is made of get togethers, but what about the burden of being a full-time student? Romance? Drinking and drugs, of both the entertaining and performance enhancing variety?

Most interesting, yet unnoticed by the players themselves, is the very obvious reason for CU's relative lack of success: extreme overtraining.

Though he claims to think long and hard about what works and what doesn't, coach Mark Wetmore's dogmatic inflexibility and lack of insight is frankly stunning. It is crystal clear that he is overtraining his runners, both with volume and intensity, and builds his training around his senior star, Adam Goucher. Wetmore claims to be a Lydiard advocate, yet rather than focus on building the deep reserves of endurance Lydiard preached, it seemed to me that Wetmore emphasize a lot of lactate work and allows each workout to become a competition. Furthermore, as the book relates, no less than three of his runners came down with stress fractures over the course of 12 months. On a squad of 40, that amounts to an epidemic. Stress fractures are overuse injuries, folks, plain and simple.

One need only look at the post-collegiate careers of many of his stars for further evidence: the Gouchers (Kara particularly), the Torres twins, Dathan Ritzenheim. Though they would probably be loathe to admit so, none thrived until they found new coaches, left Colorado, and basically unlearned the terrible habits ingrained by Wetmore.

The most tragic case of all may be Adam Goucher. His spotty, stress fracture riddled career since graduating makes it clear that even under the guidance of Alberto Salazar, he has been unable to train smart. He seems unable to escape the obssessive and excessive work ethic encouraged in the CU program.

The other disturbing trend (and it's interesting that none of the other reviewers note it) reported is the racism displayed toward foreign runners. The resentment is curious. One runner refers to an African runner as a "fuzzy headed foreigner." In another instance, a CU runner actually yells at the white crowds at a finish line for cheering on an African. Goucher is miffed that Meb Keflezghi, by then a US citizen, is treated as the hometown favorite at a San Diego race. Interesting to see who went on to win a silver at the Olympics.

So--overall a decent but incomplete book, notable mostly for being the only one out there which goes behind the scenes. Interesting? Somewhat. Inspirational? I am scared to think who to.

A Must Read For The Competitive Runner, February 1, 2002
Chris Lear proves that cross country is for the skilled and those asking for a mental challenge. Lear makes you feel as if you are a part of the team with his kindness in words and reflections.
Each new scene explains something that every cross country team goes through: emotion, injury, long runs with no cares at all, comraderie with teammates who become lifelong friends, and the envy of all runners who wish to reach the pinnacle of college running, the NCAA Championships.
Some readers might say that he dwells too much on aspects of running, but this brings an understanding to how all runners feel when something of this magnitude occurs.
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for motivation to experience running on your feet, or from a new perspective the comfort of a good book.

Runners' Alert- YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK, January 23, 2002
I am an adult distance runner with a high school son (15) who runs cross country. I ordered this book for myself and he grabbed it the minute it arrived. He read it in a week, which is an amazing thing for my computer-oriented son who generally avoids reading for pleasure. I just finished the book and believe it is an outstanding account of the rewards and heartbreaks of top-level collegiate running. I could not put this down. I cried at the tragedy this team endured and rejoiced at the successes. I believe this book is a true gift to my son and any young runner who aspires to greatness. I now know why a poster of Adam Goucher is on my son's wall. Chris Lear conveys the patience that is required by runners who, after being high school stars, might have to train through long periods (even years) of no improvement, injuries and crushing disappointments. He also conveys the impact a coach such as Mark Wetmore can have on a young runner's growth as a person and an athlete. You probably have to have more than a casual interest in running to really appreciate this book, but I believe it will touch and motivate both competitive and recreational runners. If I were a high school or college coach, every one of my runners would read this book!

Great read for cross country afficionados!, November 6, 2001
If you love distance running or cross country, this book is a fascinating look at a great team and a dynamic coach. Adam Goucher is the most well known, and best depicted, of all runners in this book. Many other top notch American distance runners also are mentioned. Chris Lear does a first rate job of making the joys and agonies of a cross country season real. Never sloppy or sentimental, the author does a fine job of describing the sport, the team, training sessions, and the personal dynamics of runners and coaches. Of course, it helps that he was a first person observer of the CU team during one of its most demanding seasons. I plan on recommending this book to every high school distance runner that I know as well as all my coaching acquaintances. It's a gem.

A New Direction for Running Books, January 12, 2001
In his book, Chris Lear, taking on a different task than the tradition running novel. Lear followed the University of Colorado's Men's Cross-Country team throughout the 1998 season. Through the course of the book, readers become part of the team and relive the trials and tribulations associated with being on a nationally ranked cross-country team. The Colorado men spend the fall chasing a dream and Lear spends it documenting their chase. His presence in the team meetings, workouts, and everyday life gives all readers an idea of what its like to be on one of the best teams in the nation. Lear follows Adam Goucher and the rest of the CU team in their quest for a national title. Along the way there are victories and defeats both emotionally and physically. Never before has a book captured the essence of a team and its pursuit of a goal like Lear does in Running with the Buffaloes. Whether its seeing what it takes to be one of the best runners in the country or going from walk-on to All-American, you can find it in this book. Lear also gives a first-time look at the training that CU does and the methods of their famous coach Mark Wetmore. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With over 50% new material, this category killer is sure to go the distanceWhen the previous edition of Hal Higdons superb training guide appeared, Grete Waitz, 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon, cheered: Higdons years of marathoning experience come through in this practical book. Aspiring or veteran marathoners will benefit enormously from its proven guidance.This new edition focuses on first marathoners, women runners, and those new to the sport; and as always, Higdon shows how to build up mileage and gives advice on running long, speedwork for distance runners, defensive running strategies, and planning for peak performance.Will get any runner across the finish line of a marathon. I highly recommend it, said Olympic-marathon gold medalist Frank Shorter.Theres plenty of sound training advice here for runners of all levels, said Ken Sparks, PhD, who achieved a marathon personal record of 2:28 at age 46. ... Read more

Reviews

A must for novice marathoners, February 28, 2000
After renewing this book from the library multiple times I just had to own it. My husband and I are training for our first marathon and this book is our "bible." There's a new piece of valuable information on every page, and each time I reread a section I find something I can use again. Inspiring, informative, with training schedules, advice, and anecdotes throughout. I've looked at other marathon training texts but this one is the best--written for the average reader, it doesn't take the elitest attitude toward running that some of the others do.

Fabulous training guide for the first time marathoner!, March 12, 2004
I am living testiment to the fact that this book works. I'm 31 years old, new mom and a relatively new runner and through this book and the 18 week training guide on his website, I was able to complete the Chicago Marathon this past October. He promises that if you stick to his guide you can finish and it works.

The best thing about the book is that it is supportive, but not preachy. Hal uses examples of elite athletes, but never forget that he is writing this for the novice or intermediate runner. As a novice myself (I had only started running about 6 months before), I found I was able to set realistic goals (just to finish, really) and run injury-free.

I cannot count the number of times in this book where I would read something and instantly be reinforced that I could complete a marathon. And that's very important because the training can drain you, make you question your ability and scare you.

the Joy of the Marathon, November 22, 2000
This is a fantastic guide for anyone interested in distance running. To me, as a relatively slow runner, it was simply invaluable as part of my preparation for my first and second marathons. As I prepared for my last three marathons and for other long races I went back to check what good old Hal had to say.

This book strikes a superb balance between the needs of speed demons and mid to end of the pack types. It gives you ideas about what to eat, how to train for a marathon and how to taper. To me, the most useful part was that on predictions. Higdon presented different models and theories for predicting one's marathon time based on performance in shorter distances.

Another very useful part of the book is the pre and post marathon preparations. Most valuable part is the motivation the book will give you. We all go through ups and downs in the training phase, this book will remind you of that and guide you all the way to the finish line, recovery and sign up for the next marathon. You can't go wrong with $ 12 on this book. Also see Higdon's web site and check out Runner's World web site

This book is all things to all people, June 18, 2001
This is a very well written book that inspires you from the start. It then backs up all that motivation with tried and true running techniques. It is easy to read and well structured. I have been using his basic training guide from this book to restart my running every spring for the last 7 years. If you are a new runner I think this book is helpful in making you feel secure in your abilities. It is also filled with enough information to help those experienced runners who are new to the marathon. I know that the book has been updated recently. If you buy it I am sure that it will serve you well for years to come.

Principles based on anecdotal evidence, January 2, 2004
This book has 221 pages. I think the useful information could be condensed down to 20 pages or so. This book makes heavy use of the anecdote pattern. Chapters begin with little stories about elite athletes and experienced runners from which general principles of running are drawn. The problem is that the stories are incomplete and entirely anecdotal. Elite athletes and experienced runners don't need this book and the principles that apply to them don't apply to middle-aged people who truly are beginners. The book doesn't address the subjects of weight and size (very important in long distance running), and it only addresses age at a very superficial level. The good things in this book are: the focus on staying injury free; the incorporation of easy running and rest days into your training schedule; some sample training schedules; some diet advice; and some seemingly useful information about race logistics toward the end. On the negative side, a lot of space is devoted to fluffy stories; evidence to support advice is almost entirely anecdotal; there is practically no advice on runner injuries and how that affects your schedule; and no talk about weight/age; Put simply, this book contains a lot of anecdotal, unscientific, irrelevant, happy, feel-good fluff. The training schedules may work for you, but if they don't you will not have gained enough knowledge from this book to understand how to adapt them to fit your needs.

Hal Higdon...my personal trainer!, May 27, 2003
This book is great! I followed Hal's advice and ran my first marathon without any trouble. He told me what to eat, when to eat, how far to run, what to wear, and I listened and finished Pittsburgh and it was fun. Then he told me what to do to recover. I'd recommend this book to EVERYONE! Thanks Hal!

Excellent primer for first time marathoner, October 17, 2002
I just ran the Chicago Marathon this past weekend - my first - and used this book as my primary reference along with Hal Higdon's virtual training program. Using this program I realized and exceeded all my goals for the race. The program works, the experiences related in the book accurately predicted my own and were an excellent guide for the training program and the pre-race preparation. If you are a first time marathoner and you follow this program, you will succeed.

Great book, lots of realistic advice for novices and intermediate runners, October 3, 2005
Picked up this book after running my first half-marathon and getting ready for my first marathon. It was great because it puts your fears at ease and doesn't talk down to the slower runner (I'm a 4-hour marathon runner). Good training charts.

The book is now 6 years old and there are a couple of places in which it is dated. The Chapter on nutrition only talks briefly about gels, and focuses more on sports drinks versus hard food. Also, the section on hydrating (drinking water during and after) is old-school and doesn't take into the recent studies on the effects of over-hydration.

But other than those two nits (both in the same chapter) the rest of the book is great. I still pick it up to give myself a motivational boost before a race.

I am officially a marathoner!, June 25, 2005
I read this book cover to cover and prepared for the L.A. Marathon using his novice program. Not only did I run and finish my first marathon, I did it in a pretty respectable time of 4 hours and 25 minutes!!! I am looking forward to running more marathons, as I am training for one in October(Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco) using his intermediate 1 program.

Best book for a first time marathoner, March 30, 2001
I recently ran my first marathon, and this book was extremely helpful. It helped me learn what to expect, and was an excellent resource in helping me to prepare, both mentally and physically.

I would definitly recommend this to anyone who is preparing for their first marathon. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Great and essential information for first time Marathoners!, July 28, 1999
I picked up this book on the advice of a friend who had done the Houston Marathon the previous year and heard Jeff's seminar on running Marathons. He felt Jeff had given him so much good advice that enabled him to have success in his race thathis book would benefit me.

Well, I must say it did. I went out and had a painless, great day in my first 26.2 mile race and I attribute most of it to jeff's training schedule and his run a mile/walk a minute strategy that will actually improve your time instead of what you might think. I am living proof and this book got me through it.

I highly recommend this boof for a first time marathoner, it answers many of the questions you may have going in about diet, water, sports drinks, rest, anxiety, what to do if....., etc..

Definitely a book you can trust in and use to make your race the best it can be.

Quality Advice on Running Injury Free, Fun, & Respecting the, October 15, 2003
...Respecting the Distance.

Jeff Galloway is an Olympian who has run 130 marathons. That's why I chose to use his training program for my first marathon, because I believe he must know something about running. I am in my seventh week of training and doing wonderfully. People need to realize that Galloway's program is intentionally designed to get you to the starting line and through the marathon injury free and enjoying yourself, not hurting and tortured (although it's still going to be hard). There is nothing second-rate about walk breaks; he even gives the history of marathoning as having included walk breaks in the early days, and examples of modern record setters who took walk breaks. So posh on the nay sayers. When I added walk breaks to my program, the fun immediately came back and I was able to run twice as far with a smile on my face the whole time, enjoying scenery, rather than plodding along like a mule. He backs up his advice with scientific reasoning that makes total sense: when you give the running muscles a brief rest from the beginning and throughout the race, your legs stay fresh. You don't lose time because of this, and then you get to pass people later on, all while minimizing the risk of injury. I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would turn up their nose at that. Hopefully I'll be passing some of them on the course.

As for the reviewer below who said that Galloway doesn't mention goo, that is just inaccurate.

The important thing to remember (!) is that 26.2 miles is a LONG way. Anyone who crosses the finish line is a marathoner, period, whether you ran, walked or crawled. Galloway's training programs (there are 11 to choose from depending on your goals, even time goals for the competitive reviewer below...HELLO! CAN YOU RUN A 2:39?! Galloway has a program for that, did you try it?) are designed to get you trained and through the race safely and ready to keep running more races or at least running for life. Hopefully with a smile on your face. What more could you possibly want?

The other wonderful part are the mental tricks he suggests, such as "Anti-Gravity Fluid" and "Magic Words". This is a great book.

Includes chapters on: Long Run, Walk Breaks, Running Form, Cross Training, Training Programs (11), a whole section on inspiration and motivation, what race day is like, Running Faster (speed and hill work), section on food and fat burning, advice on getting older and running, gear, an Appendix and many tables and charts.

Best Attitude for Beginning and Novice Marathoners, November 13, 2001
After repeated bouts with injuries while training using other programs, Jeff's program got me out the door and running a faster marathon.

My initial reaction to his run-walk method was sheer disbelief. After working his plan for a month or so I was converted. I cut 20 minutes off of my personal best with this program. I feel that the Galloway method really teaches you how to work with your body. Most programs try to jam your body into doing a marathon. Galloway's edges you into it and as a result makes it easier for you to complete the training and the marathon.

The book also presents a very realistic attitude about running and running marathons. We all aren't Frank Shorter or Catherine Ndereba. This book helps to turn us everyday runners into marathoners.

Great Guide for a 1st tme marathoner, November 9, 2002
I used this book as a guide to prepare for my first marathon. I couldn't have asked for better advice. I finished the marathon in a respectable time, pain free and ready for number #2. If you are thinking of running a marathon, buy this book. You will not go wrong.

Outstanding! Make Sure You Get The Second Edition, April 14, 2002
This book is the safest, most fun way for you to run a marathon. I used it, along with joining a local Galloway running group, to complete 3 marathons in the last 1 1/2 years.

Make sure you get the second edition, with the word "New" in the middle of the cover. The negative comments on the older reviews, referencing the "story" woven in the book, refer to the first edition. The criticisms were warrented, and this "story" was eliminated from the second edition. As a result, the excellant running advice shines through.

Jeff Galloway is the "Johnny Appleseed of Running", bringing running and marathoning to the masses. This book is a great way to get started off on the right foot.

Excellent guide for marathon training, June 5, 2004
I've long enjoyed Jeff Galloway's articles in "Runners World" and his other running books. This one ranks up there with the best guides on ho w to train for a marathon. It's not preachy or sanctimonious and it offers some sensible tips on how to get yourself in shape to run 26.2 miles. The book is dated, and if you do much of your training on a treadmill, you're out of luck. The book was written before treadmills became a practical way to train indoors in your own home. Aside from this "defect," the rest of the book is excellent. Whether you're an avowed coach potato, or someone who runs 10 miles a week, the book will get you to the starting line and, hopefully, get you to finish your first race.

Running is a joyous activity and one which brings many individual rewards. Finishing your first marathon is one of life's great memories and hopefully, there will be many more for you to savor as you gain experience and fitness. If you're a serious, addicted runner who has never run a marathon, you'll love this book, but the beginners will reap the greatest rewards. It's well-written, fun to read and instructive. Highly recommended.

Pragmatic advice for new marathoners, August 1, 2005
I am finding this book practical and informative, but redundant with Galloway's previous book. One or the other would seem more useful than ordering both...and if I had to choose, I might purchase the other book for it's comprehensive information about injury prevention and treatment. Still, compared to other books on marathon by other authors, this book is encouraging, helpful, specific and especially appropriate for the non-traditional athlete: the older, female, injured or less athletically inclined among us who are still motivated to do a marathon for whatever personal reasons.

Marathon: I DID Do It!, May 13, 2009
At age 55, I felt as though I was running out of time to cross "Run a Marathon" off my lifetime list of things to do before leaving this planet. Galloway's book was the first book on training for a marathon that I happened upon, and it was a lucky find indeed.

I trained with my 24 year old son, who had never run a marathon. Neither of us particularly liked running, neither of us were in great shape. Galloway's sensible, step by step, interesting and informative book worked so well for us that we were both able to claim "First time is the charm". The book includes several training detailed running schedules based on speed, and one that is simply labeled "To Finish". We chose "To Finish", and signed up for the 2007 Portland Marathon.

Sticking with the nutritional and motivational advice provided in abundance by the book, we finished each training run with the conclusion "No WAY we can run any further than this". But we did, and as the weeks went by, the distances increased just as Galloway had promised. Injury free, we showed up in Portland, ran the entire race together, stepped on the finish line together, and experienced that incredible feeling of taking on a task that seems impossible, and succeeding.

The book is interesting, full of anecdotes, warm, and encouraging. Think you're too old or too slow to ever run a marathon? Pick up this book, and think again!

I qualified for Boston using this book!, May 17, 2000
I only gave it 3 stars because of the silly story that readers must wade through to get to the advice. But following the directions in this book, my marathon times were improved and I set PRs in 10ks and 5ks, too.

Good information irritatingly presented, April 11, 1999
There's a lot of really good advice on marathon preparation here. Unfortunately, Galloway interweaves the meat of the book with the excruciating story of a fictitious band of infantile, narcissistic runners who are getting ready to run a marathon themselves.

This would be a mere annoyance if it didn't make finding the running advice a lot more difficult. The reader is forced to wade through the stupefying adventures of Suzi, Tom etc in order to pick out the many kernels of running wisdom.

Stick to the facts, Jeff! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

My Triathlon Bible, April 29, 2010
I first bought IronFit back in 2008 when I registered for my first Ironman triathlon. My goal as most first timers was to finish. Don provides the information found in other books but in a way that is easy to follow and understand which allows you to concentrate on the training. His training schedules, motivational biographies and training tips keeps me going back to the book for inspiration during the harder weeks of training. I found his race day guidance,with an emphaisis on nutrition a great help on race day.
My goal for my first Ironman was to finish, but following Don's IronFit, I exceeded that and finished fourth in my age group at Ironman Florida.
I have recently purchaesed the 2nd edition of IronFit for the updated training schedules as I prepare for my second attempt at the Ironman. Thanks Don!

Buy This Book, Do What Don Fink Says, Become An Ironman, June 14, 2010
This is one of my favorite books, all-time. Here's why: The Be Ironfit program provided me with the time efficient training plans and advice to become an Ironman in 2008, and again in 2009 (and beyond).

Don Fink (an Ironman age group legend), draws upon his vast racing and coaching experience to inspire and prepare any triathlete to achieve the Ironman dream. Just as important, before I finished reading Be Ironfit (the first time) I felt belief replace my doubts about whether I could ever train for and race 140.6 miles.

This 2nd edition is even more comprehensive (I've read and studied both editions). It updates the latest core and strength training techniques with Don's tried and true time-efficient heart rate based training and swim/bike/run techniques advice. It is extremely well-written and organized and provides invaluable information and tips on: time management, nutrition, pre-race, race day, post race, race selection, mental strategies, and more. You can choose to follow the competitive program, the intermediate program, or the 'just finish' strategy.

With Don's guidance, and this revised edition in hand, I am training for my third Ironman race this year. With consistent adherence to Don's training plans and advice, I continue to get faster and faster. In fact, my P.R.'s continue to drop significantly at all distances (from sprint to olympic to 70.3 to 140.6) -- at the age of 45!

Buy the book, read the book, do what Don Fink says, become an Ironman! It really is that simple.

Outstanding read and resource, June 14, 2010
If you are planning on racing an Ironman in the coming year, I would go so far as to say you have to buy this book. It will probably be the best investment you will make helping you accomplish your athletic goals and allowing you to have more fun along the way. I've raced 2 Ironmans, a Half Ironman, and 5 marathons over the past 3 years and I still go back and re-read certain chapters of BeIronFit. I even take it with me to my races, it's that good.

First of all, Don Fink is one of the most experienced and accomplished coaches in triathlon today. His approach, advice, and training plans have worked for countless athletes at all levels (from beginner to elite). I wouldn't follow a training philosophy or plan if it were not proven. My time and goals are too important to me.

BeIronFit is an exceptional read and resource. Very well written. What's remarkable about the book is that there is something there for everyone. If your goal is to finish your first Ironman or to qualify for Kona, I believe you will benefit from reading this book. Triathlon can be a complicated sport and the book goes into appropriate detail but not overly so. I think the reason I continue to go back to the book is that the philosophy, tips and advice to training and racing are sound - almost fundamental truths. Don not only explains exactly what you need to do day by day, week by week (laid out in your training plan), he clearly explains his coaching philosophy so that you understand exactly why you are doing certain workouts during the different phases of training.

What's interesting about Don and perhaps one of the reasons why he has been such a successful coach is his background. He became an elite triathlete while managing a successful and demanding career on Wall Street. On one level, his story is inspirational. I think many of us dream (maybe secretly) of becoming elite athletes while working full time. More importantly though, he understands what it's like to have a family, manage a career and train for ironman - all at the same time. As a result, this book is packed with practical advice and tips for the rest of us. In addition, throughout the book, Don features several athletes he has worked with where they share their own experiences and advice. Very helpful.

Getting to the starting line is more than half the battle. Reading this book will help you get there healthy, physically prepared, and mentally confident. As a result, you will have more fun and race faster, of that I'm confident.

With this book, anyone can do a triathlon, June 13, 2010
in 2007 i bought don's first edition of this book to train on my own for my first ironman at lake placid. no other book has such easy to follow and complete training plans. it is a book for all athletes, from the beginner to the elite. after reading this book, there were no excuses not to try or for being too busy. the profiled athletes are an inspiration. in his second edition, don profiles some of his professional and elite athletes, as well as everyday people who just want to finish. it is even more comprehensive than the first edition. i also gave it as a gift to a busy friend who is a mother, new triathlete and works full time with travel, she is totally inspired!

From One of Don's Coached Athletes, June 14, 2010
I purchased the first edition of Be IronFit and was impressed. Don laid out a clear vision of what's required for Ironman success, provided examples of those who had done it (apart from himself), and expanded on the tools needed for the job. To a newbie, the book was worth its weight in gold.

The second edition offers all of the above plus inspiring athlete profiles, nutrition guidelines, fantastic core strength routines, and longer sample plans. You couldn't ask for more!

With the fundamentals of the book in hand, the plans are what set you up for success. As one of his coached athletes, please believe me when I say the book's plans are the real deal!

Don offers sage advice on a topic that has needlessly become overly complicated.

A must-read for those interested in approaching their athletic potential.

A MUST READ FOR EVERY TRIATHLETE!, April 16, 2010
Don's real life experiences as well as the profiles from other athletes he has coached helped to answer many of my everyday training and time management questions. I am getting ready to compete in my first Ironman this year and keep this book near me at all times and plan on having it with me up to race day.

Even though this book was probably not intended to be a motivational book, it has motivated me and has given me the confidence to continue on the journey on being an Ironman. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For both runners entering that first neighborhood race and elite marathoners, trainers Bob and Shelly-lynn Florence Glover's completely revised guide is the book on training to compete. A book that's already sold close to 200,000 copies, The Competitive Runner's Handbook will now offer all the latest information needed to design basic training programs; special workouts to increase strength, endurance, and power; schedules and worksheets to develop individual goals; and specifics on preparing for all kinds of races--with an emphasis on the 10K and the marathon.

Informed by their over thirty years of coaching experience, the Glovers give winning tips on alternative training, footwear and diet, and common injuries and illnesses, as well as sensible advice on balancing running with work and home life. ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent book filled with lots of helpful tips!, May 30, 2004
This book starts off by breaking runners into categories from Novice to Elite. There are 7 categories (further broken down by age groups and gender), and any recent race time (from 5k all the way to marathon) can be used to help you find out where you fit. Glover explains the different training concepts to help you improve your times. He goes into a lot of detail about all of the important topics. He gives weekly mileage guidelines, talks about maintaining a running base (what % of your weekly mileage should be used as a base), and what paces you should be training at based on your desired race time. Although his advice is specific (and supported with examples of studies that have been done to prove how certain concepts work), all of his advice can be adjusted to fit the individual reader's level and goals. He gives examples of training schedules for the 5k up to the marathon for each category of runner, and tells you how to write your own schedule. He gives many examples of different types of speedwork, hill training, and tempo training so runners can add variety to their own schedules. He says how often each workout should be done on a weekly basis, and at what point they should be done in the training cycle. This is a great book, easy to read, and full of tips that can help you improve your time at any distance.
I used to do my daily runs at the same pace, and train without a plan. Last year I started training using the concepts explained in this book (speedwork, hills, long run distances), and I have been able to cut 13 minutes off of my half marathon time in less than 8 months. These training concepts are well known, but Glover customizes them to the reader's level, gives many different examples of each type of workout, and expains which workouts are best for the distance you are training for (For example, he says 1 mile intervals are better when training for the 10k up to the marathon, while power intervals and repeats will be more helpful when training for a 5k or shorter distance). This is a great book, and I wish I had read it sooner.

Great resource - don't confuse it though, August 21, 2005
This book is a great resource for all aspiring competitive runners. However, don't confuse this book with Glover's other book - which is more for beginning and non-competitive runners. There is a lot of overlap between the two books, so there is not much point in buying both. However, I can see a beginner outgrowing the beginner book and wanting the extra info that the "Competitive" handbook can provide. Both are great.

Returning to Racing?, May 5, 2000
Let's forget that this book is a huge bestseller in the running market. Lots of running books are more hype than content, or only regurgatate what last month's "Runner's World" has said, and sell just as well. However, "The Competitive Runner's Handbook" is informative, thorough and engaging.

Returning to racing after some fifteen years of basic jogging, I needed a book that took my knowledge seriously. Glover and camp give hard-core, nuts and bolts info. They've provided for the various levels of fitness. I'm not going to run my high schools times first time out, but what happens when I get my speed down? It is in here. Solid how-to, without the fluff of running psychobabble.

Run a 10K? Wanna know how byou might do in a 20K? In a half-marathon? Charts galore. How 'bout intervals and tempo workouts. Marathon training tips? 5K tips? Got 'em!

The beauty of this book.. and the fundmental reason I recommend it, is because the base of info and guidance here is fantastic.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

A Great Reference Book for runners abilities, November 24, 2003
This book covers everything with regards to training,
equipment, nutrition, and crosstraining for everything
from running the 5K race to the marathon. The language
is very simple to understand, and provides useful
charts with regards to times in age-class groups, and
how they would rank in a field of runners, from your
back of the pack runners to your elite runner. It also
accounts for clothing, warming up, cooling down,
and everything imaginable related to running. If you
don't have a coach, or can't afford one, this is
probably your best alternative in terms of learning
how to train effectively and properly. Bob and
Shelley-Lynn really know what they are talking about,
and even the seasoned veterans might find it useful.
I have been running off and on since 1983, but I
didn't have any real ideas of how to train and eat
right until I read this book with regards to
competitive running. This book is highly recommended
if you intend to race competively in the 5K, 10K,
1/2 marathon and/or marathon. This should be your
Running Bible. If you haven't ran in a while, I
suggest consult your family physician before you
begin training, especially if you're really out
of shape, overweight, and a smoker or drinker.
It's probably best to use it as a reference guide
if you don't have the time to read through all
the book at once.

This book is
broken down into sections and chapters as follows:

Introduction: Challenge of Competitive Running
PART I: Basic Training
1. Categories of Basic Runners
2. Key Ingredients to Succesful Racing
3. Basic Training Principles
4. The Warm-Up and Cool-Down
5. Training Pace
6. Training Mileage
7. The Runner's Training Diary

PART II: Speed Training
8. Introduction to Speed Training
9. A Simplified 12-Week Speed Training Program
10. Interval Training
11. Hill Training
12. Fartlek Training
13. Tempo Training

PART III: Planning Your Training
14. The Training Schedule
15. How To Write Your Own Training Schedule

PART IV: Specific Training for Racing
16. The Novice Competitor
17. 5K Training and Racing
18. 10K Training and Racing
19. Half-Marathon Training and Racing

Part V: Marathon Training and Racing
20. The First-Time Marathoner
21. Marathon Build-Up Training
22. Marathon Countdown
23. Marathon Strategy
24. The Aftermarathon

Part VI: Mental Aspects of Competitive Running
25. Goal Setting and Race Time Prediction
26. Motivation
27. Mental Training
28. Prerace Logistics and Day-of-Race Routine
29. Race Strategy
30. Race Tactics

Part VII: Running Form and Shoes
31. Running Form and Economy
32. Running Shoes

Part VIII: Food and Drink for Health and Performance
33. Fuel and Nutrition for Running
34. Hydration and Running
35. Performance Weight

Part IX: The Running Environment
36. Hot Weather Running
37. Cold Weather Running

Part X: Specific Competitors
38. The Masters Competitor
39. The Female Competitor

40. The Young Competitor

Part XI: Illness and Injury
41. Illness
42. Injury

Part XII: Special Training
43. Strength Training
44. Stretching
45. Cross-Training
46. Treadmill Training
47. Heart-Rate Monitor Training

Part XIII:
48. Balancing Running With Life

Appendix
Index

This book feels like ut's personalized for you, June 30, 2000
Bob Glover and his wife, Shelly, have a style that I find particularly endearing, they write in a manner that makes you feel they are addressing you personally rather than a general readership. Glover seems to know exactly what you would ask if he were your personal coach. He provides training schedules, information on running shoes, nutrition, pre-race nerves, race strategy etc. If you are less competitive and race just to improve your times but not to win races or age groups, there is plenty that speaks to you in this book. Similarly, this book is great if you are highly competitive and have the potential to be national class. If you wonder, down to the exact second, what pace you're running if you finish a 5k (or any other standard race distance) in a given time, there is a detailed chart that gives the answer. The writing style is low key and conversational. The book can either be read cover to cover or you can just as effectively go right to the chapter that's most relevant to you. I recommend this book without qualification.

All questions answered!, September 12, 1999
This book leaves nothing to the imagination! What I also really liked is that it doesn't assume anything about you - if it's advice that is more directed to one type of athlete vs. another, it lets you know which, so you're not being led astray by advice better suited for someone else. It's perfectly organized, so that it's easy to quickly find information that you want now, has a chart that ranks your present performance so you know how you fare against other runners in your age, and gives advice based on where YOU are at specifically, not anyone else! This will be my first race ever (I've been a runner for a while now, but have never competed) and in reading this book, I feel that I have all of the knowledge I need (except experience) to do my best!

You need this book!!!!, October 14, 2006
As a 5k runner (25:00), I ordered this book to give me a little more info to train more efficiently. I had run a half marathon, and had no interest in doing a full marathon. I read the entire book, and began following Glover's recommendations. I saw almost immediate results. I then figured out (with Glover's help) that I, too, could do a marathon. I have dropped my 5k time to a new PR of 20:48 and will be running my first marathon in 2 weeks. I have followed his schedule very closely and have had no injuries and have improved dramatically. I even keep this book in my bathroom and reread a segment each morning!!! Every time I go back to it I learn a little more. When I did decide to do a whole marathon, I bought several books. This one far surpasses any other book out there. It is definitely worth the money!!!!

Serious recreation runners won't find a better book, January 3, 2002
So the book is a little long, and at times a little wordy. But it's jam packed with excellent, up-to-date, useful information. I have a library of 20 running books and I've read them all. But this is the one I keep coming back to. I've dog-eared key pages, underlined key passages, and colored edges of key pages that I keep coming back to.

This book gives me the how, where, and why for training for the various road races I run, especially marathons. I've completely read and thoroughly studied marathon books by Daniels, by Bakoulis Bloch, by Pfitzinger and Douglas, by Hidgon, as well as older marathoning books by Henderson, by Bloom, and by others. I enjoyed every last one of them. I recommend them all (especially Hidgon's "Marathon:The Ultimate Training Guide."

But I keep coming back to Glover for specifics of tempo runs, interval training, hill work, and easy-to-adapt marathon training schedules.

I keep coming back to Glover to set goals for 5K, 10K, and marathon as I progress in my running and as I get older. (I've been running since 1978.)

If you just want a fun, informative book about running and low-key racing, buy "Better Runs" by Joe Henderson or some similar book. But if you're serious about training and racing, Glover's book is a must.

Lace up you shoes and let's go!, July 24, 2003
This is the best and most complete book on running since Jim Fixx's mammothly successful book 25 years ago. What I like best about the Glover's book is that it has something in it for every runner, from the casual jogger to an elite marathoner. Each chapter focuses on a special area of the sport: injuries, mileage, women's running, seniors, masters runners, even children developing into competitive athletes.

The title is instructive: there is an emphasis on competitive running, with the focus primarily in 10K road races to the marathon. Several of the elite and most popular marathons are discussed at length, incuding Boston, L.A., New York and Chicago. There are some useful tips on how to increase your weekly mileage, avoid injury, carbo loading before the race and recovery afterwards. Having completed marathons, I can tell you that it's easy to do than you think and once you start completing the 26.2 mile courses, you'll be hooked for as long as your body will hold out.

Running is a joyous activity and one which brings many individual rewards. If you're a serious, addicted runner, you'll love this book, but the beginners will also reap great rewards. It's well-written, fun to read and instructive. Highly recommended.

Good information but irritating style, December 26, 2001
I read the good reviews, checked out the contents and thought this book would help me improve my running ability and race times. I have a couple of other books, mainly for beginners, but now that I was advancing, I thought I needed some 'advanced' advice. The information in this book is comprehensive and practical, with lots of explanations (both scientific and experience-wise) if you want to get to the nitty gritty of running and racing. It was really good to see plausible reasons why I had been told to do certain things or warned against others or some rationale for issues,injuries or insights I had had in my running experience. What disappoints me about the book is its style. I can understand the writer trying to give of his experience, but after a while it gets tiring to see all the 'I statements' every couple of sentences. The information seems good, but it doesn't help much if you don't want to read it or get irritated reading it. Plus, there are ALOT of repetitions, sometimes word for word, which is probably a reason why the book is so big. It gets montonous from the lack of a new point being made or the lack of diagrams to illustrate information. If you don't run at least a 9 min/mile pace as yet, you will feel left out reading this book. Some may say it wasn't meant for slow runners in the first place, but it will encourage you to run stronger. What you won't get is your current statistics (like Vox max, mileage, pacing, etc.)and few references. If it's only content you want with little regard for 'packaging', this book is a good one-stop shop. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Required Reading for Runners, April 13, 2001
I wish I'd read this book BEFORE my knee injury. Galloway writes as an experienced runner and coach. He provides training programs for most levels of fitness and experience. If you want to run, or continue running without injury, take the time to read this book.

The first section of the book, "Starting," provides a brief history of running, then moves into five stages of running development (Beginner, Jogger, Competitor, Athlete, Runner).

The second section, "Training," considers the physiology of running, planning a training program (including "running slow in order to run fast"), and keeping a log. This section concludes with an discussion about the need for rest and training programs.

The third section, "Racing," talks about how to run faster, how to adjust your pace on the race day, how to handle different lengths of races (these include specific training programs), and how to prepare for a marathon. A final chapter considers issues for the advanced competititve runner.

Section four, "Tuning," presents augmentations to a strong running program, including form, stretching & strengthening, running drills, will power, and a chapter on women' running, written by the author's wife.

The book continues with shorter sections, on injuries, nutrition and diet, shoes, and age issues. An appendix contains references, a reading list, and race pace charts. The book has an adequate index.

If you read Runner's World for a few years, you'll encounter much of this information. But it's more handy in one place. Don't pass on this book, your knees will never forgive you....

Positive and Powerful, Go Farther with a Wise Teacher, December 18, 2003
This book is perfect for those who have just discovered running and would like a primer on how and how not to train.

It's main stregnth is its well-rounded nature, containing everything from historical anecdotes to nutrition and tips for older runners.

Galloway's voice is humane and humble. At least in this book, he practices what he preaches: an oversized ego is an obstacle and running is done for the joy it brings.

After reading sections of this book, I did some late-night running at the campus track and I could see where a lot of runners were going wrong. They were trying so hard to run that after a few minutes they were exhausted.

Galloway's book is more well suited to people who want to take the long and slow road, built on slow and long runs, to greater speed and eventual marathon competition.

It might also be a bizarre, yet inspired, gift to your favorite couch potato (Just make sure he or she's not the type to get pissed at such a suggestive gift).

Very useful, but not always well-organized., November 2, 1999
I have been running for several months before buying this book. I have learnt a lot from it and recommend it to both amateur and serious runners. However, you must read it all before starting to run. At the point, it will probably necessary to re-read it because there is very much information. The section on injuries, shoes, and nutrition are very well done, too bad they are at the end. The section on racing, although apparently intended for very experienced runners, contains information that is useful for intermediate level (such as preparing for a 10K). If you are not accustomed to American measures, have a conversion table by your side while you read!

Disappointed, December 27, 2002
A great book with one exception. I purchased the First edition of this book and used it as a guideline for my 1st marathon. In preparation for a 2nd marathon, now several years later, I purchased the second edition as I lost the first book. I was disappointed to discover that this edition does not include a marathon Training Program.

Great for those who get overwhelmed by exercise, January 17, 2006
I was never a runner, I'm in my mid-30's, mom of kids, and I realized that I needed to get in shape, like zillions of other moms out there. My friend does 5k's every chance she gets, and I just got overwhelmed by her athleticism and what she could do, because I *knew* I couldn't do it.

But then, my neighbor who lost 100 lbs, in 1 year, from training for the marathon by using this book, gave us this book. I was so surprised at how Galloway tells you how to pace yourself! He gives this schedule that allows you to see your improvements but not feel like you must exercise EVERY DAY to achieve it. I learned so much about running, and ran my first 5k last fall!! I still don't like running, but I *love* what it does for me - I'm in great shape, stronger, and I have tons more energy to deal with my kids!

Great Confidence Builder, August 5, 2005
I had been running for a couple of years, Doing 5k and twice a 10k. I had made great progress dropping from 185 pounds to 155 pounds. However my progress had stopped, I could not break the 29 min barrier on 5k or the 60 min barrier at 10k. Not until I read Galloway's book, yes all of it, did I understand enough about how running works to make some goals. It is funny while informative, Answers the questions you want asked, differentiate what is his opinion and what he believes is fact. I am now on the verge of a Half marathon and have little doubt i will make my goal of 2hr 20min. Not bad for a 55 year old. I reccomend it highly.
And oh yes, I have done a sub 27 min 5k

Outstanding Training Book --- Here You Have It All!, April 5, 2006
Whatever you need to know about running, this is the book. There is some entertainment value but I found the tables for planning a 5K, 10K, and marathon very useful. The information on injury is extremely useful; Galloway even tells you when to give up on self-treatment and seek a doctor. This is the one book you absolutely need to train and compete.

If this review was helpful, please add your vote -- Thanks.

Jeff is the Man !!!, April 29, 2005
Terrific, but I would advise people to read the whole thing. I have a buddy who went straight to the running schedule. 3 months later he got hurt and never really recovered. It was only after that, that he went back and found that the stuff he skipped would have prevented his injuries. He was pretty bummed....

Can't live without this book!, October 23, 2001
I am buying another copy of this book as I've lent mine out and can't locate its whereabouts. I cannot tell you how many people have borrowed this book from me and have gone on to either run marathons or just become better runners. I received it as a birthday gift from a runner friend more than 10 years ago and went from 2-mile occasional runs to running a marathon just six months later. Galloway's love for the sport is contagious, and the book very informative in terms of how to maintain form, avoid injuries, plus fool-proof schedules for building up to a marathon.

Jeff Galloway allows us all to run a marathon, June 14, 2009
I love this book. Jeff Galloway provides a program in which anyone can run. By incorporating "walk/shuffle" breaks you increase your endurance with minimal injury. Similar to "The Penguin"'s program but allows you to increase both speed and endurance to your maximum potential. I am running a half marathon on June 20, 2009 in Alaska for Team in Training and I have been utilizing Jeff's program. I average a pace of anywhere from 11.5 to 12.5min/mile. That may seem turtle slow for seasoned runners but for a 53 year old woman who never ran until a year ago it is amazing; without Jeff's program I don't think I could have done it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Cover the court with confidence by mastering the essentials of the game. Volleyball: Steps to Success offers a comprehensive, progressive approach with a proven system for learning, expert instruction, crisp illustrations, and 60 drills to improve play on both sides of the net.

Volleyball: Steps to Success establishes a solid foundation by detailing proper footwork and posture before moving on to the individual skills of serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking, and digging. Recent changes in the game, such as the addition of the libero position and rally scoring, are highlighted in the team-oriented steps covering offense, defense, transitioning, and out-of-system play. The carefully selected drills and step-by-step instruction speed the development process, and the scoring system for each drill and step helps gauge progress along the way.

Aces, kills, blocks, digs, and assists are at your fingertips. With Volleyball: Steps to Success, part of the popular Steps to Success Sports Series (more than 1.5 million copies sold), you can become a complete player in any formation. ... Read more

Reviews

VOLLEYBALL STEPS TO SUCCESS, November 9, 2006
THIS IS THE BEST VOLLEYBALL SKILLS BOOK I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. IT EXPLAINS EVERY VOLLEYBALL SKILL IN GREAT DETAIL THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPLEMENT. THE DRILLS WERE GREAT. IF YOUR ONLY GOING TO BUY ONE VOLLEYBALL SKILL BOOK- THIS IS THE ONE!! I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Very useful and full of god information but it's better for a club then a single person., September 3, 2007
Everything thing is explained nicely and will improve your game there is one troubling part though. In the warm ups it says to do the exercises that will benifit you in your area of trouble. While some of them are obvious on how they help the others aren't. I'm sure after doing them for a time you will figure it out but it would be nice to have it clearly stated in the book.
Also this book is good for individuals, coachs and teams, but as a single person it takes more work. You're going to want at least on partner most of the time. Some drills require more people so you won't get the full benefit. However it is possible to modify most of the drills to two people. The hardest thing for a single person is probably staying motivated.
On a side note, you'll need more then a volleyball and a net. Some of the other things they use are a medicine ball, jump rope, ladder, something to mark a target like a cone, and tape or chalk. Plus it also helps to have a gym you can use with a net.

Best Ever!, April 29, 2009
Excellent coaching tool. My husband coaches a 13-14 year old girls vb team and this is without a doubt the best book we have found to learn all about volleyball. I check books out from the library to preview them and this is the only one that we felt was worth purchasing.

mom, March 31, 2009
Great book for moms, teens, or anyone who wants some information and helpful hints on how to be a better volleyball player. gives step by step drills broken down into categories such as.... serving, movement, spiking, etc. even a novice like me can understand the book and use the information to help a player become a better player.

Best Book Out There, January 27, 2009
This book helped our team to a winning season last year and it provides everything needed for victory other than talent. The book covers all the tipes and positions needed for a successful offense. It provides the basic form needed for all hits and gives strategy tips for all stages of the game. It teaches blocking and digging and the finer points of defense. Additionally, it gives all of the rotations for an advanced team. The best thing about the book though is that it provides drills to teach your players all the steps needed. This is the only book you will ever need as a player or a coach.

Excellent book on the steps of Volleyball., March 16, 2007
I was very impressed with how Coach Bonnie Kenny, and Cindy set up an ideal format for players to learn and know the basics of Voleyball success.
This book is similar to John Wooden's Pyramid for Success! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Can't Wait for the Movie, December 17, 2004
Based on ample first-hand details gleaned from interviewing Roger Bannister, John Landy and Wes Santee, "The Perfect Mile" provides a nuanced character study of what drives these three great men toward breaking the most elusive of athletic goals: the four-minute-mile. While serious students of the sport will know the outcome of this tale before reading it, Neal Bascomb is able to create and maintain a fair amount of suspense by allowing the reader to experience events leading up to the 1954 Empire Games showdown from three very different perspectives.

Roger Bannister is the thinking man's runner, with the classic middle distance athlete's long stride and finishing kick as well as insights into the scientific principles that underlie cardiovascular exertion. These strengths, however, are offset by the demanding medical studies that severely limit his training time and by his tendency to become overwrought before big races.

John Landy is the workhorse of the trio, logging more miles than the others and able to bring a single-minded focus to the task. But he lacks the closing speed and power of the classic milers, forcing him to run the legs out of his competitors from the front.

Wes Santee, the least famous and accomplished of the three, may well be the most talented. Yet the demands of his University of Kansas track schedule, military commitments, and confrontations with track and field's governing body are impediments that prove too difficult to overcome.

For me, the best part of this book was the fact that these three men pursued this historic goal in a noble and dignified fashion that made you really pull for each of them somehow to be the first. None of the spoils of today's professional athletes was available, so each of them was motivated by the simple ideal of achieving the impossible. I also admired the way in which the author tied this athletic quest to the world events of the 1950s, creating a strong resonance between the historic events taking place on the track and the happenings in the politics and culture of the times.

-Kevin Joseph, author of "The Champion Maker"

The Perfect Retelling, January 16, 2006
I found the climax of this story-Bannister and Landy's race in Vancouver in 1955-to be almost impossibly gripping. This whole book is just about perfect. It is about a particular athletic quest, and it is also about a key transition period in sport.

There were two related aspects to change at this time in track and field (and by extension other already professional sports). The more obvious was the glaring contradiction between the old, 100% pure amateur model on the one hand, and the growing business and media phenomenon we know today on the other. This subtext is brought out in the second part of the story, and especially in the sad tale of the straight-talking American, Wes Santee.

But this was also a period of radical change in training methods. Emil Zatopek, the Czech runner who won the 5,000 meter, 10,000 meter, AND marathon runs at the 1952 Olympics, is the key figure at the outset of the book. His successes taught runners like Bannister, Landy, and Santee that more training, and harder training, would yield faster times. The author outlines older ideas of conditioning that look ridiculously precious and half-hearted by modern standards. As a masters athlete I was especially struck by this phase of the story, and the author does a good job of recapping the sorts of training the runners did throughout.

The three are so characteristic of their countries, they could almost be fictional types. American Wes Santee is brash and outspoken. It is he who calls the financial bluff of the Neanderthal-like powers that ruled amateur athletics in his day, and it is he who is most severely victimized in the process. (In a kind of entrapment scenario, he was given extra money by one set of AAU officials, and then banned for life by others.) He is also impeded by having to subordinate his individual goals to that of his college team's. John Landy is the hard-working Aussie, scrabbling along with the weakest home-grown competitive environment and the most grueling training routine. Roger Bannister is the idealistic, individualistic and long-suffering Brit. "When he goes out to run," one of his mates says, "he looks like a man going to the electric chair." The sportswriters are awfully grandiose in the England of his day, and Bannister's contemplative manner is indeed a bit Shakespearean.

I have only two small quibbles with this book. One is tiny, especially for the non-athlete: the author pokes good fun at old conditioning ideas, all the way back to the Greeks, but I would have preferred if he had brought modern physiological science to bear a little on the shifting trends of the early fifties. By modern lights Bannister, Landy, and Santee did an awful lot of hammering. This was much better than doing very little of anything, which was approximately the state of things before Zatopek came along. But now we know that there are distinct benefits to long, slow distance training, even for four-minute races. During his brief after-history of the mile record, the author mentions Peter Snell's twenty-mile training runs, but it's as if he's just another specimen in a zoo, and you're expected to merely roll your eyes and not care too much about the meaning of this.

The other quibble is slightly larger, and it's simply that I think Bascomb could have put a bit more comic relief in this work. Apart from the electric chair quote above, there are two incidents of celebrity mis-identification with regards to John Landy. That's it. I'm not looking for a barrel of monkeys hiding in the history of this very earnest endeavor, but as Hollywood knows, a bit of a tension/release cycle can heighten the ultimate effect of tension. I like an author who stays in the shadows, but I think he might have lightened the tone occasionally-oh, maybe in introducing some of the overblown headlines of the day. That sort of thing. The book is written in Landy's running style-one pace; relentless.

And make no mistake, it's an awesome book. Very important: you know who broke the four-minute mile barrier, but you probably don't know who won that Vancouver race. So don't look at the pictures in the middle of the book until you're done with that!!! The dramatic full-page shot on the left as Chapter 14 opens on the right? HIDE IT! Although as you see from my first sentence, knowing the outcome doesn't spoil things too much.

The perfect account of the race to the 4-minute mile...and beyond, December 22, 2005
The Perfect Mile is about the conquest of the four-minute mile, which like the ascent of Mt. Everest, stood in the early 50s as one of the last great frontiers of human endeavor. Three runners emerged as candidates to be the first to break through this barrier. One, Roger Bannister, was British. A full-time medical student and intern, he approached sport of track as the last of the consummate amateurs in the traditional mold. He had little coaching and devised his own training methods. Perceived by many in England as the potential resurrection of British athletics, in a sad state at the time, he carried the heavy load of hopeful expectations thrust upon him by a grim British nation suffering through post-war shortages and austerity. Considered aloof by his enemies in the British press, he possessed two powerful secret weapons: an advanced medical knowledge of the causes of and the techniques to combat fatigue and muscle failure, and an incredible capacity to ignore pain in the late stages of a race and unleash an extraordinary kick.

The Australian, John Landy, competed by seeing to it that he was the best conditioned athlete on the track. In the early 50s Australia was an athletic backwater. After returning home to Australia from the disappointment of failing to even make the semifinal qualifying heat in the mile at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Landy embarked on a brutal training regimen, inspired by the physical fitness guru and great Czech runner Emil Zatopek who won gold at Helsinki in the 5000 meter, 10,000 meter and marathon events, and who Landy humbly approached as an acolyte near the close of the games. By the time the 4-minute mark was in Landy's sights, he was winning almost all of his races as "the human rabbit", leading from the starting gun and simply running the legs off his competition by setting a punishing pace.

The American, Wes Santee, was the youngest and probably the most naturally gifted of these runners. He competed for the University of Kansas, and was soon breaking records, including the world record for the 1500 meter event, and the American collegiate mile record, which he took from the legendary Glenn Cunnningham, former holder of the world record for the mile. Intensely competitive, Santee loved big crowds and high-impact races. His biggest handicaps were his cold and totally unsupportive father, and even worse, the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), led by the ogre-ish Avery Brundage, which controlled U.S. track and field, and all eligibility for the Olympics with an iron fist. As Santee became more and more famous and independent, he began to be perceived more as a threat than as an asset to the power structure of so-called amateur athletics in America.

The perfect mile is a terrific page-turner and is packed with goodies from beginning to end. The writing is pitched just right: flowing, colorful, detailed, not dry, and never simplistic or trite. It starts with a brief thumbnail history of the mile event and the thinking that led many to believe of the 1886 record of 4:12.75, which stood for 31 years, "the probability is that this record will never be beaten." The complexity of each of the three milers' motivations is given breadth and scope, with particular attention given to the humiliating experience each suffered at the Helsinki Olympics. And The Perfect Mile doesn't stop with the breaking of the 4-minute mark, which occurs about halfway through the book. The second half of the book leads up to the inevitable showdown on the same track, the "perfect mile" of the title, one of the great classic races of all time. For each of these racers a victory in this showdown would have an intensely personal meaning as a reaffirmation or as a vindication of what they had achieved.

Although it helps to be interested in track (as is yours truly, although I have never run a race in my life), The Perfect Mile, like the very best sports books, is not ultimately about sport, but about the human beings who compete in it for a rich variety of human reasons.

Brilliant Evocation of a Sports Era, June 11, 2004
It's a story of epic granduer at the center of sports endeavor. Neal Bascomb evokes the attitudes of a time when amatuer sports had high purpose and purity, and the meaning of competition resonated the excellence of individual achievement and national ideals. Bascomb drives the narrative with remarkable skill, revealing the tension, irony, bitter disappointment, and eventual triumph of Roger Bannister, and examines lengths talented competitors will go to test themselves against an idea for the sake of the idea itself. This book should be requiired reading for anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a champion. Bascomb brings back a great era.

Compelling!, June 11, 2004
Anyone who grew up with the middle distance rivalries of Bannister, Landy and Santee in the 50s or David Coleman's BBC commentary to Coe, Ovett and Cram in the 80s will be blown away by this masterpiece by Neal Bascomb.

You may know some, or all (or none-at-all reading some of the other reviews!) of what happened back in the 50s when middle distance running and the four minute mile captured the headlines around the world. Of course there have been many incredible moments in middle distance running since and we can all list other great middle distance runners from Coe to Coughlan to El Guerrouj. But Bascomb has taken one of the great moments of the 20th Century and brought it back to life for you and I to relive, be blown away, and walk away at the end richer for it.

After you've read it, you'll want to tell everyone the story, but please dont. Leave the storytelling to Neal Bascomb.

The Great Race for the Four: Story of Three Great Men, May 30, 2004
Terrific story of three great men from different continents who are more than just athletes but are men with academic responsibilities that come first but they found time to train under unique circumstances while trying to break the four minute mile barrier on cinder tracks. Banister is well know as the 1952 Olympian who is racing against his own personal time knowing his completion of medical school will end his career soon as he tries to break the barrier before anyone else. John Landy is the modest Australian somewhat isolated who trains virtually at when he can and he has a break through after leaving Cerutty's unique Stoatan training program that may have given him the necessary base to perform at a high level. Wes Santee is the Kansas miler whose coach puts the team above individualism that seems to cost Santee the opportunity to run fresh against major competition. All three come to a head in 1954, as it is virtually a race of opportunity since either of the three appears to be able to break it. Bannister literally streaks ahead with his training partners in a controversial but legitimate first sub four-minute mile. Landy roars back weeks later with an amazing front led 3:57. The second climax of the book is the great show down between the two sub fours at the Vancouver games. Santee cannot be there due to his commitment to the Marines. Landy runs in spite of an injury, keeps it secret but runs another sub four after leading virtually from the start but is cut down by Bannister at the end. Terrific book about three great men that you have to admire and you feel for Santee who has limited individual opportunities and is handcuffed by the rigid AAU officials who also limit his opportunities seemingly in pay back for his free spirit. Wonderful book that will charge up any former or current track athlete particularly when you think how just rain could ruin any attempt by making ruts and lakes in the cinder track and even after rolling off the water and repaving the track, the dampness would remain making the track heavy to run on. The author also fills you in on what else was going on in the 50's and punctuates the book with quotes from classical writers such as Lewis Carroll that have some metaphorical relationship to the chase for the record. The racing passages are so exciting, you can literally feel the lactic acid building up in your legs while reading of their attempts to run those last 200 yards in those gallant attempts at the record.

A Different World, April 12, 2004
This is truly a fascinating look at the "old days," when it
was truly a different world in athletic competition, and the
3 greatest long-distance runners in the world were all true
amateurs, and they competed for reasons that are beyond the
comprehension of today's athletes.
The four-minute mile was long considered impossible, one of the
"holy grails" of athletic competition, and it certainly was
elusive in those days when no respectable athlete ever took
any drugs, and "performance-enhancing" drugs would have been
considered by all to not only be illegal, but, more importantly
to those men, immoral.
This is a story of dedication and determination unlike any to
be encountered in this day and age.
During the early '40s, the Mile Run world record was broken
several times by a pair of Swedish runners, each of whom kept
breaking the other's record at a time when the rest of the world
was involved in WWII, but the new records were usually being
set by fractions of a second over the prior record, and most
people still considered the four-minute mile to be impossible.
There was thought to be some limit to human capacity to run, to
expend energy, that would prevent that particular goal from ever
being met.
The men who became the 3 greatest long-distance runners in the
world, Roger Bannister, John Landy, and Wes Santee, competed
in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, and they all failed to meet
their expectations, as well as the expectations of their respective countries, and they were all so discouraged at their
failures, they each determined to go after that four-minute
mile barrier and capture the world's record.
This book details their different personalities, and their approaches to winning and setting the great record, and the author does a nice job of capturing the ideals of the time
and the different approaches they took in their training.
True track and field fans need to acquaint themselves with the
best runners and trainers of the day who helped these 3 work
toward their goal.
Men virtually forgotten are profiled, such as the incomparable
Emil Zatopek, who won 3 gold medals in distance running in 1952, and whose superior training methods influenced the runs toward the four-minute mile, Franz Stampfl who also introduced
some radical (for the time) new training methods, and Bannister's Oxford teammates who worked at setting the pace perfectly, to allow for Bannister's kick to propel him to the
record.

These 3 men were all so personally dedicated, and worked so hard
toward that one goal, it is difficult to now understand their
motivations and methods, but the author does a nice job of explaining and presenting, so this is a very readable book for
the sports fan.
Also detailed is the very sad story of how the AAU, then controlling all track and field in the U.S., sidelined Wes Santee just as he was ready to take on the Englishman and Australian.
Detailed stories show how Bannister and then Landy did the
impossible and broke the four-minute mile, each setting a new
world's record, all in a very short time-frame, and then the
exciting story of how they were going to meet in the "mile of the century" at the Empire Games in Vancouver, BC, and the
outcome of that famous head-on race between these very best runners.
And for the reader who pays attention, you can learn the answer to a nice trivia question: who appeared on the very first cover
of Sports Illustrated? You can see the picture in this book.
This is a good entertaining and informative story about athletic
competition in the waning days of the true amateur, when Bannistger wanted to win for Oxford and England, and Landy wanted to win for Australia, and neither thought of himself first.
Those days are gone, but this book shows why they were superior
days in the field of athletic endeavour, when individual honor
and integrity meant something, and these men were admired around the world in ways current athletes can't imagine.

A Thrilling Account of Breaking the Big Barrier, May 6, 2004
Our systems of measurements are arbitrary; a mile is an artificial distance, and a minute is an artificial time. But everyone has heard the phrase "the four minute mile." It might be arbitrary, but as a footrace there is also some symmetry to it. Four minutes, four times around the quarter mile track, a strict fifteen miles per hour. For years, the four minute mile was a monument as an impenetrable barrier, and when Roger Bannister broke the barrier fifty years ago, the whole world took notice. It was Bannister's victory, of course, and often he was depicted as a lone athlete out to break the record, but there is more to the story. In _The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less than Four Minutes to Achieve It_ (Houghton Mifflin), Neal Bascomb gives a full and exciting history of events leading to one of the most impressive accomplishments in sports.

Necessarily, the other two runners, Australian John Landy and American Wes Santee are mere also-rans, but their efforts were heroic, and as Bascomb makes clear, there may have been only matters of happenstance, like weather, that kept them from being first. Like Bannister, they had failed to get medals in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, and returned home determined to take the four minute mile upon their return home. Bannister was restricted by his medical studies; he could not train for hours every day, as the others did, so he had to concentrate his training into exhausting short daily bursts. His medical background helped, however, in researching the effects of exercise, giving him scientific assurance he could do it. On 6 May 1954 Bannister made a real try at the barrier. He had, by that time, taken on a coach, and he had two friends to serve as pacemakers. The breaking of the record was a worldwide sensation.

It is not, however, the perfect mile of the title. Even the jubilant British press questioned just how cricket it was to use pacemakers and not sheer competition, and the three aspirants in the quest had never run against each other. The three were scheduled to run in the Empire games in Vancouver three months after Bannister's epochal run, which would satisfy everyone as to who was the fastest miler. The only pacemakers would be the runners themselves. There were heartbreaking complications that prevented Santee from running; they had to do with US athletic authorities who persecuted and banned him because he allegedly breached his amateur status. Both Bannister and Landy did under four minutes in Vancouver in an exciting race, thrillingly described here. This was a classic victory. There was no hint of doping, television did not make it into an extravaganza, and the competitors were not millionaires. The result made front page headlines all over the world; what subsequent footrace has done that? _The Perfect Mile_ thus takes us back to a simpler time, but this is a welcome story of timeless heroes.

Inspiring!, February 15, 2006
Very suspenseful and informative at the same time. Very inspiring for us who wish we had even a fraction of the dedication (not to mention the talent) of these guys. Hard to believe it was over 50 years ago. Neal Bascomb makes you feel it is just happening.

The Perfect Incentive, November 25, 2004
A thrilling book and an inspiration to all those who love competition and always try to improve themselves not only in sports but in every aspect of their lives. ... Read more