Runner's World Complete Guide to Trail Running

This is a good book with valuable information, but it's nothing that you cant find [...]. ive been a subscriber for years to the magazine and read the site regularly so I would just stick to the community and website, but don't get me wrong it is very good reading.

What I liked best about this book is the fact that the author encourages people to do what you like and work at a pace that fits your lifestyle. My schedule is constantly changing, so it was encouraging to read about successful runners who don't follow stringent routines. You can do the same amount of running and see the same results, but you can do it without suffering burn-out or making running your full-time career. The workouts suggested were reasonable for the average person and the book was written to help everyone, instead of only hard-core runners. The mentality of trail running is probably the biggest draw, since you can be yourself instead of trying to fit the mold that someone else (ie: coach, personal trainer) has created for you.

The Runner's World Complete Guide to Trail Running is a comprehensive introduction to the challenging sport of trail running. It covers trail running from short (3-mile) to long (100-mile) trail runs. The author covers all of the pertinent issues to help one get started in leisure trail running or races. I wish I had read this book before I started trail running, but I'm the type who dives into something to experience it, then learn more about it later. The beauty of trail running is in the experience with nature. Every run, even on the same trail, is different. Trail conditions change with the seasons, weather, time of day, and over the years. If you are a mountaineer or enjoy other outdoor adventure activities, trail running can be a complimentary cross-training method for you. Trail running can be extremely challenging or like gliding through a wooded park - it is up to you to select the right trail for your desires. As soon as you introduce the vertical world of hills and mountains, trail running steps up a notch on the difficulty scale. But, regardless of the type of terrain you choose to run in, I recommend you read this book. You can use this book to increase your existing knowledge of the sport, or to help determine if it is something you even want to pursue. It is also filled with helpful tips to help you prepare for your first trail race. I pulled the book back off the shelf to give me motivation to train for the 2007 trail running season. If you want to read more about the personal experience of mountain adventure, I would suggest reading Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection by TJ Burr (my book). This book covers numerous adventure activities, including mountain running, caving, climbing, and backpacking. In TJ's book, he has a chapter on running cross-country in mountainous terrain, which is more like survival running. While that may not directly pertain to your interests, reading his book is a way to broaden your overall knowledge of outdoor adventure. Now, get out and hit the trail!

It's funny how, because there is a picture showing a woman running up front, that some people assume this is a book soley for women. Not so. This is a nice, rounded introduction to off-road running for everyone. Barrios gives useful advice on gear, technique, etiquette, health maintenance and first-aid. Even more enjoyable to me is her encouragement to see trail running as belonging to a much wider population than just the ultra adventurists. Trail running doesn't have to be only a competitive endeavour -- it can also be a fun way to bring some activity and connection to nature into our lives. It can even be meditative, a nice break from an otherwise frenetic life. Well worth the investment, especially if you are tentatively considering starting in.