Customer Reviews

Beginner's Guide to Long Distance Running

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

 

 

If you don't like a lot of fluff, and you want to run a 1/2 or full marathon, I'd recommend this book. It covers the basics, a variety of training schedules (depending on your current level), and answers questions that new marathoner might have. It was a great reference for me as I trained for my first 1/2 marathon.

I liked the training plans on this book. Personally, tables are easier to skim through than text or anecdotes. Plus it's a thin book and easy to carry around. Daniel's Book had a lot of stuff that overwhelmed me. This is truly a good beginner's guide because unlike other beginner books that just go on and on about how to choose the right shoe or what to wear or how life changing running can be...it gives you training tables. Something I'd like to know after I finally have the shoes. Unlike more advanced books...it doesn't talk about Lactate Tresholds, or give me instructions like run at 10K pace, VO2 Max.

I have been following 2 of the 6 training programmes in this book. The Level 1 programme is ideal for novices who are looking to get into running. Following the Level 2 programme I ran a 5k race within 6 weeks of starting training and was surprised at how well I did. After a one year hiatus from running due to an unrelated injury, I am looking forward to entering my 2nd 5k race in a few weeks. If you follow the training programmes in this book you will get excellent results.

Besides, the training programmes the book is filled with tips that go into as much detail as necessary for a novice runner. Topics include, diet, clothing and injuries. I feel that the upper level programmes lack the detail of those in the lower level.

I just finished this book. I am an absolute beginning runner and this the sixth book I've examined. I'm not in good shape and running is a challenge. This book is the first book I've found to address the needs of a beginner at my level. If you can't run for a half hour, it has a training plan for you. Few books have that. The information here is all good. The book is very good at touching on almost all aspects of running without overwhelming the novice. The only thing I noticed that it passed over was trail running. It gives just enough info on things like diet, shoe, apparel, etc. to get you started. The only drawback I found was in the section on heart-rate training. I felt the author's formulas for calculating you max heart rate to be a bit too conservative. Still, I wish I had found and read this book first when I was getting started.

For me, this book worked wonders! Running a marathon was always a personal goal of mine, but not being naturally athletically inclined, I couldn't run a single mile, let alone 26.2 when I committed to running the 2008 Chicago Marathon. 26 weeks out, I started with the 10 week "learn to run" program where you start out at almost nothing, alternating between running and walking for 2 minutes each. Long story short, with the help of this book, I went from not being able to run PERIOD to finishing the Chicago Marathon!

If you've read nothing else about running, this is a good a place as any to start. If you've read two other books about running, the information provided will not be for you.

Where it got its four stars from me was in the training schedule. Although for beginners, you'll find plans in here for anyone wanting a 2:50 marathon finish time. You rarely see that in most beginner books.

I bought it because the price was right ($1.83) but think I'd pay the $10+ Amazon offers if I had to. You'll read it in less than an hour but will spend plenty of time applying the training.

I intend to do so for an upcoming marathon.

This is a solid, yet brief, introduction to long distance running. Their are good training programs inside for all distances from 5k to ultra-marathon. The focus of the training guides is more on time than on distance.

Another good book for those interested in long distance is the Non-runner's guide to marathon trainer. Good mental tips to keep yourself going.

I agree with the previous reviewers. This is a good book for us newbies. I learned about shoes, diet, and, most important, got a nice overview of a program to help me begin running and perhaps work towards loftier goals. I think it only took me an hour or so to get through this yet the example running plans to me are what I'll remember the most.

I am not so sure I would say buy this book since you skim it more than read it. I happened to see it in my local library. I am going to run copies of the training recomendations though. Great information, yes, but worth spending the money when I can run copies of the few pages I got the most out of? Maybe better to save my $$ for a more advanced book (if and when I get there).

The book arrived fast and it was in great condition, like it was described on the site.

Thanks.