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blackoutcity44's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
this is a really good book for beginners who want to learn more about running. I personally didn’t learn anything new but it was nice reading all the anecdotes
dcreader03's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.0
Nothing groundbreaking didn’t already know. But good training schedules at the end of book.
soundracer's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable read with a friendly, mentor-like tone. Comprehensive information regarding marathons and training for them. Skewed somewhat towards beginners, which works for me! Several training plans are included for different skill levels, they are refreshingly simple compared to some of the other plans that are out there.
While it won't be until later this year when I can report on whether or not the Higdon plans worked for me, I am certainly going to give them a try.
chughes120's review against another edition
3.0
Learned a lot about how marathon running affects the body and what you can do to optimize performance. A bit of an arrogant tone to the book, and a lot of it was more aimed at elite or Boston-level runners, but I feel a little less anxious about my first marathon now.
thriller_chick's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! Lots of good information and Hal Higdon's personality shines through giving it humor in all the right places.
losco's review against another edition
4.0
I am training for a half marathon (a whole chapter is dedicated to this length race) and found this book to be a great guide, full of lots of wisdom and anecdotal experiences; perfect for new runners looking to gain a solid knowledge base of the sport of running. There are training plans included for different races and varying skill levels.
I have been doing a lot of research on running form, gear, nutrition, hydration, cross-training, rest, and injury prevention and this book is one of my top picks to recommend to others who, like me, signed up for a race and afterwards realized they have no idea what the heck they are doing and have to get up to speed fast!!
I have been doing a lot of research on running form, gear, nutrition, hydration, cross-training, rest, and injury prevention and this book is one of my top picks to recommend to others who, like me, signed up for a race and afterwards realized they have no idea what the heck they are doing and have to get up to speed fast!!
kgreg007's review against another edition
3.0
Hal Higdon has gotten me through two marathons, with the third coming up. The book is helpful and has good reminders in it.
caustic_wonder's review against another edition
4.0
Anytime I get a new hobby, I like to learn as much about it as I can. I'm a knowledge collector of sorts. A really bad jack-of-all-trades. I like to learn and if something catches my attention and interests me, I want to learn as much as I can about it until I'm over it. Running is my newest obsession.
So I got this book from the library actually just read this straight through, not picking and choosing parts that sounded interesting.
I found it helpful and insightful and slightly overwhelming and disheartening.
I feel like I will never be a great runner, but with discipline I can be a successful marathon finisher. That's really what the book is about and just reinforces the idea that if you want something bad enough to spend 4 months of your life training for it, it better be worth it.
And don't think it's not going to suck, because it is.
So I got this book from the library actually just read this straight through, not picking and choosing parts that sounded interesting.
I found it helpful and insightful and slightly overwhelming and disheartening.
I feel like I will never be a great runner, but with discipline I can be a successful marathon finisher. That's really what the book is about and just reinforces the idea that if you want something bad enough to spend 4 months of your life training for it, it better be worth it.
And don't think it's not going to suck, because it is.
emmaaxtco's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book! I was sad when it was over and will probably read it again closer to the marathon I'm running in August.
jackwwang's review against another edition
5.0
After more than a decade of running, this was my first running book, and I couldnt' have asked for more. Honestly I expected so much less, usually when books are so canonical in a field, they tend to be overhyped and never live up to the acclaim, but Higdon does such an artful job at breaking down the craft of running in laymen terms, but still spits enough useful insights to pack enough calories in still a digestible format. I feel like I have such a stronger framework now to understand everything from approaches to structuring workouts, to recovery, to understanding body mechanics, etc.... This book has converted me from a cynic who thought that running is something one does instead of reading about, to someone who now thinks it's both.