Runner's World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training: Winning Strategies, Inpiring Stories, and the Ultimate Training Tools from the Experts at Runner's World Challenge [Paperback]

Amby Burfoot (Author), Bart Yasso (Author), Jennifer Van Allen (Author), Pam Nisevich Bede (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 5, 2012

The first dedicated book on marathon and half marathon training from the renowned experts at Runner’s World

Runner’s World Big Book of Marathons (and Half Marathons) gives readers the core essentials of marathon training, nutrition, injury prevention, and more.

The editors of Runner’s World know marathon training better than anyone on the planet. They have spent the last few years inviting readers to share the long, sweaty journey to the starting line, putting themselves on call to personally answer readers’ questions 24/7. This book will include testimonials from real runners, more than 25 training plans for every level and ability, workouts, a runner’s dictionary, and sample meal plans.

Runner’s World Big Book of Marathons (and Half Marathons) is a powerful and winning resource—the ultimate tool kit for anyone who wants to get from the starting line to the finish line.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1609616847
• ISBN-13: 978-1609616847
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Other Team Sports > Track & Field
  • #51 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Running & Jogging
  • #57 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Training & Conditioning

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bart Yasso is the author of My Life on the Run and chief running officer at Runner’s World. He lives in Bethlehem, PA.

Amby Burfoot, Runner’s World’s editor at large and winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon, has run more than 100,000 lifetime miles (and counting). He lives in Emmaus, PA.

Jen Van Allen manages the Runner’s World Challenge program and regularly contributes to the magazine. She lives in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1609616847
• ISBN-13: 978-1609616847
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Other Team Sports > Track & Field
  • #51 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Running & Jogging
  • #57 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Training & Conditioning

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 61 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Chock full of running info, but training...not so much June 20, 2012

By Michael Eade

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having run now for over a year I'm starting to train for my first marathon. I've had a Runners World magazine subscription since I started running, and felt that this book would be perfect for helping me focus on training for a marathon. It is called the Big book of marathon and half-marathon training, after all.

But in truth, I found this book to be more about running in general. What I was hoping for were specific training methods, maybe comparisons between them. What worked well, what didn't. Instead it all felt somewhat generalized to me. It's a good book and it explains a lot of running terms. But specific training programs? Appendix D has beginner, intermediate, and expert training plans for the marathon and half marathon. The marathon plans do not include any cross training, which I find odd. The half marathon plans include cross training or running.

There's a lot of personal stories in this book as well, but I don't personally find those to be that useful. For an introduction to running, yes, it can be motivational. But how about telling me what you actually did to train for that marathon, rather than "I worked out in the mornings so that work wouldn't get in the way"?

I'm giving the book three stars. It's a good, thorough book on running, and if it had been labelled as a running handbook I'd give it a higher rating. But I bought this for a specific purpose and I don't feel it focuses enough to warrant a higher rating.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of general info about running but not enough marathon specific training info as billed June 21, 2012

By Phil

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

First off, I enjoyed the book. Good solid information about training in general. For example, the book clearly articulated hard/easy principles, defining what type of training may be classified as "hard" (speed, tempo, long run, etc.), vs. easy (easy 6 - 12 mile runs where you can hold a conversation while running). The book also delves into many details regarding shoes, running gear, etc. Intermixed are runner's stories (which are "boxed off" so you can easily skip over them if you wish to "cut through the chase") derived primarily from these author's encounters of runners who have enrolled in the "Runners World Challenge" in prior years. Many of these are inspiring and helpful, even for an advanced runner, insofar that they remind us that everyone who runs is a winner, and that there are other ways of defining success besides scoring a trophy or PR.

With that said, this book will probably disappoint competitive runners looking for advanced plans that strike a balance between the hard-core running literature for elite athletes and literature written for those with primarily recreational pursuits. In other words, it may be a little conservative for those who recognize that they will probably never score a placing trophy in their age category but nonetheless wish to push themselves to limit of their ability to find out just what they are made of. A particular disappointment in this regard were the training plans, which were few (as noted by a prior reviewer), and generally pretty conservative, save the long run mileage.

In the next edition I would like to see more training plans with more specific guidance on hill training, and making use of the treadmill when hills are lacking (an area in the literature that is lacking, incidentally).... I would also like to see more examples...twenty something week plans. Eight week plans (there was one designed to perform consecutive races). Plans with more speed, tempo, and hills (with use of several specific versions of each). In other words, one or two additional levels multiplied by one or two additional longer term and shorter term training plans. Also, more structured guidance on custom designing your own plan and integrating strength training. Add these in, you have a great book on marathon training. To put it another way, the Big Book of Marathon and Half Marathon Training needs to be bigger. Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Great Information- Regardless of Experience June 12, 2012

By Zachary B. Taylor

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book appears to be the "best of" many articles from the Runners World Magazine put together in book form, but it is a good resource for running, related fitness, injuries, injury prevention, nutrition etc.
Even has some great Training plans, which alone, make the purchase price worth it. Lots of good information in it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Read it already August 15, 2012

By Ben

Format:Paperback

If you subscribe to runners world magazine there is no need to buy this book. The points made in this book are just a summary of what is in the magazine.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful book, especially for new runners! June 20, 2012

By T. M. Childress

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've only been running for little over a year, and I wish I had had this book from the start! I wouldn't have learned most of my stuff the hard way. That said, this book gives a lot of documented information from reliable sources, excellent tips, and it's all easy to understand. The hardest part, I think, especially for someone new, is believing it--especially the parts about the importance of recovery days--when everything else in the world says "practice makes perfect," advocating doing more, not less. But this book explains exactly what takes place in the muscles: microtears, and the soreness one feels in the rebuilding process. Lots of good stuff here!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not as expected April 13, 2013

By mismo1010

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Every other "Big Book of..." completely exceeded my expectations except this one. A true disappointment. With the endless options of random training plans for half and full marathons online, I truly though this was the one-stop-shop to help me pick the right plan for me, but I was sorely disappointed. The entire book was the same ho-hum running guidelines about diet, stretching, runner stories, picking the right gear and what to eat and what not to eat- which is different for every runner anyway. The ole "try what works for you" and do that. I don't need 290 pages of fluff to tell me what every other book already says and most runners- even a novice already knows through common sense. The best part about this book was the last 3 pages which guide you on how to safely train for another big race after a previous race and the appendix of actual recommended training plans (a whopping 9 pages). Please do your research and don't waste your money. A 10 minute google search can tell you more than everything this book has to offer.