The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer [Paperback]

David Whitsett (Author), Forrest Dolgener (Author), Tanjala Kole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 1998

Athlete. Runner. Marathoner. Are these words you wouldn't exactly use to describe yourself? Do you consider yourself too old or too out of shape to run a marathon? But somewhere deep inside have you always admired the people who could reach down and come up with the mental and physical strength to complete such a daunting and rewarding accomplishment? It doesn't have to be somebody else crossing the finish line. You can be a marathoner. The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer is based on the highly successful marathon class offered by the University of Northern Iowa, which was featured in a Runner's World article titled "Marathoning 101." The class has been offered five times over 10 years, and all but one student finished the marathon. That is approximately 200 students -- all first time marathoners and many with absolutely no running background. This book follows the same 16-week, four-day-a-week workout plan. What makes the success rate of this program so much higher than any other? The special emphasis on the psychological aspects of endurance activities. You don't have to love to run -- you don't even have to like it -- but you have to realize that you are capable of more than you have ever thought possible. One participant in the program explained it like this: "I'm doing this for me -- not for others or the time clock. I just feel better when I run, plus it helps me to cope with things in general. The skills we've learned in this class don't apply just to marathoning -- they apply to life! Just like you never know what the next step in a marathon will bring, so too, you never know what will happen next in life. But if you don't keep going, you're never going to find out. By staying relaxed, centered, and positive you handle just about anything that comes your way." This is marathon running for real people, people with jobs and families and obligations outside of running. The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer has proven successful for men and women of all ages. Now let it work for you.

Editorial Reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (January 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570281823
• ISBN-13: 978-1570281822
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.7 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (273 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Running & Jogging

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

471 of 474 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Got 16 Weeks? March 16, 2008

By Phyllis

Format:Paperback

Originally published in 1998, this book has been around awhile and stood the test of time. Who's it for? NORMAL people who have the desire to run and complete a marathon BUT also have other commitments that take up their time such as a family, job, etc. Don't have tons of time to train? This is your book. Need to get together a plan of attack? Keep reading.

The promise of the book is to that you'll be able to run 26.2 miles training just 4 days a week with no runs over 18 miles. It is based on a marathon class offered over the years at the University of Northern Iowa that touts a high success rate for 1st time marathoners. The book accomplishes this goal in sixteen chapters, one for every week of training.

Each chapter is cleanly divided up into 3 parts. Part one deals with the mental aspects of marathon training (which in my opinion is just as important as physical preparation when it comes to marathons), part two lays out the actual training program for the week, and the third part of each chapter contains advice and suggestions from people who have done the course and the program.

The book has a final 17th chapter which gives advice such as what to do after the marathon to make sure you recover well. Finally, the book ends with three appendices- one is a list of marathons to help you pick from, another on research that has been done on the program, and the last one a list of references and resources (always good to have those at hand).

All-in-all its a very COMPLETE book covering everything you can imagine about training for a marathon such as stretches, weight training exercises, nutritional advice, how to dress, and what shoes to wear.

Some practical bits: the 16 week training program does start you out running three miles, so in reality, you can tack on about another month or so of training to the 16 weeks in order to build up to the 3-mile starting point of the program. Along the same lines, pick a marathon that will be held no less than five months from the time you expect to start getting ready. And finally, runners suffering from plantar fasciitis might also want to check out The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution. Good luck :)

502 of 510 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magic of this book December 2, 1999

By Thomas Long

Format:Paperback

As a non runner and very limited and inconsistant excerciser, I found this book as I grandiosely thought about running the NYC 99 Marathon. The holistic approach was inspirational beyond belief. The primary theme of the book which was continually addressed in every chapter drove home the fact that "perception can become realty". The main goal was to focus every aspect of your training on your number one goal ie, to finish the marathon. When I mentioned to those who knew me that I was training for the marathon using this book, they really thought I was experiencing delusions of grandeur thinking "right you can read this book and run a marathon in 16 weeks; don't believe everything you read" After following everything in the book with only one slip up when I tried to do too much I was fully ready to run 26.2 miles. After a brief feeling of anxiety while on the bus to Staten Island, once I started running I had no doubt that I could finish. The personal statements from the students in training and the overwhelming statistics of how many of the students or "followers" finished gave the book total validity. If you follow the book in its basic beliefs, you can run and finish a marathon. These include: not over training, not setting unrealistic expectations or other agendas, not listening to others telling you you're a dreamer not a marathoner, not going on any crazy diets, and not thinking negative. Simply doing what the book says is enough. The major issue will be that you must be able and willing to make the commitment and except in extraordinary situations never put other priorities ahead of the training. You must run 4 days a week, take a day off before and after the long run, dring plenty of water, buy the right shoes and clothes, trying eating good foods (I always remembered what I ate after I started my run; fried foods make your run a real drag). THIS BOOK WORKS. When they say believe us that you will finish if you do the training our way they are CORRECT..I finished the NYC 1999 Marathon On Nov 7th (5hr, 23min but whose counting) having gone from taking a month to run 3 miles without stopping 20 weeks earlier. The book is a major self esteem builder. When you realize that less than 1% of the population have finished a marathon and you are one of them you will know the feeling of personal success. NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE AWAY THE FEELING OF FINISHING. WHAT A FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. This book goes beyond running to developing a positive attitude toward life in general. I have given it to several others three of whom are now training for their first marathon. Beware though, positive can be addictive.

312 of 322 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a Marathoner October 29, 2001

By J. McCullen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the first review I've ever written on Amazon. This book made such a difference in my life, I had to comment on it. Six months ago I decided I needed to do something to get in better shape. I was in decent shape, I played raquet ball a few times a week, but I couldn't run more than a mile and really didn't have any interest in doing so. I came across the book title on Amazon and decided to check it out. I read the book while on vacation and decided I was going to run a marathon. I did the pre-training for a week and then began the program. Then the most important part, I started telling friends and family I was going to run a marathon.

I finished my first marathon yesterday( 10/28/01) in Mystic, Connecticut, in four hours and 51 minutes. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I learned that the marathon was the reward and the training was the goal. During my training I read a number of marathon books, they all had helpful advice, but none were as important as this book. It was a guide, a reference and logbook. Its no longer just a book, its a memoir of the journey to my first marathon!