Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running [Hardcover]

Alberto Salazar (Author), Richard A. Lovett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2001

Many of today's beginning runners are turning to running as part of an overall fitness programme designed to improve health and alleviate stress. Former marathon world-record-holder Alberto Salazar, with longtime runner and author Richard Lovett, offers a sensible, balanced approach for people enlisting in the new "second running boom". It is unique in that it recommends a gradual start-up programme complemented by other exercise regimes. This is the programme that revitalized the hard-running and often- injured Salazar. This gentle approach, from a world-class runner who was once synonymous with overtraining injuries and burnout, should command attention. Salazar, the only runner ever to win the New York and Boston marathons in the same year (he won three New York marathons in a row), was renowned for a gruelling training schedule that had him running as many as 130 miles a week. A fierce competitor who once was given the last rites of the Catholic Church at the finish of a race in which he pushed himself to exhaustion, Salazar had a relatively short time at the top because of a series of debilitating injuries. Now in his forties, Salazar rarely runs more than 5 miles at a time, and is running injury-free and enjoying it. "Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running" is based on a year-long programme designed to build the beginning runner's weekly distance to 15-20 miles - a relatively low distance. The Salazar programme shows that a 20-minute 2- or 3-mile run can be just as beneficial as a longer, harder run. And it shows that complementing a running programme with other aerobic and strength-building activities such as bicycling, cross-country skiing, rowing, weight-training, or even hiking can improve one's running. "Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running" will feature anecdotal sidebars from the running experiences of Salazar, who set one world and six US records. "Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running" should also attract experienced runners looking to avoid injuries and inject new life into their pastime. For those runners who successfully complete the first year-programme, the book offers advice to expand and enrich their experiences, including discussions on trail running, winter training, cross-training and increasing distances. But all in the context of keeping the experience enjoyable and free from stress.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From one of the greatest champions of all time comes a sensible, easy-to-follow fitness program for people of all ages

"Terrific for beginning runners. A fitness program that's simple and works."--Bill Rodgers, Four-Time Boston Marathon Winner, Four-Time New York City Marathon Winner

"Runners have much to gain from Alberto Salazar's world-class knowledge."--Mary Decker Slaney, World-Record Holder, Olympian

Here's a revolutionary approach to running for fitness and pleasure developed by one of the all-time great marathon runners. Once Alberto Salazar was renowned for grueling training schedules that included running as many as 130 miles every week. Now, Alberto rarely runs more than five miles at a time, and he's running injury-free and enjoying every minute of it. In Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running, the marathon hall-of-famer draws on the latest research and his own experiences to show why, when it comes to reaping the many health and fitness benefits of running, harder and longer isn't better, and consistency matters most. He shares his hard-won lessons on running and outlines a sensible adaptable low-impact training program for nonrunners wanting to get fit, runners dissatisfied with their current workouts, or recovering from injuries, and anyone looking for a fitness program they can follow for years to come.

Running is an ideal way to burn calories, tone muscles, improve cardiovascular health, and simply put, feel better. Unfortunately, most people presume that any useful running program requires a tough, time-consuming regimen. But nothing could be further from the truth. Three-time New York City marathon winner and marathon world-record holder Alberto Salazar explains why in this groundbreaking guide. Drawing on his personal experiences, as well as the latest research, he shows that a gentle, low-stress workout of just 20 to 30 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week is all you really need.

In Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running, Salazar introduces a sensible, balanced approach to running, suited to people of every age, body type, and degree of fitness. Based on training principles that allowed an athlete once known for his extreme methods to emerge from early retirement after ten years and win the world's leading ultramarathon, the revolutionary year-long program outlined here is designed to help you to build gradually from your first quarter mile to a distance of 15 to 20 miles a week--and have fun doing it!

Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running covers all the bases. You get guidance on choosing the best running shoes, warming up, achieving and maintaining optimum body weight, and dealing with aches, pains, and common injuries. You also learn about the advantages of supplementing your running program with other aerobic and strength-building activities, such as bicycling, cross-country skiing, rowing, weight training, walking, and hiking. For more advanced runners there are valuable tips on trail running, winter training, cross-country training, and increasing speed and distance. And, interspersed throughout the book, you'll find fascinating and inspiring anecdotes in which Salazar shares his hard-won lessons about running and fitness, avoiding injuries, and more.

Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running is must-reading for anyone who wants to take full advantage of the most natural, enjoyable, and beneficial method of improving health and fitness.

About the Author

An NCAA track and cross country champion at the University of Oregon, Alberto Salazar burst onto the American and world marathon scene with a victory in the 1980 New York City Marathon. During his running career he set one world and six U.S. records in various distances. He broke longstanding marathon records in New York in 1981, and Boston in 1982, and won the New York event three years in a row. Beset by injuries for nearly a decade, Salazar returned to competitive running in 1995 and won the 53.75-mile Comrades ultramarathon in South Africa. A marketing executive with Nike, Salazar now runs mostly for fitness and enjoyment. Richard Lovett, a veteran of numerous marathons and an avid runner, is a full-time writer and author of The Essential Touring Cyclist, (Ragged Mountain Press, 1994) and co-author of The Essential Cross Country Skier (Ragged Mountain Press, 2000). He is a former law professor who also holds a Ph.D. in economics. Hometown: Portland, Oregon (both) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: International Marine Publishing (March 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071370277
• ISBN-13: 978-0071370271
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,520,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginners!, August 14, 2001

By 

L. Decker "LD" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running (Hardcover)

This is a superb book for beginners. Anyone who questions its "slow and easy" approach has never watched friends take on fitness programs with great enthusiasm, only to get hurt or lose interest a couple of months later. This book's number one goal is to keep that from happening by setting goals that Salazar describes as "so easy that you'll always be wanting more." It gains credibility coming from Salazar, who was renowned for his grueling training schedules. My guess is that a lot higher fraction of people who listen to him will be running a year from now than of those who risk an accelerated program not suitable for untrained beginners. The book is also loaded with answers to questions that beginners ask all the time, including many that will apply to beginning racers. If you've been running for a year or two, you may already know most of the answers, but in those first few months it's all new, and this book covers the ground nicely, in a pleasant, easy-to-read style. It's also loaded with entertaining a necdotes. Did you know that Salazar once ran several miles of a marathon with a side stitch so bad it hurt for weeks afterward? No wonder he had what it took to win! Also fun is the fact that Salazar shares the stage with his co-author, giving the book a mix of world-class and "average runner" perspectives. It's an unusual approach that works nicely, because the co-author can write from experience about issues that front-running Salazar never had to face. Bottom line: if you've been sedentary for a few years and are wanting to do something about it, this is your book. If you've been running for a few years (as I have), it's a great gift for that friend who's thinking about starting an exercise program.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A guide that should keep you healthy instead of injured, July 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running (Hardcover)

Running always appealed to me but everytime I considered taking it up I had second thoughts because of all the injured friends I know who are runners. This didn't seem healthy, so I thought "Why run?".

I ran across this book in a book review in a local paper and was intrigued because it said you could run with a much reduced possiblity of injury by following the plan outlined in the book. Reading it made a lot of sense and I could see many places where my running friends had made mistakes that probably lead to their injuries. I've read other books that back up what the author says so he isn't advocating some "out there" method but rather a method that will allow you to run to improve your health, which is what most of us are probably looking for.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring for my plans for self-improvement..., August 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running (Hardcover)

I have always heard (and observed) that runners have better endurance and overall fitness. I had tried jogging, mostly after dark, to try and get "up to speed" with other people in my biking club, but gave up after feeling faint. After reading this book, running doesn't seem as intimidating; I am gradually improving my cardiovascular fitness, so I can excel at the sports I love. The discussion about breathing, form, and stretching were especially helpful. The book was inspiring to me.