In case you are not familiar with the “brain training” concept, the very well known South African sports scientist Tom Noakes has developed a theory that it is mostly our brain that determines our level of running performance, not the muscles in our legs. Matt Fitzgerald claims that his training approach takes those insights into account.

The book is split into two parts. The first half gives the theories behind the concept and a lot of practical ideas on how to train. There is nothing really radical in this – I have come across all the basic ideas before, but some of the chapters I found outstanding. My favourite one is about core strengthening. Not only does the author explain very well why core training is important for runners, but he also describes four sets of exercises, and the accompanying photos make them perfectly clear. Other good chapters deal with recovery and injuries.

The second part of the book consists of a set of training plans for the distances of 5k, 10k, half-marathon and marathon, with three levels for each. Each plan is split into four phases, namely base, build 1, build 2 and peak (plus taper), and each phase has its own sets of workouts. Those training plans are solid. If you mange to follow them, you will definitely end up in good shape. Originally, my main gripe with them was a distinctive lack of distance variation. On most weeks there were 4 runs of the same length, and 3 of them consecutive, which I found less than ideal.

I did find some weakness as well. Many of the training ideas are similar to already well known plans, even if he comes at them from a different angle. For example, tempo runs are there to get the brain used to that exertion rather than pushing the lactate threshold, but in reality you are doing the exact same workout. I also never managed to get to grips with some of his ideas, for example the use of proprioceptive cues (falling forward, pulling the road, navel to spine, and so on).

The main problem I ran into was the amount of speedwork in the training plans. Even though I never managed to quite hit the prescribed training paces, my PRs in all the shorter distances dropped, some by spectacular amounts (over 1 minute in the 5k!), but halfway through the training I started to feel really tired and increasingly stale. I persevered for a while, but eventually felt I had no choice but to cut back a little bit.

In my goal marathon, I ended up with a new PR but missed the 3 hours mark after running into difficulties in the later miles. Will I use that training plan again? The answer is no. I ended up dreading the speed workouts and eventually decided that this was not the right way for me to train. However, others have reacted more positively, and the book is definitely worth checking out—the chapter about core training is worth the price of the book alone, and with that in mind, I’ll give it 4 stars out of 5.

Bill Bowerman coached the University of Oregon track team (“the Ducks”) for 25 years, but is most famous for co-founding Nike and coaching Steve Prefontaine.

Those interested in these two stories won’t be disappointed with Bowerman and the Men of Oregon. The Nike story is explored in a depth that will likely surprise even the most avid Bowerman/Nike fan. And, of course, the Pre story is here too. Everything from his still-impressive domination of U.S. running to the heart-wrenching tale of his early passing – and its effect on Bowerman.

But the Nike and Pre stories are only small fragments of this epic biography. Epic because Bowerman was a legend long before Pre laced up his shoes, and because his influence continued to be felt long after Pre’s passing. It’s lucky for us that author Kenny Moore – a former Bowerman “Duck” and Sports Illustrated writer – took his time telling the Bowerman story:

• It all starts with Moore delving into Bowerman’s love of Oregon. A sentiment founded upon tales of his ancestors – a hardy group of settlers who opened up the west and settled Oregon.
• You’ll learn how Bowerman was raised in a one-parent home, and how his high school councilor changed his life by challenging him to never disgrace his mother.
• You’ll follow him to war and discover the unlikely way he became decorated with the Silver Star for Gallantry.
• You’ll get a glimpse into Bowerman’s incredible seven decade relationship with his wife, Barbara.
• You’ll trace the path that led to the popularization of jogging in North America – how the running boom of the 70’s was a phenomenon that started with Bowerman making a trip to New Zealand, and receiving a rather painful, humbling lesson at the hands of coaching legend Arthur Lydiard.
• You’ll get on board with Bowerman’s fondness for Canadian athletes (yeah!) and why he enlisted them to help build his house.
• You’ll take a seat for the first 4-minute mile on U.S. soil – a milestone set by an athlete Bowerman coached in a race that saw John Landy beaten in the process.
• You’ll get Bowerman’s reaction to Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ black-gloved fist in the air demonstration at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
• You’ll gain insight into Bowerman’s prophetic but unheeded concerns prior to the hostage tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
• You’ll witness Bowerman’s bizarre method of hazing new recruits with urine, car keys and saunas.
• And you’ll get an in-depth appreciation for the decades-long battle Bowerman and Pre waged against a corrupt national athletics organization.

All this, and much more, are part of Bowerman’s biography, but perhaps most important is that the “Men of Oregon” are featured throughout the entire book right alongside Bowerman (I suspect the way he would have wanted it). The pages are absolutely packed with stories of athletes and teams that made Oregon a dominant force in the US track scene. The reader is treated with insights into how those great teams trained and won. Races are dissected in a way that puts you right in the action. I was thoroughly envious of the passion not just Bowerman and his athletes had, but that their fans had. In the era of Bowerman, runners (not just Pre) were the rock stars of American athletics.

The love of competition – of races and race tactics – is joyfully embedded throughout this book. It’s a marvelous adventure.

If Kenny Moore’s intent in writing this book was to pay tribute to Bowerman and get you excited about the sport of running, I suspect he will succeed.
——–

Related Links

• Another review at Eliterunning.com
• An article I wrote a while ago about Pre and Bowerman
• Bowerman and the Men of Oregon on Amazon.com

26.2 Marathon Stories is a lovingly crafted tribute from two authors who obviously have a deep, personal connection with marathoning. Kathrine Switzer (the first woman to race in the Boston Marathon) and Roger Robinson (who has set age group marathon records around the globe) have assembled a beautiful book. I suspect “beautiful” and “marathon” don’t often appear on your screen together, but I assure you that there is beauty aplenty in 26.2 Marathon Stories.

From history to heroes, from agony to ecstasy, from weekend road warriors to elite gods of running, much of what you’ll find in 26.2 Marathon Stories can be found by spending time (a lot of time!) scouring the web, but this book has it all packaged up in one beautiful place.

Of course, every good book has to have good writing and, rest assured, you won’t be disappointed here. The words in 26.2 Marathon Stories jump off the page to evoke a wide range of emotions. Some of the writing is simply … magical.

The magic doesn’t end with the writing. From the moment you glance at the cover, till the second you turn that last page, you’ll be captivated by tons and tons of beautiful illustrations and photographs – each one woven expertly into the fabric of the book’s message.

The message underpinning all this marathon beauty is a sense of awe, inspiration and wonder. The ink on these pages practically begs you to experience (or re-experience!) the marathon.

It’s a book that belongs on your coffee table. It’s a book even non-runners will enjoy. It’s a book that can inspire an out of shape couch potato to train for his first marathon. It’s a book that can re-ignite the fire in a seasoned athlete.

But don’t take my word for it – check out some other reviews at Coolrunning and Amazon.
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26.2 Marathon Stories is available on Amazon.com

Not only did it deal with the very subject that occupied my mind at the time, it was just full of gripping stories. Reading the blurb alone will leave you in no doubt what the book is all about (“I’m 95 miles into a 100-miler…”); my wife took one look at it and could only mutter “and I thought you were bad.”

Neal Jamison may be listed as the author of the book, however virtually all of the content was provided by members of the ultra running community. It contains about 40 essays, all of them telling about personal experiences while running an ultra marathon. The mixture is intriguing, top stars like Tim Twietmeyer are listed right beside some less talented runners, but all of the stories are equally worth reading. You get a glimpse of the same event from more than one angle; e.g. the race director of one race describes his event, and a few pages later you come across a runner that partook in the same race. You can read two stories from a father/daughter combination, and there is a husband/wife angle as well.

I found it almost impossible to put this book down. The elite racer’s account of a famous win at Western States is just as fascinating as the failed attempt at the same distance by a different runner, who later questioned his decision to quit (and probably still does). This should be required reading for anyone who thinks about running more than 26.2 miles, but even runners who feel at home at much shorter distances should find this a very pleasurable read.

[rating:4]

I first heard about Run Less, Run Faster and the FIRST training program in a brief Runner’s World article in early 2007 and was intrigued by the training concepts presented. The article discussed a relatively new training program, scientifically proven over a few years and hundreds of runners, based on running three days a week with integrated cross training on the off days. This short note lead me to the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training and eventually to this book (although at the time of my initial interest the book was not yet available). The concepts presented in this book, while not revolutionary, are definitely a departure from the classic “more miles is better” philosophy and the book has really changed the way I view my approach to training.

Run Less, Run Faster is a quick and easy read (only about 300 pages) that delivers a wealth of solid information at a level that is easy to understand and quickly allows the reader to put in to action the concepts and methods outlined. The book is broken down in to four main sections plus one bonus section:

• Section I: The FIRST Approach
• Section II: How to Follow the FIRST Training Program
• Section III: Performance Factors
• Section IV: Supplemental Training
• Bonus Section: Getting to Boston

This format allows the authors take you though the basics of the program clearly and concisely. The reader will quickly come up speed on the 3plus2 method, the 3 core workouts, and correct pacing for all of the prescribed workouts.

Section I lays out the basics of the plan, steps for new runners, and information on setting realistic goals. In reality, this is just a brief overview of the rest of the book—an introduction to the concepts explored in much more detail further on.

Section II dives much deeper in to the training program. The reader gets a full description of all of the core running workouts, what they aim to achieve, correct paces, and how to run them correctly. In addition to a detailed description of the program, there are plenty of pace charts and training plans to help the reader plan their specific training program. Finally, the authors provide important information on rest and recovery as well as year round training tips and tricks.

Section III covers a few topics that are common to all running programs. These topics include, running in hot and cold weather, training with and avoiding running related injuries, and basic nutrition information. These are all very brief sections but they include enough information to be helpful.

Section IV covers one basic topic—strength training for runners. The reader is given a clear plan that is fairly simple and easy to apply. No expensive weights or benches are necessary and the program, as delivered, should not take an excessive amount of time. A nice addition to any runner’s training regimen.

The last section of the book outlines what is necessary in terms of paces, training, and effort to qualify for Boston. It is broken down into the various age group qualifying times and gives the reader a few guidelines to look for to determine if a Boston qualifying run is possible based on past performance. I really appreciated the realistic view of what is necessary in terms of my current performance to qualify for Boston. Overall, this section is a nice addition to the book.

To me, this is a well written, well documented, and scientifically proven method to run faster on less miles. I am currently using the plan outlined in the book for my training plan for the 2007 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, so far the paces, distances, and volume of training have been just right. I really appreciate the change of pace from day to day and the inclusion of various forms of cross training, it really makes the program fun and interesting to work with.

Have you read this book? Why not click on our five-star rating and leave us a comment to let our readers know what you think of it?

[ratings]

Available on Amazon

Runner’s World Run Less, Run Faster

Price: $16.95 (US)/$21.00 (CAN)

• Base training
• Speed training
• Nutrition
• Avoiding injuries
• Mental conditioning
• Race preparation
• Weight training
• Treadmill training tips

Walking the line between too advanced and technical and not advanced or technical enough is difficult for any running book. Alberto Salazar manages to do a great job of finding just the right balance between advanced topics for the seasoned veteran and great nuggets of wisdom for the beginning runner. This is where this book shines.

In addition, the book manages to cover a wide range of topics in a relatively short time frame. This is not huge tome that rambles on for thousands of pages. With the index and appendix, this book comes in at under 300 pages. Easily manageable in a few days of easy reading and well worth the time.

If you are serious runner looking for a good reference to find those tasty bits that will put your running season over the top and help you achieve your goals, this book is for you. Also, if you are a beginning runner just looking to avoid injury and to keep running interesting and fun, this book is for you also. Bottom-line this is a book that should find a place on every runners bookshelf.

Also, this is a great stocking stuffer or holiday gift for that runner in your life. Run out to the book store and buy a copy today. Or, even better, click the link on this page and buy it online!

Alberto Salazar’s Guide to Road Racing

By Alberto Salazar and Richard A. Lovett
ISBN: 0071383085

The author of this book, Chasing the Hawk: Looking for My Father, Finding Myself,is Dr. Sheehan’s son, Andrew Sheehan, a self-described alcoholic and drug abuser. This book is more than just a chronicle of growing up in large family in the shadow of a famous father. This is the story of a struggling son and a struggling father working together (sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not) to find peace not only with each other, but with themselves as well. After a lifetime of anger, denial, and feelings of abandonment, a father’s love and a son’s admiration comes through.

Along with being a solid book on recovery, forgiveness, family, and faith, it also gives a backdoor view into the world of Dr. Sheehan and his family. It shows him, not as an infallible doctor, guiding the masses to fitness, but rather as a faulted, vulnerable human being. The author works hard to ensure that the many facets of Dr. Sheehan’s personality are shown and the reader gets a full impression of what Dr. Sheehan was about—warts and all.

If you are looking for a running-related book that is about more than VO2 max or heart rate training, this is the book for you. It covers enough running specific information to stay interesting to the avid runner, but also makes great strides in personalizing an icon and delivering a message of love, forgiveness, and hope.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Have you read this book? What’s your rating? [ratings]

Book Information
Paperback: 304 pages
Title: Chasing the Hawk: Looking for my Father, Finding Myself
Author: Andrew Sheehan
ISBN: 0385335644
Publisher: Delta; Reprint edition (October 1, 2002)

Writing a book where everyone knows the outcome before it starts must be a daunting task. How does an author build suspense and a compelling storyline when most of the people interested in reading the book know the outcome before it even starts? In “Duel in the Sun,” John Brant crafts three separate stories—Dick, Alberto, and their race—and then intertwines them back together to show how this one event joined both athletes for life.

Within the short 195 pages, the reader is transported from the race to the lives of the runners—both pre- and post-race—and back again. You get a taste of pre-Castro Cuba, growing up with a alcoholic father, finding religious freedom, the depths of drug addiction, and the misery of depression. This book clearly shows that a marathon will take you much further than 26.2 miles and can cost far more than the entry fee.

Bottom line, this book delivers a strong running story balanced by the human side of two elite athletes. I think often, as a spectator, it is easy to forgot that the elite athletes that we look upon with awe and wonder are really just like us. They are human and they face the same problems we do. “Duel in the Sun” makes it clear that both Dick and Alberto were nothing more nor less than human. Brant works hard to show all the different facets that make up who these stars were in 1982 and who they have become today.

I highly recommend this book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
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Buy Duel in the Sun at Amazon