Customer Reviews

Masters Running: A Guide to Running and Staying Fit After 40

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

 

 

I wanted facts and how-to's, but this book is 99% a series of looks back at Hal Higdon's past (many of which I've read in other publications). Other than a few charts for running/walking/all combos of for full and half marathons, there's nothing in here to help the over 40 (or under 40, for that matter) runner progress. Very, very disappointing book. If it weren't for the hassles of returning things from Canada, this puppy would have gone back to amazon.com immediately.

Rather than offering advice to older real-people who would like to stay in shape, Higdon offers advice for those athletes who wish to remain competitive beyond their 40's. He does so by filling the book with anectodes on his own running career instead of translating that knowledge and experience into something most of can really use. This book reads more like Higdon's memoir, not the how-to book I was anticipating.

Hal Higdon has been a fixture on the Master's Running Circuit since its inception, and provides sage advice to people who want to keep it up after 40. There are interesting stories about how the Master's running movement started, and a lot of practical advice for runners who realize their PR days are behind them, but still want to compete. His thoughts on annual cycles, with time to build a base, sharpen, compete and then recover were especially valuable.

I frankly felt cheated after buying this book because it is not a "guide" at all, but just a never ending discussion about Hal Higdon by Hal Higdon. I realize some personal perspective is good to establish credibility and set the framework for the reader, but in this book it comprises virtually the filler for the whole book, right up to the last pages. It just turned me off after a while and I stopped caring because it came across as egotistical. Virtually every paragraph in the book has "I", "me" or "mine" 4 or 5 times. One really has to look for the occasional nuggets and guidelines that are written with the READER'S running interests in mind.

For instance, there is a chapter on "Injuries", and you will have to go through pages and pages of Hal taking about his injuries over the years, rather some good tangible guidelines to stay healthy and avoid them.

Don't be fooled by the title if you are a mater's runner or considering becoming one. There must be better choices out there... Keep looking.

Tim O in Lexington KY

Like another reviewer said, this reads like a memoir. Someone who is already a longtime competitive runner might really enjoy reading as the author reflects upon a long and accomplished career. However, there was almost nothing in the book that was helpful to me, an older beginner runner. The actual information given on training, injuries etc was minimal.

I bought this book looking for a training programs for the average master runner. It seems to be an autobiography of Mr.Higdon and his competition. Were not all superior runners.

I have read many of his books. This one is less on running and more on how to age gracefully as we run. We learnt to accept that our timing will slow (so we rely on age adjusted time to feel good) and to win in our age group - for those who are more competitive and used to winning.

Comes across as an egotistical review of his own life - the passage about running into his old high school girlfriend and how she told him how great he looked is typical. No real advice for a masters runner. If I could remember where I had put this I would have thrown it out by now.

Avoid.

More memoir then handbook for masters running. If you are looking for training plans or tips skip this book and look elsewhere. Tips and plans saved for last 15 pages have to read through 194 pages of Mr. HHigdon's running and medical history before getting to anything resempling plans. Advice boils down to (1) run consistantly but not every day, and (2) strength train.

I disagree with a lot of the lower-ratings for this book. I'm not a professional or seriously competitive athlete (just a highly motivated recreational distance runner who's pushing 50), but I found this to be not only an interesting read but an informative one. No, you probably won't follow all of Higdon's specific advice when it comes to specific training regimens, but then again you're probably not a competitive athlete, either!

I thought much of what he had to say, especially about injuries & their prevention, to be applicable to my running and a lot of the simple joie de vivre of the sport shines through. I was dog-earring several pages and also found it to be quite quote-worthy.

Mr. Higdon is an inspiration to all of us who want to keep running for a lifetime and I appreciated his opinions and expertise.