Runner's World Complete Book of Runnng: Everything You Need to Run for Fun, Fitness and Competition

This is a very useful book for beginners or for people that have been running for a while. There is a lot of information on every aspect of running...and more! I like how it is organized into sections and select information is easy to find. There is a helpful table of contents and index. All of my questions about running or that I've had while training have been answer in this book. Worth the money.

I'm training for my first half marathon and I picked this book up at the library. It's simple, easy to read and has excellent advice. It's easy to criticize books that are reader friendly--too many pictures and graphics, not much text per page. I find, though, that books like that are easier to pick up and read and keep reading. I recommend this book to everyone serious about running.

This is a very complete book that summarizes many aspects of running for beginners and intermediate runners. It is very well edited and is full of nice pictures which makes it a very pleasant reading experience. I only found it a little repetitive in the chapter about psychological aspects of running and a little bit shallow regarding the last chapter on marathon training. Overall, it is worth reading and buying. It should not be used as a reference book, but as a motivational tool to start, keep or improve your running experience.

This is a decent book. I nearly gave it four stars (see following), but it does many things well. Some may knock the book because it has few bells and whistles (i.e., gear and gizmos). However, anyone that has run for a long time will tell you most of the same things that this book does. I was slightly disappointed that all the photos were "eye pleasing". Looks more like a magazine of female models for TV spots than the typical healthy runner. In some ways, I prefer the old style of James Fixx in the original "Complete Book of Running" (not Runner's World). There are almost no shoes shown, which is the most important of equipment. This is good. What is shown is the proper way to size your shoes and reinforcing that a runner should stick with what works for that runner and not chase after fads. The nutritional and healthy lifestyle information is excellent. There are things that a more advanced runner may want to see, but this is an excellent start.

I often found myself turning back in the book to find places where it gave opposite advice. For a beginners willing to follow almost any tidbit at the promise of improvement, this can be frustrating.To those new to running who are just looking for more tips: Try a Runner's World subscription first. You'll get 12 months advice, information and motivation--so much that you'll probably realize you didn't need this book after all. (At least Runner's World rarely offers two pieces of conficting advice in the same issue. Month-to-month is another story.) That said, if you still feel the need to put a running book on the shelf, it'd be tough to top this one. As the title says, it is very complete, and for that reason, one of the best running books I own. Those looking for that one definitive book on general running and racing would probably be best served here.