Customer Reviews

Better Training for Distance Runners - 2nd Edition

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The purpose of the book is to be a comprehensive guide to training distance runners. If you are serious about your efforts in fulfilling your potential as a runner you will need to address all aspects of training. For some that may mean having a scientific fundamental understanding of how the body responds to training. I'm sorry that some of the reviewers may not appreciate the first 4 chapters of the book, which focuses on the physiology of running. Running, like any athletic activity, is about training the body's energy systems. Racing 100 meter requires a different energy system than racing a marathon. Thus training for 800 meters is different than training for 5000 meters. That is why in BTDR you get basic physiology first and training theory second. You can understand the book better if you start from this basic premise. You will understand why running 5 miles at certain speeds will have different effects or how to peak for a racing for a certain period of time. The science aspect makes the book a tough read, but the real value is Chapters 5-8. If the book were to contain only the last five chapters then it would still be valuable. Yes, a basic understanding of science is needed for the first four chapters. However, I find it hard to believe that concepts developed in the later chapters like periodization, total body fitness, race strategies, and training management were not of value to some of the reviewers. Newton give cursory treatment to these subjects, Jack Daniels does a better job in his 'Running Formula' (and would be the book that I would recommend to all high school distance runners), but it's BTDR that really breaks it down. BDTR will get you thinking in a whole new way about your approach to running.

I have to also say a word about the expectation that popular running books created for runner eager to learn more about training. Publications like Runner's World and the Running Times are known for their easy to understand training articles that outline how to get faster. Their publishers also publish books in this same vain. What is not questioned are the training philosophies behind the programs, its just a successful runner (active or retired) or coach giving the cliff notes version of their programs. I'm sorry, but a week in the life of Runner X does me no good if I can't understand where that week is in his/her training, why they are doing what they are doing (re: goals) and most importantly their training philosophy. I applaud the fact that they are reaching a vast audience of runner who really don't want to run a sub 4:00 mile (and that is needed), but I do. BTDR is not meant for them. Glover's book ' the Competitive Runners Guide...' is a good starting point but it is more useful to a beginner runner than a high school cross-country runner (different races different goals). This simplification has its drawbacks; it encourages the simple parroting of training programs without a full understanding of their impact. Do you peak for one racing period, two periods or cycle the program? How long should base training last? When do we introduce anaerobic capacity training? Important questions to a serious runner but a less focused runner could care less. BDTR is meant for those who wish to learn how to develop thier own training programs from scratch. Which means gaining a fundamental understanding of every aspect of training runners. It not enough to say run 10 miles on Sunday as your weekly long run. Why not 5 miles or 20 miles? Is it even worth doing one at all? These questions answered in BTDR and not answered in most other popular running books.

This book is not for every one. A high school runner may not want to know what the aerobic energy system is or how it works. Furthermore, s/he may not even care. Any one can tell some one to run 10 miles one day and 12x400m repeats the next, but if they can't tell you why you are doing that or what effect it will have on you then why would you want to give up your time and effort. For those that do have an interest and want to know what it takes to get to the next level then this book is gold.

Bottom line. If you are not serious about your running then this book is not for you.

Some reviews here say that the book is too technical. Others disagree. I think the best thing to do is just read the table of contents and see whether this book sounds like something which is at your level or not.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. The Biomechanics of Running Kinesiology: The Study of Movement Running-Specific Movement Interesting Questions About Running Biomechanics Evaluating and Improving Running Biomechanics Summary: Using Biomechanics Effectively References

Chapter 2. Muscle Physiology for Running Anatomic Aspects of Neuromuscular Integration Generation of Muscle Tension Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types Effects of Training on Skeletal Muscle Performance Summary: Using Muscle Physiology for Better Training References

Chapter 3. The Energy Dynamics of Running Thermodynamics Made Easy Energy Storage in Tissues: ATP and CP The Four Energy Systems Comparing Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism Comparing Carbohydrates and Fatty Acids as Fuels

Metabolism of Carbohydrates Metabolism of Fats: Aerobic Lipolysis Interaction of Carbohydrate and Fat Metabolism During Exercise Summary: Better Training Through Chemistry References

Chapter 4. Heart, Lung, and Blood Adaptations to Running Aerobic and Anaerobic Contributions to Performance Physiological Indicators of Performance Exercise as a Challenge to the Heart, Lungs, and Blood Measuring Cardiopulmonary Fitness in the Laboratory Summary: Training and Monitoring the Heart and Lungs for Better Running References

Chapter 5. Developing Running With Periodization Training Goal Setting Principles of Periodization Periodization Using Multi-Tier Training Constructing Your Own Effective Training Plan Suggestions for Better Use of Multi-Tier Training Using Altitude Training as a Fitness-Enhancing Stimulus Keep a Training Diary Summary: Building Better Fitness by Running References

Chapter 6. Developing Total Fitness Adapting Muscles to Stress Loading

Flexibility: The Essence of Joint Motion Body Composition: Importance and Measurement Summary: Running Improvement Through Total-Body Conditioning References

Chapter 7. Preparing to Race General Concepts for Race Preparation The 800-Meter Run The 1,500-Meter Run The Steeplechase The 5,000-Meter Run The l0,000-Meter Run Road Racing The Marathon Preparing for and Delivering Successful Competitions Summary: Running Your Best Race References

Chapter 8. Managing Balanced Training Fatigue: A Natural Consequence of Training Muscle Soreness and Connective Tissue Injury Overtraining and Staleness: Beyond Fatigue Preventing Overtraining Summary: Extending a Running Career References

This book is tailored toward a small group of people, namely very serious competitive runners who plan to manage a successful running career. It is not for the weekend warrior who runs to lose weight, someone trying to run their first marathon, or attention deficit high school students who get discouraged because of the vast scientific knowledge contained in this book. It is a thoroughly researched, brilliantly done, scientifically based work that is probably the most complete book on competitive running ever compiled. I especially loved the fact of the 800m race being included in the strategy section, as a serious 800/1600m athlete is often left without advice on how to run the half, one of the most challenging yet neglected distance events. If you are serious, OR if you are mainly a 800m and 1600m runner as I am, then buy this book, otherwise purchase the Daniels Running Formula, the other `best' running book ever written.

I am a cross-country captain and wanted to educate myself on how to help my coach with our team. This book just helped to get me confused. "training increases the bodys release of such hormones as aldosterone, vasopressin, and renin, causing a net retention of Na+ and H2O and thus a volume expansionof the blood and a dilutional pseudoanemia." If you fully understand what I quoted, than this is the book for you because the whole book is basically written that way. The only advantage to this book is that on p280 there are many pictures of how to strech before a run.

I have read dozens of books about training for the distance runner. This book and Jack Daniel's Running Formula are, by far, the two best books for the serious coach or distance runner. I believe they complement each other and reading BTDR after Daniel's Running Formula helped clarify some of the points made in the Daniel's book. After years of running at a highly competitive level and coaching, I really felt like I understood, for the first time, exactly how to design an individualized workout plan for an entire year or racing season with complete confidence.

While the first four chapters are not for the feint of heart (especially chapters 3 and 4), they are well worth the effort. Even if you choose not to read one or more of these chapters, the remaining chapters of BTDR can be read on a standalone basis. Chapters 5 - 8 are filled with clear, comprehensive and practical training advice. These chapters do an excellent job of bringing theory and practice together.

I also liked the way Martin and Coe drew on the training practices and running styles of various famous runners and coaches from Paavo Nurmi to Arthyr Llydiard to Haile Gebrselassie. (Of course, Seb Coe's training methods are discussed quite extensively since Peter Coe was both father and coach... and Seb was the best middle distance runner of his time.)

BTDR also deftly combines a discussion of the art and science of running. If you are a serious runner, this book will likely convince you to periodically take your runners or yourself to a human performance lab to receive periodic testing.

The only significant omission from BTDR was a more complete discussion of the effects of altitude training. They don't discuss the benefits of the "living high/training low" (sleeping or living in an hypoxic environment and training at or near sea level). Because the book was revised in 1991, I imagine most of the scientific data on this subject was not available at that time. This discussion would be helpful in their discussion of how to increase hemoglobin and hematocrit.

I wish they would update this book one more time to cover some of the scientific advances over the past 15 years.

Of all the books on training runners, this on book offers the most comprehensive explaination of what it take to get to the other level. Although its aim is for serious runners and coaches, it can be used as a reference guide for those 'tweener runners who are not weekend warriors but neither national class or better atheletes. This is a great book that I wished were around when I was in high school. If you ever wanted to run that sub 4:00 mile then this is where you would learn how to do it. Great book!

For anyone serious about coaching the distance events, this is a must-read. Technically sound and practically written, it is a valuable tool in the quest for achieving optimal athletic performance in the distance events. Although it doesn't go into full depth of physiological concepts, it does more than an adequate job in this regard for most coaches. Certainly its sections in terms of physiology are much more extensive than most other books of similar subject-matter. But its greatest strength is its adaptability towards implementation in distance training programs. The bottom line is that it is a must-read for distance coaches of any level.

This book pulls together everything you ned to know about running and coaching. I use this as my bible when coaching my cross country runners.

Though this book may not be a necessary read for every level of runner, it will be helpful for ANY runner to become more purposeful in their running. You do not necessarily have to follow such a strict or regimented training to benefit from knowing why you do what you do when you run. If you are a runner, and have even vague goals (to become faster, for example), then this book will give you knowledge to add efficiency to the running work you do. You do not have to understand every single thing in this book in order to benefit from it immensely. RUN SMARTER NOT HARDER. Give this book some TIME and you will become a much more self-aware athlete.

BTFDR takes a VERY technical and scientific approach to training. Only elite coaches and athletes will benefit from the information. For the rest of us, "Daniels Running Formula" by Jack Daniels is the definitive book.