How to Train for and Run Your Best Marathon: Valuable Coaching from a National Class Marathoner on Getting Up for and Finishing

REASON 1: It is written by an Olympic trials marathon qualifier who ran her first marathon non-competitively, just like you. REASON 2: It starts off with real stories of average first-time marathoners whose experiences prove that every mile of the race is worth it. REASON 3: It gives 26.2 compelling reasons why any couch potato will want to catch the running bug. REASON 4: It shows how running a marathon can help rebuild your self-esteem after a disappointing life experience and motivate you to live a fuller life. REASON 5: It explains in simple terms how to build your aerobic base from ground zero to where you can finally embark on the marathon training. REASON 6: It introduces you to the concept of cross-training which will help you prevent boredom and develop a well-rounded physique. REASON 7: It lists specific cross-training activities which are most beneficial for marathon training. REASON 8: It breaks down physical fitness into cardiovascular-respiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition and flexibility and shows concrete ways to work on each component. REASON 9: It gives examples of training logs and teaches you how to keep one, avoid "junkie mileage" and build up your mileage gradually. REASON 10: It contains training schedules for different levels of runners which are based on minutes, not on miles. It is an extra asset for people who do not have access to a track or prefer to run outdoors where it is oftentimes hard to calculate mileage exactly. REASON 11: It teaches you the importance of the long runs for your training and gives advice on how to train your mind for them. REASON 12: It describes the benefits of speedwork and teaches you how to incorporate it into your training schedule. REASON 13: It encourages you to enroll into shorter pre-marathon races so that you can learn to handle all the aspects of a run. REASON 14: It tells you exactly what you should do one month, one week, one day and one hour before the race and explains the concept of tapering. REASON 15: It gives you a comprehensive list of all things you should pack into your marathon bag. REASON 16: It follows you through an imaginary race moment by moment, concentrating on all related mental, physical and emotional aspects of it. REASON 17: It teaches you to be prepared for but not obsessed with "hitting the wall". REASON 18: It encourages you to run your own race. REASON 19: It helps you recover after your marathon by giving concrete advice about the day, the week and the month after. REASON 20: It helps you choose the right running shoes, running wear and accessories. REASON 21: It initiates you into the basics of sports nutrition and shows what foods you should include in your diet to optimize your marathon performance. REASON 22: It teaches you the right way to carboload. REASON 23: It talks about women's participation in marathon racing and about how it affects their bodies, unveiling old myths which hold women from achieving th

I read three other books on marathon training and none of them even came close to providing me with this amount of useful training information. I used one of the pre-marathon training schedules and then followed with one of the marathon training schedules. Went from being a non-runner to running my first marathon 8 months later in 4 hrs. and 37 mins. Everything went exactly as described in her book! This book is not just for beginners either.

I liked the way she deals with the various fitness levels (couch potato up to marathon running). Her schedules have helped me realize the importance of a set program. After years of struggling to figure out running and only getting mediocre results, I'm finally getting the satisfaction I've heard about from other people, inlcuding family members.

The book was of great help to me in preparing for my first marathon, the 1999 Pittsburgh marathon, and running it. I would recommend it to anyone how feels ready for the challenge of running the distance. It does a very good job in taking the reader through every stange of the preparation for the marathon, and it has many useful suggestions for dealing with possible problems along the way. One of the best parts about the book is the suggested running schedules, which are varied and allow for much freedom. They are given in total minutes of work-out time instead of total mileage, which reduces the pressure of having to complete a certain distance on training runs, when one is just supposed to be getting used to running long. The sections on nutrition, speed work, and cross training make a great addition to the running schedules, and helped make the training for my first marathon an enjoyable experience. The advice on recovery from the marathon was also very helpful. And it's great for women runners! In short, running my first marathon was awesome, and I believe that following the suggestions of Gordon Bloch's book played a great role in that.

"How to Train for and Run Your Best Marathon" is an invaluable tool for marathoners of all levels. The author provides comprehensive information regarding running, cross training, strength training, nutrition, and the psychology of competition in an easy-to-read format. Especially helpful is the race countdown chapter, which details all the steps to take in the month, week, days, and minutes before the race. The section concludes with advice on what to do after the race, as well. Several marathon schedules are included for all experience levels. All marathon runners, whether novice or experienced, will benefit by having this book on their shelves.