3.91

3

Oct 01, 2012

3.5 stars.

Like other reviewers have noted, this is a compilation of specific articles from Runner's World magazine. I poked around briefly on their web site to see if I could find the exact articles, and I was mostly unsuccessful. It seems if I am willing to pay $20+, that I could get one training plan to help my particular running goals.

Back to the book. There is indeed a wealth of information for runners here, with sections on nutrition, cross-training, and both the half-marathon and the 3.5 stars.

Like other reviewers have noted, this is a compilation of specific articles from Runner's World magazine. I poked around briefly on their web site to see if I could find the exact articles, and I was mostly unsuccessful. It seems if I am willing to pay $20+, that I could get one training plan to help my particular running goals.

Back to the book. There is indeed a wealth of information for runners here, with sections on nutrition, cross-training, and both the half-marathon and the marathon. I appreciated the section on women as well as the brief beginner's part, though I wish both of those were longer. I did not know about another book until after I finished this one, but perhaps I would have been happier with: [Runner's World Complete Book of Beginning Running].

I've only been running for a few months. I'm slow, which means that most of the advice here is not targeted for me. There were suggestions on what to do to run a, say, 7 minute mile...but what about a TEN minute mile? That's my goal! I will never be super fast, or maybe even just plain fast. I'm also small, so none of the calorie and food parts resonated with me. Basically, though I recognize the wealth of information that's collected here, by the end I felt like a big slow running loser compared to the people I was reading about, and their goals and such.

I'll come back to this one when I am more...intermediate. :) ...more

4

Oct 25, 2017

After reading this I tried a couple of tips and went from not being able to run over 2 minutes straight to jogging 50 minutes on a treadmill and nearly an entire street mile without stopping. I'm a novice runner, but I found the advice in this book to be most useful already.

1

Sep 04, 2014

Rather strongly focused on avid runners, especially for marathon preparation. Missing: warming up and stretching exercises.

5

Oct 02, 2008

This is a really solid book that takes a lot of the best from Runner's World magazine and puts it all into one book. I've been running for years but I found it was a good way to remind myself of little things that I've had a tendency to forget over time. It's organized in such a way that you can find things when you need quick. It's a good reference book but it's also a quick read.

4

Jan 14, 2013

As someone who is just starting to seriously train, this book was really helpful. A bit repetitive, but I think it's good to know what is the most important themes are from various runners' perspectives. I will hold on to this book for a long time -- great resources for a running plan, marathon training, and circuit training. I've come across a treasure worth keeping.

3

May 07, 2011

I read this this past summer as I was getting ready to run. It had some helpful things in it. It is made up of articles from Running World magazine (which is a great mag). It has many helpful training tips from beginner(me) to more advanced (not me). However, I found it annoying that it didn't seem to list the individual authors of sections (other than Amby Burfoot's opining at the end of the chapter). So while I found it helpful, I think it could have been edited and published

4

Jan 14, 2013

As someone who is just beginning to seriously train, this book is such a valuable resource! Some parts were mildly repetitive, although I found it useful to see what the most common themes of running were from experienced runners. I really appreciate the information given to develop a running program, marathon training, and circuit training information. I found this book to be incredibly helpful for me, and I'll be keeping it for quite a while.

3

May 04, 2009

This well presented book is not much more than a collection of articles from the Runner's World magazines.

The chapters seem randomly ordered - covering what will be less interesting to most readers early on, for example, I think nutrition was chapter 2. The book also ended very abruptly without any kind of wrap up or closing message.

Overall, an OK book with some good content but it's clearly "just" a rehashed set of magazine articles.

4

Nov 17, 2013

Nice compilation of good basic information on running. Some articles were more interesting than others. If I had bought it I would have been more likely to cherry pick the ones that currently interest me rather than readings straight through. The articles specifically about Hal Higdon's marathon training truths and the 3x a week running workout (FIRST) will definitely inform my half marathon training plan...I will be rereading those articles before returning to the library.

5

Jun 08, 2015

This book is one of my favourites because its a practical guide on how to make a training program, has numerous and helpful training schedules and it's one of the few books I always come back and read it again and again and especially when I am designing a new running training program.
A must have book for anyone that says he/she is a runner.
Runner'sworld publication are always on my top list of books, they combine quality and practicality two virtues I love in books as running is concern.

4

Jan 01, 2013

bought this at BBW2012 for just rm12,an extremely marginal small price for such a helpful & driving read especially for a beginner like i am. covers the most important basics, and many inspiring anecdotes & time-tested technical tips in training effectively and running wisely. just the kind of book that gets you attached into the subject and then digs other infos about it from other resources out of pure passion.
running is beautiful & i'm so gonna get myself into this pleasure.
2013 - bought this at BBW2012 for just rm12,an extremely marginal small price for such a helpful & driving read especially for a beginner like i am. covers the most important basics, and many inspiring anecdotes & time-tested technical tips in training effectively and running wisely. just the kind of book that gets you attached into the subject and then digs other infos about it from other resources out of pure passion.
running is beautiful & i'm so gonna get myself into this pleasure.
2013 - is the year where i started running smartly.
...more

3

Mar 14, 2013

More of a collection of articles from Runner's World and less of a real book. Organized in the right order to take you from baby steps, to complete marathon training programs.

Still, it covers all the basics. From mind set, to training dos and don'ts. Nutrition, cross training, stretching...

Very recommended to the novice runner, although it can be a bit repetitive sometimes.

You can read the book from beginning to end, and gain a better understanding of running lore and jargon. Or if you already More of a collection of articles from Runner's World and less of a real book. Organized in the right order to take you from baby steps, to complete marathon training programs.

Still, it covers all the basics. From mind set, to training dos and don'ts. Nutrition, cross training, stretching...

Very recommended to the novice runner, although it can be a bit repetitive sometimes.

You can read the book from beginning to end, and gain a better understanding of running lore and jargon. Or if you already know what you want, it's possible to skip to specifics chapters, without missing anything relevant.

For me, it will be a frequently used book and a good reference to running. ...more

5

Aug 30, 2008

I love to run! But after being side lined for most of this past year with one injury or another I have decided that it is time to get it figured out and fix it. My husband bought me this book for my birthday (because I wouldn't spend $40.00 on a book/shipping myself). It has full color pictures on every page and is beautiful, but the reason I wanted it is to figure out what I am doing wrong and fix it so I can run forever. After reading the first chapter I have decided to start completely over I love to run! But after being side lined for most of this past year with one injury or another I have decided that it is time to get it figured out and fix it. My husband bought me this book for my birthday (because I wouldn't spend $40.00 on a book/shipping myself). It has full color pictures on every page and is beautiful, but the reason I wanted it is to figure out what I am doing wrong and fix it so I can run forever. After reading the first chapter I have decided to start completely over and "listen" to my body. I am going to do a lot of experimenting as I make my way through this book....so, my friends, if you see me "crawling up" hills and "walking down" hills, riding my bike or just simply not out there, you will know I'm listening. ...more

3

Apr 28, 2008

This book has articals helpful to runners with useful advice. Interesting information. I imagine that many things the book talked about may be need to be updated by newer reasearch that has since come out. If I was going to read only one of the three books. I would choose one of the other two. But I can't decide from the other two because I like the charts in the book for beginning marathoners for the stories advice and training charts, the 1/2 and full marathon books I like for the two types of This book has articals helpful to runners with useful advice. Interesting information. I imagine that many things the book talked about may be need to be updated by newer reasearch that has since come out. If I was going to read only one of the three books. I would choose one of the other two. But I can't decide from the other two because I like the charts in the book for beginning marathoners for the stories advice and training charts, the 1/2 and full marathon books I like for the two types of training charts and some of the additonal advice the other book did not have. I would have still read both at the same time personally I think and used whatever I liked best of the charts and advice. ...more

3

Dec 07, 2010

This was kind of disjointed and poorly edited (several images and page numbers are straight-up missing!), and it felt like a half-hearted attempt to throw together unused copy from the cutting floor of Runner's World. I think its structure of bite-sized chunks, which was probably meant to make it more accessible to people on-the-go, actually works against it. The book did open up my eyes to some of the more elite training methods, though, like intervals, tempo runs, Fartlek, etc., and I found a This was kind of disjointed and poorly edited (several images and page numbers are straight-up missing!), and it felt like a half-hearted attempt to throw together unused copy from the cutting floor of Runner's World. I think its structure of bite-sized chunks, which was probably meant to make it more accessible to people on-the-go, actually works against it. The book did open up my eyes to some of the more elite training methods, though, like intervals, tempo runs, Fartlek, etc., and I found a couple new core-strengthening exercises to try. You won't learn anything in-depth from this book, but it does offer an OK introduction to concepts that intermediate runners might choose to explore further. ...more

3

Jul 08, 2019

Lots of good information but is very repetitive. Can easily be condensed to a third of the size its now.

3

Aug 16, 2019

This book was very comprehensive. Better to use as a reference than to read for enjoyment.

3

May 31, 2018

Useful, comprehensive guide to running. Helped me prepare for my first 10-miler. I didn't really care for the writing style, but the content was solid.

3

May 10, 2018

This was a good reference when I purchased it but now much of the information is outdated. One could still get some good pointers out of though.

3

Jul 16, 2018

Some of the pictures in the edition I read (I'm assuming there are/were newer editions) were laughably dated, but the info is still good. I'd recommend this for anyone who's new to running and still learning the hows and whats.

3

Nov 27, 2016

The book is dated and some of the material in it was no longer current. But that being said, there is still a great deal of tried and true material in it. And even the stuff that wasn't useful is now entertaining.

3

Jan 01, 2018

Definitely a 2004 version. The book goes through some good information, but there is a lot of information that is outdated. A good book for someone who is a beginning runner and needs some encouragement/information.

4

Apr 12, 2018

Oh, the amazon reviews were bad! But I really liked this book. It's not 5 star material, but for sure earns a solid 4 star rating. This is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a book that would just tell me EVERYTHING about running. Yes, I have read a ton of other articles and books on the subject but I love getting immersed in the nitty gritty. I learned so many new things and feel like I can confidently train for any distance. Now, I will say that the nutrition advice in this book is SUPER Oh, the amazon reviews were bad! But I really liked this book. It's not 5 star material, but for sure earns a solid 4 star rating. This is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a book that would just tell me EVERYTHING about running. Yes, I have read a ton of other articles and books on the subject but I love getting immersed in the nitty gritty. I learned so many new things and feel like I can confidently train for any distance. Now, I will say that the nutrition advice in this book is SUPER dated... Don't listen to most of it. Carb loading is passe. Just say "no" y'all. But, the running advice is good. If you are up for just reading and reading about running this is your book. ...more

5

Mar 28, 2018

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to run. It has valuable information for beginners and intermediate runners. Advanced runners might find it very basic, but it can be a refresher course on the fundamentals of running.

New things I learnt: Yasso 800s, 4 components of endurance training, Pick-up game, 3-1 plan, Aikido, Breakthrough, Ideal Pace Table

Some of the good chapters are: Ideal Paces, The Big Five (injury knowledge and prevention), Need for Speed, Mysterious Breakthrough, I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to run. It has valuable information for beginners and intermediate runners. Advanced runners might find it very basic, but it can be a refresher course on the fundamentals of running.

New things I learnt: Yasso 800s, 4 components of endurance training, Pick-up game, 3-1 plan, Aikido, Breakthrough, Ideal Pace Table

Some of the good chapters are: Ideal Paces, The Big Five (injury knowledge and prevention), Need for Speed, Mysterious Breakthrough, Masters of Efficiency,

Special mention: There is an entire section dedicated for women runners. It definitely spoke to some of the challenges the opposite sex might face during training and recreational running.

ProTip: Consider this book as a part of your reading material (theory) complementing your marathon/half-marathon training (practical) ...more

3

Oct 13, 2018

This was good like Runner's World is good. It's a loose collection about articles that garnered the most interest after being published in Runner's World over the years. That said, there is advice in here that contradicts itself one way or another and some of the information is a bit disjointed since it wasn't written as a single volume, but written by a collective of writers for the magazine and then one editor that pulled it all together and slapped a summary on the end of each This was good like Runner's World is good. It's a loose collection about articles that garnered the most interest after being published in Runner's World over the years. That said, there is advice in here that contradicts itself one way or another and some of the information is a bit disjointed since it wasn't written as a single volume, but written by a collective of writers for the magazine and then one editor that pulled it all together and slapped a summary on the end of each section/article. If you've ever read Runner's World, you've probably read most of this advice already. If you haven't, but read about running, you've also probably read most of this already. But it's worth a review if only for some different perspective. I read this while training for a marathon. I already knew what I was doing and what advice I was following, but it was nice to hear my plan was reasonable once again. Especially while I was doing my training runs :) ...more