Marathons Books

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Haruki Murakami

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he’d completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, not to mention triathlons and a dozen critically acclaimed books, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and—even more important—on his writing.

Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and takes us to places ranging from Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston among young women who outpace him. Through this marvelous lens of sport emerges a panorama of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his greatest triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after fifty, of seeing his race times improve and then fall back.

By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is rich and revelatory, both for fans of this masterful yet guardedly private writer and for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in running.

50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days -- and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance!

Dean Karnazes

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Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the Fall of 2006, Dean Karnazes, known as the "Lance Armstrong of the running world," took on the ultimate challenge: running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. Dean set off in a caravan packed with fellow runners, with nothing more than a roadmap and a determination that defied all physical limitations.

50/50 goes beyond the incredible story of these 50 marathons. It is a firsthand account of what happens when your body defies all limitations, and it is a fascinating story of what it's like to push the limits of strength under grueling conditions.

This book is also packed with Dean's secrets and training tips that runners everywhere will want to know. These include what to do when you hit a wall, how to adapt quickly to drastic terrain, how to get motivated after a really tough day, and the best diet and exercise tips to improve your own best time. Complete with Dean's practical tips on building endurance, this book will appeal to marathon runners and athletes everywhere.


"(He) makes the extraordinary look easy." --GQ


"The indefatigable man." --Esquire


"One of the sexiest men in sports." --Sports Illustrated Women

The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer

David A. Whitsett, Forrest A. Dolgener, Tanjala Jo Kole

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Total reviews: 164 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

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.

My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon

Bart Yasso, Kathleen Parrish

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Dubbed the "Mayor of Running," Bart Yasso is one of the best-known figures in the sport, but few people know why he started running competitively, how it changed his life, or how his brush with a crippling illness nearly ended his career a decade ago. With insight and humor, My Life on the Run chronicles the heatstroke and frostbite, heartache and triumphs he’s experienced while competing in more than 1,000 competitive races during his nearly 30 years with Runner’s World magazine.

Yasso gives valuable and practical advice on how to become a runner for life and continually draw joy from the sport. He also offers practical guidance for beginners, intermediate, and advanced runners, such as 5-K, half-marathon, and marathon training schedules including his innovative technique known as the Yasso 800s.

Recounting his adventures in exotic locales like Antarctica, Africa, and Chitwan National Park in Nepal (where he was chased by an angry rhino), Yasso recommends the best exotic marathons for runners who want to grab their passports to test themselves on foreign terrain. With the wit and wisdom of a seasoned insider, he tells runners what they need to know to navigate the logistics of running in an unfamiliar country.

Yasso’s message is this: Never limit where running can take you because each race has the potential for adventure.

The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training

Dawn Dais

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 55 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Dawn Dais hated running. And it didn't like her much, either. Her fitness routine consisted of avoiding the stairs in her own house, because who really has the energy to climb stairs? It was with this exercise philosophy firmly in place that she set off to complete a marathon.
The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women is a fun training manual for women who don't believe that running is their biological destiny but who dream of crossing the finish line nonetheless. It opens with a realistic training schedule and is chock-full of how-to's, quizzes, and funny observations, which Dais felt were lacking in the guides she had consulted.
The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women also integrates entries from Dias' journal, sharing everything would-be marathoners need to know about the gear, the blisters, the early morning workouts, the late-night carb binges, and — most important of all — the amazing rewards.
Anyone can do a marathon. This book just makes the experience a little more bearable and a lot more fun.

Marathon: You Can Do It!

Jeff Galloway

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Good info for all runners of any distance 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

As an older beginning runner who has completed a handful of 5Ks these past few months, the idea of a marathon is one of those "why not" ideas that has been creeping into mind. After reading this book, that goal sounds more realistic than ever before.

In my judgement, Mr. Galloway does a nice job of breaking down the details and convincing any runner that, despite someone's age or athletic abilities, not trying to ever run a marathon will cause more anguish years from now than training to run one. I obviously can not speak for advanced runners but I recommend this book to anyone who has broken out of the run-walk combo program and is ready to add some mileage to their workout.

Editorial Review:

Marathon running is a sport that many consider too daunting, better in the viewing than the doing. Olympian Jeff Galloway dispels such notions in a book that takes the mystery — and misery — out of distance running. Marathon! shows how just about anyone can run a marathon and, given the right attitude and training, finish the race. Galloway has designed a low-mileage marathon training program that has been used by over 10,000 people with a 98 percent success rate. The book includes the latest information on workouts, form innovations, pace charts, prediction tables, and motivation strategies.

Marathoning for Mortals

John Bingham, Jenny Hadfield

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Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Once considered a feat for superhuman athletes, the marathon is now within every mortal's grasp. Former couch potato John Bingham has joined forces with coach Jenny Hadfield to create a winning plan that works for every mortal--even you.

In Marathoning for Mortals, you'll find the courage to train, the willpower to persevere, and the tenacity to finish one mile after another. John and Jenny stick with you every step of the way, from your first insecure thoughts to your last-minute jitters to your supreme joy at the finish line. In Marathoning for Mortals, you'll find:

8 training programs to run, run-walk, walk-run, or walk the half-marathon and marathon

The advice you need to physically, mentally, and spiritually reach your dreams

Tips to help you customize your training, buy the right shoes and apparel, and eat the best foods

Guidance for common motivational, physical, and emotional roadblocks

Join John and Jenny on an amazing transformative journey where the finish line is just the beginning.

Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide

Hal Higdon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

For Reference and Motivation 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Tons of great tips make this reference guide a must-have for marathon runners. There are also inspirational tidbits to get you back on the track.

Great for the beginning/intermediate marathoner 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Sat and read this book all the way through in a sitting. Lots of fantastic practical tidbits for the first time marathoner, as well as those who have not quite qualified for Boston (yet). The August injury chapter was a favorite. Those sub 3 hour folks are probably reading something else anyways. His website is also quite good. Nice job, Hal!

Editorial Review:

With over 50% new material, this category killer is sure to go the distanceWhen the previous edition of Hal Higdon's superb training guide appeared, Grete Waitz, 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon, cheered: "Higdon's years of marathoning experience come through in this practical book. Aspiring or veteran marathoners will benefit enormously from its proven guidance."This new edition focuses on first marathoners, women runners, and those new to the sport; and as always, Higdon shows how to build up mileage and gives advice on running long, speedwork for distance runners, defensive running strategies, and planning for peak performance.

Four Months to a Four-hour Marathon,Updated

Dave Kuehls

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Total reviews: 70 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

May I have those 4 months back, please? 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I do not recommend this book. It does give some useful information on running--general stuff on what to eat and wear and where to run. If you are new to running you might find it helpful. However, the training program is terrible. I ran my first marathon in a little over 4.5 hours. I took it very easy though and there were a lot of hills, so I was hoping that with the flat Chicago course and some harder training I could run a 4 hour marathon. A lofty goal, but my plan B goal was a sub-4.5 marathon. I bought this book hoping to reach at least one of my goals (unfortunately, the stifling heat ended this year's Chicago marathon before I finished & I had to walk a couple miles so I did not reach either goal, but that's not Kuehls's fault).

To run a four hour marathon, you need to run a 9 minute mile. I used to be able to run several miles at that pace, but this training program made me SLOWER. Here's the basic plan: there are two 20-30 minute jogs each week that are supposed to be done around a 12 minute mile pace (yeah, that's HARD--it took me a couple weeks before I could even get that slow). Your long run is supposed to be done at a 10:40 to 11:20 minute mile pace. Then you have one interval speed workout (at the beginning of the program) or a tempo run (at the end of the program to be done at a 8:40ish minute mile pace). How one fast run a week is supposed to prepare you for 26 miles at a 9 minute mile pace is beyond me. It didn't make sense at the beginning & I guess I'm the fool for following the plan anyway. If you want an easy training program, choose this one. If you want to run a 4 hour marathon, look for something else.

Now that the marathon is over, I need to work on building up the speed I lost over the last four months.

Editorial Review:

Entering is one thing. Finishing with a respectable time is something else.

4 Months to a 4-Hour Marathon serves as a personal trainer for runners looking to improve their performance. Whether competitive veterans or recreational beginners, with this essential guide marathoners can learn exactly what to expect, how to train, and even what to eat and what to wear. Dave Kuehls, contributing editor at Runner's World and a marathoner himself, discusses:

- Day-by-day training schedules for 4-hour and 5-hour marathoners
- Detailed diet plans
- The marathoner's mind-set
- Right and wrong things to wear
- Picking the right running shoes
- Pain vs. performance
- Common pitfalls to avoid
- The 36 fastest marathons in North America

Advanced Marathoning

Pete Pfitzinger, Scott Douglas

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Human Kinetics Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $6.65

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

If you ever want to get to Boston, Get this book!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book totally transformed my marathon training. It took me from a middle of the pack runner to a Boston qualifier. It explains the demands placed on your body in training for a marathon and what it needs to recover and how to focus your runs so that each time you hit the pavement, you do it with a purpose (i.e., no more "junk" miles). I use the training guides in the back of the book religiously. If I'm ever away from home more than a few days, this book goes with me!! I've given it to at least 4 other people. In my opinion, no runner should be without this book.

Editorial Review:

Run faster marathons with hard-core, scientific training! Commitment and hard work are essential, but successful marathoning also takes intelligent preparation. Advanced Marathoning contains all the information you'll need to run faster, peak for multiple marathons without injury, and meet your marathon goal—whether it's running a personal best, qualifying for the Boston Marathon, or winning your age division.

If you are willing to put in the work necessary to run faster, Advanced Marathoning will show you how to train efficiently and effectively to meet your goals with both single- and multiple- marathon programs presented in clear, weekly schedules. If you are ready to do more than simply finish a marathon, this book is for you.