Marathon: The Ultimate Training and Racing Guide [Paperback]

Hal Higdon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1993

Sixty-two-year-old marathon runner Higdon offers an action-packed guide for beginning and experienced marathoners, which includes training secrets from top coaches and exercise physiologists, coupled with Higdon's personal training advice. Tables and training plans.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Though the running boom appears to have peaked and even tapered off somewhat, the marathon is still the ultimate running experience for many runners. Higdon's book, although well written, offers very little in the way of new information on training for or running the marathon. Previously published works such as Joe Henderson's Complete Marathoner (Anderson World, 1978), Andy Friedberg's How To Run Your First Marathon (S. & S., 1987), and Ricard Benyo's Making the Marathon Your Event (Random, 1992) offer very similar advice. However, Higdon's anecdotal style provides entertaining reading and may inspire aspiring marathoners. The author provides details of many of his personal marathon experiences as well as those of other top American marathoners such as Bill Rodgers, Don Kardang, and Dick Buerkle. This book will appeal to general readers seriously considering training for their first marathon. For large sports collections.
- Susan L. Patton, Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"This revised edition provides clear and effective advice that will get any runner across the finish line of a marathon. I highly recommend it."--Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic-marathon gold medalist

"Higdon's years of marathoning experience come through in this practical book. Aspiring or veteran marathoners will benefit enormously from its proven guidance."--Grete Waitz, 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon

"Marathon is must reading for anyone who wants to maximize performance."--Nancy Clark, R.D., Author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook

"There's plenty of sound training advice here for runners of all levels."--Ken Sparks, Ph.D., Marathon personal record of 2:28 at age 46

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Pr (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875961592
• ISBN-13: 978-0875961590
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,824,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Principles based on anecdotal evidence, January 2, 2004

By 

D. Roth (Bellevue, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (Paperback)

This book has 221 pages. I think the useful information could be condensed down to 20 pages or so. This book makes heavy use of the anecdote pattern. Chapters begin with little stories about elite athletes and experienced runners from which general principles of running are drawn. The problem is that the stories are incomplete and entirely anecdotal. Elite athletes and experienced runners don't need this book and the principles that apply to them don't apply to middle-aged people who truly are beginners. The book doesn't address the subjects of weight and size (very important in long distance running), and it only addresses age at a very superficial level. The good things in this book are: the focus on staying injury free; the incorporation of easy running and rest days into your training schedule; some sample training schedules; some diet advice; and some seemingly useful information about race logistics toward the end. On the negative side, a lot of space is devoted to fluffy stories; evidence to support advice is almost entirely anecdotal; there is practically no advice on runner injuries and how that affects your schedule; and no talk about weight/age; Put simply, this book contains a lot of anecdotal, unscientific, irrelevant, happy, feel-good fluff. The training schedules may work for you, but if they don't you will not have gained enough knowledge from this book to understand how to adapt them to fit your needs.

60 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous training guide for the first time marathoner!, March 12, 2004

By 

J. Marchese (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (Paperback)

I am living testiment to the fact that this book works. I'm 31 years old, new mom and a relatively new runner and through this book and the 18 week training guide on his website, I was able to complete the Chicago Marathon this past October. He promises that if you stick to his guide you can finish and it works.

The best thing about the book is that it is supportive, but not preachy. Hal uses examples of elite athletes, but never forget that he is writing this for the novice or intermediate runner. As a novice myself (I had only started running about 6 months before), I found I was able to set realistic goals (just to finish, really) and run injury-free.

I cannot count the number of times in this book where I would read something and instantly be reinforced that I could complete a marathon. And that's very important because the training can drain you, make you question your ability and scare you.

73 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for novice marathoners, February 28, 2000

By 

D. R. Dakins "top chef" (Boise, ID) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (Paperback)

After renewing this book from the library multiple times I just had to own it. My husband and I are training for our first marathon and this book is our "bible." There's a new piece of valuable information on every page, and each time I reread a section I find something I can use again. Inspiring, informative, with training schedules, advice, and anecdotes throughout. I've looked at other marathon training texts but this one is the best--written for the average reader, it doesn't take the elitest attitude toward running that some of the others do.