Absolute Beginner's Guide to Half-Marathon Training: Get Ready to Run or Walk a 5K, 8K, 10K or Half-Marathon Race [Paperback]

Heather Hedrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2005

Signed up for a half-marathon and not sure what you've gotten yourself into? Absolute Beginner's Guide to Half-Marathon Training: Get Ready to Run or Walk a 5K, 8K, 10K or Half-Marathon Race is an easy-to-understand introduction to the world of running half-marathon, or shorter, race. Endorsed by the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, this book is packed with illustrations, notes on how to stay motivated and tips on how to train without pain. It will guide you through your marathon-training program and show you how to find the appropriate clothing and shoes, prevent and treat injuries and warm-up before running. Even if you are walking a shorter distance, this is a beneficial training manual. So run, or walk, to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of ABG to Half-Marathon Training today!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Heather Hedrick is the assistant director of the Center for Educational Services within the National Institute for Fitness and Sport. She is a registered dietitian and has her Master of Science in Kinesiology. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics as well as her Master of Science degree at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. Heather is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health/Fitness Instructor®. Heather's interests and extensive experience are in the areas of wellness, weight management, exercise programming, vegetarian nutrition, and sports nutrition, ranging from the recreational to the ultra-endurance athlete. At the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, she develops educational materials, implements programs, and delivers presentations to various groups on nutrition and fitness topics related to healthy eating, weight control, disease prevention, and improving athletic performance. Heather coordinates the National Institute for Fitness and Sport's Mini Marathon Training Program—a half-marathon training program for walkers and runners participating in the 500 Festival Mini Marathon, the nation's largest half-marathon. She routinely appears on local NBC, CBS, and cable television shows and news broadcasts to educate central Indiana residents on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. She was the dietitian for the first team of four men aged 70+ to successfully complete the non-stop bicycle race, Race Across America. Heather has authored nutrition/fitness articles published in a variety of journals including Mechanisms of Ageing and Development and the ACSM Health & Fitness® Journal. She has been interviewed and quoted in Women's Day, Ladies Home Journal, and Newsweek magazines. Heather is also an accomplished triathlete, duathlete, and marathon runner, including qualifying and competing in the 2003 Hawaii Ironman.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Que; 1 edition (January 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789733145
• ISBN-13: 978-0789733146
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Walking
  • #34 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Other Team Sports > Track & Field

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Ready To Run Faster, September 15, 2005

By 

Dave - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Half-Marathon Training: Get Ready to Run or Walk a 5K, 8K, 10K or Half-Marathon Race (Paperback)

This is a great book that was easy to read, with ideas and workouts that were easy to incorporate into my training, racing and nutrition. Before I had this book, I was frequently injured and I had run a half-marathon in two hours. In the nine months since I got the book, I have run a 1:37:51, and then a 1:24:48 and I believe I'll go faster in the future. If you want to run faster and healthier, you should get this book.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly helpful for BOTH runners AND fast walkers who race., February 15, 2010

By 

Cynthia Danute Cekauskas, LCSW "Lithuanian Am... (Savannah, Georgia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Half-Marathon Training: Get Ready to Run or Walk a 5K, 8K, 10K or Half-Marathon Race (Paperback)

I bought this book some years ago but did not end up reading any of it until just before my twelfth half marathon, the Critz Tybee Run, on 8 February 2010. I had just planned on reading the section preparing a participant in the week prior to the race. After I read that particular section--Chapter 12 Racing Strategies--I was hooked. I ended up reading the whole book and really benefiting from it.

What is commendable about the book is that it not only makes worthwhile recommendations for runners but it ALSO is very helpful for those of us, over 50's, who perhaps cannot quite run like we used to but still can walk very fast as fitness walkers perhaps even participate in racewalking. I have been racing since the mid 1990s but have never been able to run a whole race, yet I have been able to achieve racewalking speeds and have often placed in my age group. Chapter 6 Proper Walking and Running Form details not only proper running form and technique but also explains what is racewalking, what is proper racewalking form and technique and how racewalking drills can improve your form. For those who are even slower but STILL want to participate the author even has a section on proper fitness walking form and technique.

Unlike a previous reviewer I think that this book contains a LOT more information then what you could get out of just a reading a RUNNERS WORLD or WALKING magazine. That is NOT giving this book the proper credit it deserves. For instance, in addition to Chapter 6, particularly useful information was contained in Chapter 7 Warm-Up/Cool-Down and Flexibility Exercises, Chapter 8 Strength Training and Chapter 10 Training and Competition Nutrition for Runners and Walkers. I also particularly like Table 4.1 Dressing for Success:How to be Comfortable Whatever the Weather (recommending clothing choices for actual temperatures ranges) and Table 5.1 Commonly Diagnosed Injuries for Runners and Walkers (listing not only potential injuries with symptoms but recommendations for their prevention and treatment if they occur).

I was really impressed that the book was written by a registered dietitian with a Masters of Science in Kinesiology certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health/Fitness instructor and ALSO an accomplished triathlete, duathlete and master runner. In part due to her suggetions, I was able to shave off two minutes in my last half-marathon. Although she primarily writes for newcomers to racing I think her suggestions can potentially be helpful to runners and walkers at ALL levels.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just For Runners, November 17, 2008

By 

M. D. Stern (Orange, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Half-Marathon Training: Get Ready to Run or Walk a 5K, 8K, 10K or Half-Marathon Race (Paperback)

This book has been so helpful to me in beginning my training to walk my first 5k. I had "walked" before, and thought it funny that people would have to read books on how to do it. However, this book is packed full of information such as clothing, nutrition, developing a program, defining goals, and how to avoid injuries. It even tells you the correct posture to maintain while walking - and yes, I had the wrong posture!

I really think if one is an 'Absolute Beginner' there is something of value they can pull from this book. A great reference source!