Customer Reviews

Run Your First Marathon: Everything You Need to Know to Reach the Finish Line

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

 

 

If you do a quick google search of Grete Waitz you will find a ton of information on such an accomplished runner. For this alone her book is worth considering. Her wealth of knowledge is put to good use as she walks the runner through the experience from the ground up, moving from beginning training to after finishing, giving anecdotes and examples along the way.

I've ran in 6 marathon or longer races thus far and am still learning some of what she writes in this book. Reader beware, though, this book is for exactly what the title states, for runners looking to run their first marathon. A lot of the information given is very basic to runners who have ran this distance already, but to someone who never has ran 26.2 she touches on every aspect and allows the runner to become well informed in what they are getting into.

She briefly touches on two training schedules within the book. The first is for those readers who have ran very little at all. It sets them up and begins conditioning them to running, which in turn prepares them for the actual marathon training. So if you do run some then the training schedule number two is where you would begin. But it is very basic, kind of a run these miles on these days on this week. And she makes it clear that this book is not meant as a day by day guide to your training.

Instead she focuses on the stuff that is overlooked when researching and preparing for a marathon. She goes over running basics, such as form and speed and so on, as well as signs to prevent injury, motivation, and running gear among other information. But the most important chapter is Chapter 12: Marathon Nutrition and Hydration. Even if you have ran a marathon before this is a good chapter to read and refresh and/or educate yourself again. There is a good amount of base information that will probably go the farthest for any marathon hopeful in aiding them to the finish line. Additionally, the final chapter, The Race, is also very useful for the beginning runner because it goes over some of what you will feel, see and expect when you toe the line.

I wish I would have found Mrs. Waitz's book before I ran my fateful, yet ill prepared first marathon at San Francisco.

If you are a first time marathoner I would give this book a good read and set your goals on that marathon.

5 stars.

By hearing the credentials of Grete Waitz, I was expectant to learn much from this book about my first marathon training. What I got however, was the desire to break out a red pen and an overwhelming need to get a better book. The entire work is filled with obvious grammatical errors (even on the back cover, "udated" rather than "updated" is featured in bright yellow lettering. If only I had paid attention to that!) English errors aside, this isn't a very helpful book as a guide. Most of the information in it is little more than common sense, and if it isn't, could have easily been gleaned from the internet. Grete has but one 16 week training program, and a bonus one previous to that to make sure you are fit to run. The descriptions of the programs are lacking at best, and offer scant insight on the timing of strength training or stretching. For a better knowledge base and a book you'll go back to when you have questions, try The Marathon Method: The 16-Week Training Program that Prepares You to Finish a Full or Half Marathon in Your Best Time By Tim Holland- it features far more detailed and varied training plans, so you'll be more likely to find one that suits you. With all respect to Waitz and her amazing accomplishments, her book fell far short of the training bible she claims it to be.

Interesting, well-written and informative book. It is truly a book for first-timers, however, and most of the information -although relevant to running- is general, for the large public. She does cover most if not all topics that you might want to read about. It is a good inspiration especially if you doubt you can run a marathon.

If you only read one book to prepare for your first marathon, read this one! It has got everything you need to know. It's an enjoyable mix of annecdotes, training plans and practical advice. Waitz is very honest and down-to earth.

The walk to run program prescribed in this book is RIDDLED WITH ERRORS! The minutes do not add up for much of the program! Do not buy if you are hoping to follow this plan to run your first marathon. Find the first edition and buy that book if you want the correct walk to run plan! Contacting the publisher of the book did finally net me the accurate walk to run program.

After looking at a few books, I settled on this one. I thought it was clear, straight forward information for someone who is new to running, like myself. I really like this book, but, I did encounter some problems with the book that drove me crazy and thought maybe I was making some mathematical error when I was trying to add up the time from the walk-run schedule section. Weeks 2,3,5, and 6 have errors in it. After reading above reviews, I realized it wasn't me,if I would have caught this earlier, I would not have bought it. Luckily, thanks to google books, I was able to pull up the first edition and get the right information for the walk-run schedule. I had to white-out the errors and manually input the correct jog/walk times (what a pain).

My advise, if you plan on purchasing this book, please get the 1st edition. The second edition has major typos and can be a complete bummer for someone wanting to prep. for their first marathon.

I've done quite a bit of reading on completing half and full marathons. At the moment, I'm in the midst of training for a full marathon. In the past year, I've completed two half marathons and will be running my third soon.

This book has good information on hydration, stretching, mental motivators, and even includes a walk-to-run beginning program. However, I found the actual training program lacking. The author provides one 16-Week Beginning Marathon Program that really doesn't have much of a taper phase. On week 16, the week of the marathon, she has you running 20 miles plus the marathon. I've never seen a training program, especially for beginners, with so much mileage during the last week. I could be reading it wrong, and the reader is supposed to lower the mileage in week 17 and run the marathon, but this isn't made clear.

Overall, the book has good information, but the most essential information, the training schedule, is lacking. If you purchase this book, I highly recommend you also get The Marathon Method: The 16-Week Training Program That Prepares You to Finish a Full or Half Marathon in Your Best Time. This book is also for first timers, but includes three different schedules depending on your running experience and weekly mileage.

I got this book to prepare for my first marathon but also thought the walk-run approach might be helpful for my wife who is scared but curious about running even short distances. Unfortunately, the walk-run tables on pages 36-38 don't add up. Specifically, weeks 2 and 3...the training regiments don't add up to 25 and 31 minutes respectively. Week 5 and day 2 of week 6 are not right either. Lost immediate credibility in the first 40 pages. I hope the rest of the book is better edited.

Getting ready to run my first marathon, and find a lot of good wisdom and encouragement in this book.

Easy to read, and if you're running your first marathon, lots of good training tips and things to ponder for the big day.

Highly recommend.

I'm running my first marathon in the fall. I've been a runner for 14 yrs and have done 4 half marathons but never a full one. So I wanted a simple A-Z book to read to prepare & train me mentally & physically. If that's what you're looking for, this is the book!