Customer Reviews

5K and 10K Training

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(3)

 

 

So exactly how much research has the author actually performed on 5K and 10K training?

"Many readers have asked me whether I research my books. I don't research them as much as I think about how to solve various problems. My thinking is inseparable from my writing and I NEVER (emphasis added) research what others have said on a topic while I'm writing."

Swear to God, the above quote is the first paragraph in the author's Acknowledgemnts.

That self-acknowledged lack of research will immediately become painfully obvious to even the most casual 5K or 10K runner who somehow happens to be unfortunate enough to accidently purchase this book.

Don't do it.

I agree with other reader about lack of any scientific backing of author's claims. He is going on and on about your "energy" and doesn't give you any actual advices about running.

This was the first book I ever read on running and after reading it I almost quit running and thought all running books were useless dribble. This book was very dull and had no substance to it. It was very hard to read and spent most of the focus on how you feel and how to rate your energy level during your run. It didn't have any structured plans or advice for training. Thankfully, I decided to read other books or I'd have never realized that there were people that actually gave useful and helpful information.

I've read every popular book on training for distance runners since 1970 - and many that were published before that. I worked at Runner's World 1972-76; I mention this only because I hope it will lend weight to what I'd like to say about Brian Clarke's <5K and 10K Training>: simply, that it's the best book on the subject I've ever read. No one has talked intelligently about training from the perspective of how a runner <feels> during his/her workouts. Clarke does this wonderfully well, with relaxed and thorough common sense. Most books on training are much too broad - the training programs they offer make sense, but they don't tell you how to adjust them to your specific, individual needs - which change continually according to your present level of fitness, fatigue, sleep patterns, diet, the weather, etc. Clarke explains, with unprecedented clarity, how to take any program, including his, and put your body's needs in first place. As he explains, this is extremely important, because not to do so - applying rigid training plans regardless of your body's messages - is the fastest way to get in trouble. This is a great, modest, readable, extremely helpful book. Thanks, Brian.

Having run in marathons since my late 40's (I'm 61) in Honolulu, Italy and Denmark, I am now training for Triathlons, and find Brian Clarke's book to be an excellent teaching tool for the more "serious" runner (altho my primary purpose is for better health as I am a real estate Developer)."