Running and Walking for Women Over 40 : The Road to Sanity and Vanity [Paperback]

Kathrine Switzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1998

A consistent program of running or walking is the fastest, easiest, and least expensive road to overall fitness and well-being for women and men at any age. For women over forty it can be the key to the most fulfilling years life has in store.

Katherine Switzer, a pioneer in women's fitness since 1967, when she became the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon is once again blazing a trail with the very first running and walking program designed specifically for women over forty. Now every woman can benefit from Katherine's highly personal, motivational, and step-by-step advice.

"For women beginning fitness programs at age forty, fifty, and beyond, the results can be nothing short of dramatic. For the first time they are reaching the body weight and physical conditioning they've always dreamed of. Women who have been reasonably active off their lives can also firnd a new and exciting road of fitness ahead of them after age forty. Some even find themselves outrunning women half their age!" --Katherine Switzer

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book will give women everywhere the guidance they need." --Grete Waitz, nine-time winner of the New York City Marathon and author of On the Run: Exercise and Fitness for Busy People

"I took up running and fitness walking at age sixty-seven , and it turned out to be one of the best things I ever did in my life. Running and Walking for Women Over 40 will help more women like me get started exercising, and then they'll find out how pleasurable and rewarding it can be."--Reidun Andersen, Grete Waitz's mom

"Katherine Switzer has always been a pioneer, and she's on the right track again with this pioneering book. Almost all the women in my weekly health walking class are over forty, and the fitness results have transformed them. Katherine's book will help get thousands more started today." --Howard "Jake" Jacobson, motivation and conditioning coach to Olympic walks, and author of the forthcoming, Health Walk to Fitness

About the Author

Kathrine Switzer is Program Director for Avon Running Global Women's Circuit, an international program that provides millions of women with the opportunity to compete in running and walking events all over the world. She has run thirty-five marathons, won the 1974 New York City Marathon, and in 1975 was ranked sixth in the world and third in the United States. She is also a jounalist and an Emmy Award-winning sports commentator for ABC, NBC, CBS and Turner Sports Broadcasting. She is married to Dr. Roger Robinson, professor, author, and noted age-group runner, and divides her time between New York City, Virginia, and New Zealand.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312187777
• ISBN-13: 978-0312187774
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Walking
  • #64 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Running & Jogging
  • #86 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

303 of 313 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST read, May 6, 2000

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Running and Walking for Women Over 40 : The Road to Sanity and Vanity (Paperback)

Ok ok I admit I saw her on OPRAH and bought the book. ONLY book I bought that I saw on OPRAH, but this is an AWESOME book. I am happy to finally have found a book written by and for a woman over age 40. So many books I have purchased dealing with walking and running were by younger women/men and until you hit age 40 and beyond you just do not know the challenges that ones body goes thru.

I also appreciated learning what it is like for a woman to be a rebel (She was the FIRST woman in the Boston Marathon).I have discovered women over age 40 and 50 become rebels as they discover things about themselves they never knew. Like we CAN indeed become avid walkers and then runners and we CAN finish marathons.

I am still in the walking phase and looking forward to the time when my body can handle a run. This book covers these fears and challenges and issues like knee pain. This is something I am dealing with since I was obese and the extra weight damaged my knees some. But her advise about doing leg lifts to give strength to ones thighs was GREAT advise. The author gives good sound advise based on years of wisdom.

Of course she encourages the reader to see their own doctor and get needed personal help from someone locally well versed in sports medicine etc.

I am buying extra copies to give as Mothers Day gifts to my friends.

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for a beginning runner, June 27, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Running and Walking for Women Over 40 : The Road to Sanity and Vanity (Paperback)

I had been walking and not noticing much in the way of results. I picked up this book and saw her plan for becoming a 30-minute runner. Me running seemed completely absurd, but for some reason I gave it a try anyway. Her plan broke it out into simple steps so that you only had to face running a few minutes at a time to begin with. It actually worked. Using her plan, I worked up to running 5K, and recently finished my first 5K race. You get a great sense of accomplishment, and weight is gradually coming off (with reduced eating too, of course). This really isn't a diet book, but if you want to walk or run, it will tell you what you need to get going. Her plans are simple, easy to understand, and they work.

If you've ever thought of running, but can barely even imagine yourself doing it, get this book and get started. (And then order "The Courage to Start" by John Bingham, a terrific motivational book for the beginning runner.)

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INSPIRING AND SENSIBLE! BRAVO!, October 14, 2002

By 

C.Z.S. "C" (memphis, tn) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Running and Walking for Women Over 40 : The Road to Sanity and Vanity (Paperback)

I hadn't run for 17 years and never ran more than 3.5 miles. (I'm 40.) With the help of this book, I am up to 5 miles (and counting!). The book is easy to read. The program is easy to follow. However, this book is for people who are basically in good health and who like to exercise. The book will not GIVE you motivation, it will simply help you if you are already somewhat motivated and want to get in better shape. I have followed her advice, gotten great results and enjoyed the process. This book has been worth a million to me!