Selections of Some Excellent Running, Training, and Exercise Books and Videos
Reading the thoughts and theories of different authors about running can be eye-opening. There are some excellent books that give clear, accurate information that can provide the knowledge to
improve your running. Repeated trial and error is not always the best way to learn.
Some of these books can be difficult to find in your local bookstore, so I have provided links to enable you to buy these the books online.
One of my personal favorites, and one of the best running
books out there is
The Lore of Running by Dr. Tim Noakes. This book
explores the physiology of running, all aspects of
training, and recognizing, avoiding, and treating
injuries. This book is an excellent reference for all
things related to running, and is a must for any runner's
bookshelf. A massive amount of information in here!
Noakes blends the expertise of a physician and research
scientist with the passion of a dedicated runner to
answer the most pressing questions for those who are
serious about the sport. Revised and updated frequently, be
sure to order the much improved and updated Fourth
edition.
Marine Corps Marathon: A Running Tradition, by MCM historian George Banker, captures the unique soul and military spirit of the MCM. Stories from some of the more than 330,000 runners who have crossed the finish line since 1976 are captured within its pages - from the mental and physical pain to the many joys and triumphs endured over 26.2 miles. To support the text, this book includes a collection of pictures dating back to 1976, the first year of the race. There are top athletes who run alongside amateur runners, and even a few celebrities like Oprah. The appendices are an extensive collection of race statistical facts and top performances.
Most marathon training advice you can find is geared
toward beginning runners. Novices have much more basic
needs than those who are trying to "race" the marathon,
rather than merely run the race. Olympic marathoner, Pere
Pitzinger and Scott Douglas point
Advanced Marathoning squarely at the runner seeking
to reach their marathoning potential.
If you know about American marathoning history, or read
Running Times you will recognize the names Bill Rodgers,
Pete Pfitzinger, and Scott Douglas. These three
runners/authors have teamed to write
Road Racing for Serious Runners. They present a
training and racing plan for competitive runners to excel
in the full spectrum of road racing distances, telling
how to individualize programs for 5k, 8k, 10k, and 15k
races. This is one book that will make you a better
runner.
Bill Rodgers and Scott Douglas also teamed to write
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jogging and Running,
which is geared toward the beginning runner who whats the
answers to the basic questions. Some of the basic
questions a new runner has are not addressed by the books
for more experienced runners.
Another excellent resource for scientifically-based
running training is
Daniel's Running Formula by Jack Daniels, Tudor O.
Bompa, Alberto Salazar. Dr. Jack Daniels provides running
instruction that anyone can follow - beginner to
experienced. The book contains some technical material,
but overall it is very easy to understand. It includes
useful charts to determine your fitness level, based on
your most recent race results, and from that fitness
level another chart tells you at what pace you should
perform different workouts.
Seb Coe, one of the top distance runners of all-time, had
his father coach him and their training program shook up
many old ways of doing things. For a lower mileage
approach,
Better Training for Distance Runners is a great book
and is an essential part of any serious distance runner's
or coach's library.
Having troubles with that late-race surge, or powering up
hills? Don't we all!
Explosive Running: Using the Science of Kinesiology to
Improve Your Performance can help as it has drills
that build the specific muscles that help improve your
running power that can get you up that hill, or past the
one final person before the finishline.
Ultramarathons are somehow different. The stresses of
these longer events create an atmosphere of extreme experiences.
Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters With the Ultramarathon recounts many ultra stories, and how different runners coped with their situation. Many of the contributors are friends of mine. Highly recommended!
Marathon training is a great source for misinformation
and bad advise. Properly training for a marathon can
greatly assist your chances of finishing the race, and
getting closer to your own potential.
How to Train for and Run Your Best Marathon by Gordon
Bakoulis Bloch, a national class marathoner who qualified
for the Olympic Trials--valuable coaching on gearing up for
and finishing a marathon. Includes the benefits of
cross-training for marathon runners, offers winning
strategies specific to individual race courses, and
more.
For those looking for a guide to help them through their
first marathon, you can get excellent advise from
4 Months to A 4 Hour Marathon by Dave Kuehls.
Designed for every level of runner, from recreational
beginners to competitive runners, this book, written by a
senior writer at Runner's World and a marathoner, tells
what to eat, what to wear, what to expect, and how to
train.
For the already competitive runner, getting past those
plateaus that stall the progress in your running
improvement is one of the more difficult problems in
running.
The New Competitive Runner's Handbook, by Bob Glover,
Pete Schuder, Bob Glover, and Pete Schneider, gives many
tips toward getting your progress back on track. Designed
for the thousands of runners, from novices to world-class
competitors, who participate--or want to participate--in
the excitement of competitive running, this is an
authoritative book on training, with new information on
the 10K and the marathon.
Running with the Buffaloes follows every step of the
University of Colorado Buffalos Men's Cross Country team
for a complete cross country season. The XC season had
both success and tragedy. A very good read you get to see
what it takes to run at the top-level of our sport.
Colorado's training approach is not for everybody, but is
one way to find out how good you can be!
Eating right will provide the fuel to improve your
running.
Endurance Sports Nutrition is written by someone who
knows this topic from the academic and running angles.
Everyone from beginners to hard-core competitors will
find advice on how to apply these nutritional strategies,
creating a customized eating plan for their sport. There
is no need to learn from trail and error.
Coaching young runners is a challenge. Training for Young Distance Runners provides excellent guidance for training younger athletes while avoiding the common pitfalls. It provides insight into a young runner's mind and biomechanical needs of a young runner.
You can now buy running shoes, clothes, and other stuff
at
Road Runner Sports. by all means support your local
running store, but RRS has a much larger selection than
most stores. You can also use their website to help you
select the correct shoes.
Runners World is the top selling running magazine in the
world. An excellent source of information for the
beginning runner,
Runners World offers advice on training, nutrition,
equipment and many other topics.
I have been reading
Running Times since its inception in the late 1970's.
With much more of a competitive running focus than
competitors, Running Times features an excellent race
calendar and great training programs.
Track and field competition is the root of competitive
running. Read
Track & Field News and you will watch the
Olympics with increased appreciation and knowledge.
Excellent worldwide coverage of track and field. From
high school to the Olympics, track, field, and road,
Track and filed News covers it all. It is truly the Bible
of our sport.
I have found that running races marathon or longer
require a whole different set of knowledge and
experience.
Marathon & Beyond is focused on these longer
races and features longer, more informative, articles
than your standard running magazine. This is an excellent
resource for the runner who goes longer. Highly
recommended!
Keep up to date with the latest scientific research on
running related topics with Running Research News. Repeated trial and error is not always the best way to learn. Use RRN to find the best, new way to do things.
I have another project I have been working on for a while now, my twin daughters. We used a LOT of different things during the past several years, so worked, and others just took up space. Here is some to help find those useful baby items that make raising kids easier. With twins especially, you learn things through 'trial by fire', so having the correct tools to ease tasks is wonderful!
