Customer Reviews

Four Months to a Four-hour Marathon,Updated

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I've run many sub-four hour marathons and only discovered this book after the fact. I wish I'd had it while training for all those races, it might have helped. There's nothing fancy in here, and nothing you wouldn't find in various back issues of Runners World magazine. The standard, unvarying formular for running a marathon in under four hours is simple: run 20 miles a week for several months, then gradually increase your mileage to 40-50 miles a week. Start throwing in longer and longer runs one day of the week until you can run 20 miles at a stretch. Do this for 1 month, then taper off and run your marathon. I'm a firm believer in running 20 miles at least 3 times before marathon day.

I know... many have done marathons on less training, but I've run enough of them to know that many people suffer (and I mean *really suffer.*) The whole point of running a marathon is not to just survive it, but to hae fun doing it and finish tired, but not completely done in. If you train adequately, you can, and will, finish a marathon and it probably won't be your last. Few things in life offer such satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.

One final word: the chapter on treadmill running was inadequate. Don't be put off by treadmill running, it replicates road running well enough if you put the treadmill at an incline of 3-4 percent. Good luck and happy running!

I used this book as my "how to guide" for achieving my goal of a reasonable 4-hour marathon the first time out. It worked. I had no idea how to train for a marathon until I read through this simple book. I ran San Diego/Carlsbad 2000 in 3:54. By the way, it also includes training schedules for goal times of 4:15, 4:30, and 4:45, so even slightly slower goal times can be trained for accordingly. This book was a key reason that the whole experience was such a success. I'd recommend it to anyone.

After running three marathons all in the 4:18-4:32 hour range, I wanted to try a marathon program that would get me to my 4 hour marathon goal. In the last three marathons, I followed Hal Higdon's 18 week Novice Marathon training program. This time I wanted to try a different program that included speed training.

4 months to a 4 hour marathon includes some speed training during the week, and longer weekend runs than the typical novice marathon training program. These long runs start out at 7 miles and gradually work there way to 23 miles within a 17 week training period. So, its very important for the runner to have a starting running base of about 16-20 miles a week with the ability of doing a 7 mile long run the first week of training.

This program recommends that you run faster during your shorter week day runs, and slow down on the weekend long runs to about 90 seconds slower than what your marathon pace will be. So, if your marathon pace will be just over 9 minutes per mile, your training long runs will be about 10 1/2 minutes per mile. You ask the question I asked. How am I going to run just over 9 minute miles in the marathon when I am training at 10 1/2 minute miles in my training long runs? In theory, the author believes that the week day speed runs, your adrenaline on marathon day, and the fact that your legs and body should be strong and injury free will allow you to run just over 9 minute miles thus achieving your 4 hour marathon goal. Sounds good on paper, but I did not acheive this goal. I ran a personal record of 4:11, but there was no way I was going to run a 4 hour marathon with this program. Granted, I felt healthy and strong, but my legs just did not have it in them to do anywhere near 9 minute miles for 26.2 miles. I believed that I needed to put in more miles during the week to achieve this goal.

So, if you are looking for a marathon training program that will help you to break 4:15, this is a pretty good program to follow. Anyone looking to run a 4 hour marathon or better, try Galloway's of Higdon's intermediate marathon training programs instead. Happy Running!

This book is good but not great, and appears to have lots of dated information. For example, the author cites Nike, Reebok, and Adidas as the brands to look for when buying technical running shoes, but the fact is that these three companies make a lot of "casual" and "retro" shoes, many of which are mixed into their line and sold as "technical" shoes to the unknowing. He also seems to suggest that cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts are fine to run in; if you are seriously training for a marathon, whether it's your first or your fifth, you would be better off with advice that encourages you to wear technical running tops made of technical fabrics (coolmax, dri-fit, etc.). They are much more comfortable, breathable, and moisture-wicking, therefore leaving your body to focus on running efficiently rather than struggling to cool you off.

It just seems like there's some not-so-great advice in here, which then made me wonder about the rest of the information he was presenting...

When I started training for my first marathon a few years ago, I had this book and also 'Galloway's Book on Running'. The interesting thing was that while Galloway's book had much more information, I was always carrying the '4 Months' book with me because it had all the basic necessary stuff in an easily accessible format.
Some people have complained that it is too brief and not very thorough but I found it to be the best trait of this book. Many other books have simply too much information and if you have to spend a week or two digesting hundreds of pages of technical information, your initial enthusiasm to train for a marathon has cooled somewhat. '4 Months' at the same time is very concise and to the point, giving simple, step-by-step instructions for everything from shoes to nutrition.
It also contains a very well-defined training program, which I followed to the letter. The program was relatively hard but once I had completed it all, I was able to beat the hour mark surprisingly easily, so I can say that it really works!

Therefore, if you are already an established runner, or if you're looking for more theoretical background, I suggest you get some "more advanced" book like the above-mentioned 'Galloway's Book on Running' or 'The Competitive Runner's Handbook', both are very good.
But if you are like me back when I didn't have too much running background then '4 Months to A 4 Hour Marathon' QUICKLY gives you all you need to get started. I owe it one of the greatest experiences in my life.

This is a short and easy read. It contains all the information you'll need to run your first marathon. It is geared to first timers with information on everything from what to eat, what to wear, and training schedules, but has good information for anyone who wants to run long distances. It was my bible for for four months and I used it to run my marathon in 3:58:40. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking to run their first marathon.

This is a real simple book to review. If you want to run a four hour marathon and spend four months training for it, then buy this book. It is slim, it is focused, easy to follow, enjoyable to read. It gives you what the title says it gives you.

If you want to gain a deeper understanding of marathoning, or want to run one in three hours, etc. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. It is not written with that puropose.

I wanted to run my first marathon in four hours. I bought this book. I am as happy with it as anyone could possibly be. I cannot imagine any complaints.

(In a different review a reader talks about the quality of the advice (shoes selection, clothing, etc.) Hogwash. For first time marathoners (runners even) the advice is sound and exactly what you need to know.

I have either recommended or given this book to several people. Five years ago, I was a novice runner who hadn't even run a 5K. I followed the book to the letter and ran a 4 hr 4 min marathon. I then tried following some other regimes and couldn't come close to that time. I decided to follow the book again this year and just ran 3:58 in Chicago. Mr. Kuehls' program works!

I was told by a neighbor about this book when I was thinking about running my first marathon. I have seen numerous different training schedules and had no idea what to try. This book tells you excactly how to train. It is great,EASY reading. During the 4 months of training I re-read this book many, many times. He has a way of motivating you with his words and keeps you from burning out. I just finished my first marathon and achieved my goal of 4:00 hours. I couldn't have done it without THIS book.
Thanks Dave.

This book is short and to the point. It provides both training regimens and racing tips. Personally, I think there are many first time marathon runners who should train just to finish and not worry about whether it is four hours, four and a half hours or whatever. However, I know that it can be done because over 20 years ago, I ran my first marathon in under four hours after training seriously for it for about three months. I had been running for a few months more than that but not doing any marathon training. I increased my mileage until I ran several long runs of about 20 miles, just what this book recommends.

The training recommended by this book my be a little too rigorous for some people. Remember, you must run at close to a nine minute per mile pace to break four hours. Some people cannot run a ten kilometer race at that pace so, four hours is not within everyone's reach. I recommend just running the first marathon to finish but, four hours is possible. However, I ultimately ran a marathon in 3:02 so my potential was a lot greater than four hours. If four hours is the highest level someone can potentially achieve, I do not think it is wise to attempt to do that the first time out .. just finsh!!!