406 replies to this topic

[flyingcat]

I've read Born to Run a few times now because i have multiple copies (friends keep giving it to me as birthday and christmas presents). I'm surprised when talking about it with other runners (not to discount Michael S's comments) that the most people seem to get out of the book is the no shoes thing. I think it goes further than that. What about the "no worries" attitude of the main characters in the book? They view running as something natural and don't over analyise it, they live simply and don't constantly measure and compare their heart rates, splits etc...sure the no shoe thing fits in but it's not only about feet.
Anyway, my favourite running book would have to be Advanced Marathoning by Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas- great explanations of trainging components and very motivating.
For a great (non-running) endurance read try "White Limbo" by Lincoln Hall. It's about the first Australiain climb of Mt Everest- great insight into how climbers deal with nutrition, lack of oxygen, pacing and the mental side of mountaineering.- very cool

[Isthisnametaken]

I am about 3/4 of the way through Born To Run and have found it to be a great book. Sure there is the emphasis on the no shoe running but there is but as flyingcat says, there is so much more. I like the mental thoughts put out there on peoples ability to push through the pain of the ultra and how they manage to keep going. There are some amazing people in this book even if a little artistic licence is used. Even Cliff Young gets a mention.

[KnockoutMouse]

Just finished reading an old book called "The Joy Of Running" by Thaddeus Kostrubala, M.D.

Written in the 70s in the U.S., in many ways it's like stepping back in time - except that the author was onto something as one of the first to prescribe aerobic activity to treat depression, which has only grown more popular with time.  His description of the fear of dying from heart disease, through to the addictive euphoria of distance running, provides great motivation for anyone looking to convert from a sedentary to an active lifestyle.

The final chapter is a hoot - he describes running a marathon in a series of short-burst sentences that read like stream-of-consciousness, and rang very true to me.

Might be hard to find a copy, mine was bought for $2.00 in a ooooold 2nd-hand bookstore, but here's the author's website: http://www.kostrubala.com/

Edited by KnockoutMouse, 14 January 2011 - 11:05 AM.

[cakeboy]

Just read a book called "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. Is esentially a Bio about Japanese POW Louie Zamperini, which would be an incredible story on its own, but Louie also happened to be an olympic runner and was touted as being capable of being the first man to break 4 mins for the mile. Big call but he did hold the US high school mile record for 19 years, so he could run a bit. First part of the book leading up to WW2 is about him going from juvenile deliquent to an Olympic runner, which would make a great book on its own. Second part of the book is the war story; what he went through as a POW beggars belief..

it was voted by Amazon as being one of the non-fiction books of the year of 2010; the author also wrote Seabiscuit (famous US horse) which is also a great read.

worth a read, definitely imho.
Cheers dave

Edited by cakeboy, 23 February 2011 - 11:09 AM.

[Supersam1979]

I like any book that focuses more on the mental and spiritual side of running and the actual way of life that it instills rather than pure training.

This is put forward in 'The runners guide to the meaning of life' by Amby Burfoot and 'Tea with Mr Newton'. Both are excellent publications and very worth a read. Magical runing by Bobby McGee can and will change your life.

For training books, I would say that for the ultimate guide, go for Daniels' Running Formula by Jack Daniels.

[Curse]

Hey all,

I must admit I haven't read all the previous posts so this book may have already rated a mention. The book is "Running on Faith" by Jason Lester. Whilst not specifically a running book it concentrates on Mr Lester's career in both ironman and ultraman triathlon events. Whilst I find anyone competing in these events inspiring enough alone, Mr Lester has achieved all of this without the use of his right arm. As a tweleve year old he was struck by a car which caused his injury. Reading this book and learning of all his achievements whilst facing the obstacles he has makes me feel embarassed to ever believe I have any worthy excuse not to get my butt out and train. So if you want some inspiration get yourself a copy. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Safe running,

Curse

[haggis basher]

Hi All
For all you 'Cool Runners, you might be interested to know that I have written and recently published an "Autobiography," and put it on Amazon (Kindle eBooks).It covers: running, RAF(15yrs),Alcoholism and recovery,and self-help! It is called "Running off the Tracks" by Brian Hodgson. Hope you enjoy.


PS
I will be having 'open-heart'surgery (valve replacement)in approx 6 weeks, so I hope to be back running
in 6-9 months. :

[Bellthorpe]

Huh? 12 weeks,slack-arse.

[haggis basher]

Bellthorpe, on 14 March 2011 - 09:47 PM, said:

Huh? 12 weeks,slack-arse.

Different for u pal, you are not 70years old!
See Ya

[Bellthorpe]

Almost!

See Ya.

[Eagle]

haggis basher, on 14 March 2011 - 08:42 PM, said:

Hi All
For all you 'Cool Runners, you might be interested to know that I have written and recently published an "Autobiography," and put it on Amazon (Kindle eBooks).It covers: running, RAF(15yrs),Alcoholism and recovery,and self-help! It is called "Running off the Tracks" by Brian Hodgson. Hope you enjoy.


PS
I will be having 'open-heart'surgery (valve replacement)in approx 6 weeks, so I hope to be back running
in 6-9 months. :

Brian I read your book some years ago when I was having my own problems. Good luck with the surgery and recovery.

[Eagle]

New book coming out by Dean Karnazes

26.2 Stories of Blsiters and Bliss

Edited by Eagle, 15 March 2011 - 10:48 AM.

[haggis basher]

Eagle, on 15 March 2011 - 10:34 AM, said:

Brian I read your book some years ago when I was having my own problems. Good luck with the surgery and recovery.

Thanks Eagle. Yes, I realised that you had read it many years ago,I hope it didn't frighten you to death too much! (hee hee)
See Ya

[Delirious]

While surfing on Amazon for books on Exercise Physiology, I came up with this one

Ratey, John J. (2008) Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

It explains the biochemical basis for (mostly) running's normalising effect on the brain, complete with medical references. Ratey - a Psychiatrist - covers everything from depression and anxiety to ADHD and addiction.

He also discusses evidence that physical movement such as running promotes a large amount of neurogenesis (i.e. generation of new brain cells). The idea is we were meant to move and so the lack of movement these days is knocking off our brains.

There's a lot more to it than that, and I found this book quite fascinating (being the nerdy type...).

Now, back to exercise physiology... I decided a decent reference on the subject would be worthwhile. So am anticipating the arrival of this book

McArdle, Katch & Katch (2009) Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy, and Human Performance (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins))

Expensive, yes, but well regarded and by the looks of it, a fairly comprehensive and complete reference.

Cheers,
Nicholas

[Eagle]

Just published:

Running on Empty by Marshall Ulrich

Read it in a day. Here is a small review :

Running on Empty

Well worth the read. Another great runner who starts by accident and then finds he is very good it it. The death of his first wife aged 30 seemed to be a burden that he has carried for a long while. He is now close to 60 if not.

Edited by Eagle, 23 April 2011 - 10:47 AM.

[Arfadent]

Eagle, on 15 March 2011 - 10:40 AM, said:

New book coming out by Dean Karnazes

26.2 Stories of Blsiters and Bliss

It's an enjoyable read, a lot of feel good moments but not as good as his previous two books IMHO.
Arfa.

[Spud]

'Relentless Forward Progress' by IrunFar.com's Byron Powell.
Reviewhere

[Eagle]

Arfadent, on 23 April 2011 - 11:26 AM, said:

It's an enjoyable read, a lot of feel good moments but not as good as his previous two books IMHO.
Arfa.

I agree. It will be very difficult for any future book to 'grab and inspire' as the first one. But often the sequel is that .. never quite as good as the first.

[Eagle]

Spud, on 23 April 2011 - 11:54 AM, said:

'Relentless Forward Progress' by IrunFar.com's Byron Powell.
Reviewhere

Thanks Spud.

Just ordered from Amazon. The dollar is just so so high at the moment.

[Spud]

Ditto Eagle, just ordered Marshall's book too.
Currently reading Lydiard's biography "Master Coach"

Cheers

Edited by Spud, 23 April 2011 - 12:15 PM.

[42junkie]

I feel obliged to draw your attention to my new book because it is a home- grown product, written by an Australian and with a local slant on the whole topic. It's called "Passion for Distance, the story of my 100 marathons". It is an inspiring story, people tell me. See below for how to get hold of a copy. I think you will enjoy it.

[Eagle]

Julia

I wil get a copy shortly. Catch you soon. Williamstown ?

[42junkie]

Yes, I will be at Williamstown. Looking forward to it.

[Eagle]

42junkie, on 25 April 2011 - 04:17 PM, said:

Yes, I will be at Williamstown. Looking forward to it.

Good news. See you at the start.

[RonnieLevy]

Hi guys, I have written and published a book which, as a runner myself, I thought some of you may like. I wrote 'The Defenders' as a fiction book, and while I know we like to read non-fiction running books most of the time, maybe it may interest a few of you fiction buffs out there.

Check it out at http://www.TheDefendersrace.com and let me know what you think.

Cheers to all, Ronnie

[pjay]

An eye-opener to look at the range of running books available.

At the moment I'm flipping through 'The Complete Idiot's Guide To Running' third  edition 2010 by Bill Rodgers of Boston Marathon fame and Scott Douglas who co-wrote with Pfitzinger 'Advanced Marathoning', a book I have found worth reading.

Douglas is now in his sixties and still running plenty of kilometres every week, so his chapter on seniors running has cachet.  I found the chapter on injuries (Should You Run On It) provides quite good specific advice. The book gives a good overall view of running as any good guide should.

Edit:  The library copy I'm reading is third edition 2010, 319 pages.
       The most recent published is a third revised edition July 2011, 336 pages.

Edited by pjay, 10 September 2011 - 11:54 AM.

[ashima]

I too began my ultramarathon reading when a friend loaned me Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man and 50 Marathons in 50 Days. Since then i have read many inspiring tales of endurance from runners and mountaineers and at present am reading Byron Powells book, Relentless forward progress. I have to say though, as a female that the most relevant story of running and adventure that has made the biggest impact on my life is Running Hot, by kiwi Lisa Tamati.
Lisa most recently ran 222km in a race called La Ultra in the Himalayas! Definitely worth the read.

[maryclaire]

I have yet again dug out Lore of Running.  I will have it bedside on and off for about 4 months of the year - usually when something crops up in my training that I know Noaks has dealt with.  At the moment it's overtraining

I think this book is about the runner's equivalent of the Bible.

[Long Arms]

I recommend RUNNING WITH JOY by 2.04 American marathoner Ryan Hall. It shows even the top performers have far more lows than highs in their running lives. Very inspirational

[omy005]

maryclaire, on 10 September 2011 - 02:15 PM, said:

I have yet again dug out Lore of Running.  I will have it bedside on and off for about 4 months of the year - usually when something crops up in my training that I know Noaks has dealt with.  
I think this book is about the runner's equivalent of the Bible.

Same here, When something does come up you can be fairly sure it is covered, especially in the revised edition.

Andrew.

[HombreCorriendo]

"Zen and the Art of Running" by Larry Shapiro

[42junkie]

Yes, I am addicted to Noakes too. He is my absolute hero. I haven't yet heard him say anything silly.

[Grechy]

I agree with the comments about Lore Of Running. Its an awesome book, just wish I could find time to read the rest of it.

[denjah]

Ned, on 06 August 2008 - 04:44 PM, said:

I'm looking for something new to read, not talking about training guides or anything but I found a few books on Amazon that I'm thinking of ordering - 'Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters with the Ultramarathon' and 'The Extra Mile'. Am interested to hear if anyone can recommend any good books on running they have read. Thanks!

Recentely read RUNNING ON EMPTY by Marshall Urlich. A good read telling it from the beginning how he got into running and mainly focuses on his run across America, a mere 3,000 odd miles.He has also climbed Mount Everest and countless other feats in his time. He was 57 yrs old on his across America run.

[cakeboy]

I've been reading "The Perfect Distance" by Pat Butcher. It follows the story of the British greats, Steve Ovett and Seb Coe. Pretty in depth book; if you ever want to run a fast 800m or a mile, then read this and get out there...

The good thing about having youtube is that you can read about a race and then go and watch it unfold.

i've added a link that I liked; have a look at how Ovett puts an Olympic semi final field to the sword with a wave to the crowd indicating he knows the race is over well before it seemingly is...this clip shows 25 mins of heats, semis and the 1500m final but click to 11 minute mark to see Ovett claim a 45th consecutive 1500m win.

Edited by cakeboy, 15 September 2011 - 08:30 PM.

[MrUniqueName]

HombreCorriendo, on 12 September 2011 - 04:33 PM, said:

"Zen and the Art of Running" by Larry Shapiro

I started reading this a few weeks ago and only got about a quarter of the way through. When he started talking about different ways to cope with being unable to eat oats before your run (or whatever it was), I thought that I probably don't stress enough about running to really get the most out of the book. I'm still looking at finishing it someday, but unfortunately it didn't really meet my needs. I was really excited to read it, so that was a bit disappointing.

By far the best running book I've read recently is The Perfect Mile. In fact, not only one of the best running books, one of the best books fullstop. It's been a while since I haven't been able to put a book down!

[Skat]

Just bought Lore of Running 4th edition. Nobody mentioned the 900+ pages! Only a few chapters in and finding it quite technical, but i am enjoying finding out how muscles actually work.

[HombreCorriendo]

MrUniqueName, on 16 September 2011 - 07:13 AM, said:

I started reading this a few weeks ago and only got about a quarter of the way through. When he started talking about different ways to cope with being unable to eat oats before your run (or whatever it was), I thought that I probably don't stress enough about running to really get the most out of the book. I'm still looking at finishing it someday, but unfortunately it didn't really meet my needs. I was really excited to read it, so that was a bit disappointing.

By far the best running book I've read recently is The Perfect Mile. In fact, not only one of the best running books, one of the best books fullstop. It's been a while since I haven't been able to put a book down!

Yes the Zen book is a bit like that - eg I rarely need "excuses" to get out for a run; it's more the other way around.  The one powerful thing I took from it was the focus on mindfulness and how powerful this can be for someone who spent so much time with an iPod blaring away rather than paying attention to breathing, footfall etc.  Even the simple act of counting steps - not rocket science I know! - which I took from the book, has got me through many a long run.

I'm also really enjoying a simple litte book called "After The Last PR: the Virtues of Living a Runner's Life" by Dave Griffin.

[slowmo]

cakeboy, on 15 September 2011 - 08:29 PM, said:

i've added a link that I liked; have a look at how Ovett puts an Olympic semi final field to the sword with a wave to the crowd indicating he knows the race is over well before it seemingly is...this clip shows 25 mins of heats, semis and the 1500m final but click to 11 minute mark to see Ovett claim a 45th consecutive 1500m win.

Thanks Cakeboy. I hadn't seen these races since 1980 and though I could remember some of the details it is so good to see them again.

slowmo

[redbackrun]

i have ordered & look forward to reading:

1.De Castella on Running, Robert De Castella with Gayelene Clews,  - an oldie but just to add to my collection

2. Run With The Champions - Training Programs And Secrets Of America's 50 Greatest Runners

3. James E. Fixx, The Complete Book of Running 1978 (did have a copy but lost it over time, it was my first book on running that i read. I always remembered a line in the book  "if you can run for an hour you are a bona fide runner ". i have the Jim's second book so i'm glad i finally found the first book again

4. Ron Clarke, Ron Clarke's Running Book - same as Deek's book. an oldie but should be a goodie. (and if i get to K2D in Dec i'll get him to sign it for me)


cheers

Edited by redbackrun, 22 September 2011 - 08:32 PM.

[maryclaire]

I am about 1/3 into Chris McCormack's "I'm Here To Win".  I am really enthralled by it.  It is clearly written for an American audience, as he uses American colloquialisms.  I am finding the insight into the mentality of an elite athlete to be of most interest to me.

[redbackrun]

KevH, on 17 September 2011 - 04:31 PM, said:

Just bought Lore of Running 4th edition. Nobody mentioned the 900+ pages! Only a few chapters in and finding it quite technical, but i am enjoying finding out how muscles actually work.

got my copy today. All i need now is to find some time to read it.

[slowmo]

Just finished '3.59.4' by John Bryant. Saw it in the local library and recalled Cakeboy mentioning it on this thread.

I enjoyed it immensely. Very readable, despite covering such a long period (from the late 1800s) and so many characters. Many moving and inspirational moments. It was fascinating to read about the politics of amateur athletics as well as the huge contrast in attitude and training methods between athletes.

slowmo

[WetWeek]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but I've nearly finished Running Technique by Brian Martin (Melbourne Running Company).

An excellent book focusing on the mechanics of running and strength/coordination in layman's language.  E-book is only $9.95, which is a bargain IMO.

Edited by WetWeek, 05 April 2012 - 02:16 PM.

[StillGettinThere]

Currently enjoying Pole to Pole.

[robborod]

Just picked up a copy of The Lore Of Running for $2 at my local op shop. Should I begin at the beginning?

Edited by robborod, 10 April 2012 - 05:56 PM.

[AussieAussieAussie]

Running with the Kenyans  - Adharand Finn
Published 2012

Its about an 'average' English runner who takes off to live in Kenya for 6 months to see if he can find the secret to their running success. Its a pretty good read, sadly there is no huge surprise of a magical secret but some great insight into the Kenyan culture and the importance they place on running.

Highly recomended.

[adr1an]

Just read Brian Martin's "Running Technique" and highly recommend - like wetweek said, $9.95 - but only in ebook form (which I've become quite a fan of. Other books I've read and recommend - "Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession" Richard Askwith. Really made me want to get out and run in the mountains (think its been talked about here already), Meb Keflezigi's book, Run to Overcome' is pretty interesting - got that for 99cents ebook. Perfect Mile is pretty good (read that because of recommendations from here

[johnson748r]

Like StillGettingThere, just finished Pole to Pole. What a Herculean effort! I was exhausted just reading about it. And I couldn't believe he didn't even have a shoe sponsor (or any regular massage). Has to be one of the most awe inspiring efforts I've ever read about.

[slowmo]

adr1an, on 11 April 2012 - 09:18 AM, said:

Other books I've read and recommend - "Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession" Richard Askwith. Really made me want to get out and run in the mountains

I can't gush about 'Feet in the Clouds' enough. It's a wonderful mix of history, characters, landscapes and personal quest. Highly recommended.

slowmo