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Training programs can be very different today, and there's no mention here of GPS running, MP3 players and the Nike plus system, or runners websites. The last time his book was revised was in 1996, and it really needs an update for the 21st century. Nutritional insights have changed, shoe and outerwear technology is evolving, and thirteen years is a long time. Instead, there is a discussion on running with a Walkman.An illustrated set of streching excercises really should be added, and the wellness and psychological content should be critically evaluated.That's not to say this is a bad book, it's motivational and written in a pleasant, informal tone. But if this is the only running book you buy, you'll miss a lot.
Wonderful book timeless information. The information in this book shows how to start running , how to guage your effort so as to keep it enjoyable and to keep you from overexerting.Heck, I even bought a heart monitor to better understand how my body is operating. I was running to get into shape but ending runs shortly after I began. I was dying, I was really our of shape after 10 years of only dancing. I will be running for a long time now and when it gets warm again I may enter a race or two. DAS
I'm an intermediate runner and bought this book looking for running tips, some serious advice on potential injuries, advice on pre and post stretching, etc. There are no illustrations, (that would've been very helpful for the stretching exercises), only some data tables. I cannot believe there are 726 pages (I thought amazon had sent me Das Kapital, from Karl Marx.). of obvious statements that you can find in any of the specialized magazines. The chapter about shoes could've been summarized with a "consult your local dealer" sentence, that is all about in that chapter, no mention whatsoever of any particular brand, model, etc. The chapter about food and nutrition repeats the old mistakes of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, so if you want to become obese just follow the pyramid choices,.and the comment about cereal being the best you can get for breakfast is another insult, as anybody knows that in today's world it is almost imposible to get the full benefits of cereal as it is sold in such a refined way that it has lost already all its benefits and only gives you the carbohydrate boost with its correspondent consequence on weight.The chapter about weight is all about calories, another theory that defies inteligence,., ok, go ahead, follow the low calorie diet, just to see months from now how your body charges you double for the mistake.This book is outdated, sometimes you read something interesting here and there but my advice is dont buy it, spend your money in any of the specialized magazines.
I cannot imagine being a successful beginning runner without a plan like those presented in this book. I have tried running before, but with this book, I have been much more successful. It was a great find.
The book has been a great guide for me on how to recover the fit condition I once had, step by step, and without the risk of injury. I have recently started the training program and already feel improvement. The motivation and anti-excuse propositions the book offers for beginner runners really get you to move. A good compilation of medical and technical information support the suggested programs, so it gives you a lot of confidence in what you are doing and what to expect from the exercise.
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