Running for Mortals: A Commonsense Plan for Changing Your Life with Running

....simply because I can't stand reading. I got this book because it was recomended to me. I just started to get active again. I, like the author, was aging, overweight, and couldnt play with my kids without getting out of breath. I started dieting, changing my lifestyle, and running. The running part, was the hardest part. This book, explains everything that will happen to your body. Lays it out, it plain terms, and really inspires you once you know what is happening to you, is normal. I got this about 2 months into my running lifestyle. The first 2 chapters, all I kept saying is, "Woah, THAT'S why my legs hurt when I did this, Ohhhhh, that's why I felt I could go longer, and physically couldn't." This book is a must have for the beginning runner. If you are teetering on this, let me break this down honestly. In Aug 08, I was 283 pounds. Today, 11/13/08 I am 240, and I ran my first 5k this weekend in 29 mins. My blood pressure and cholesterol have dropped DRASTICALLY. I owe it all to running.

John's books are the best. Of course the first one will be my favorite. This book is a great read and you will finish it quickly. For the beginner you will learn a great deal and for those of us who have been running for a while, you will find humor and a bit of info along the way.

I've read most all of John Bingham's books and I feel this one is even better than the previous ones. I think Jenny's comments and experience, added with John's make it an all around great book for every runner. Their writing is easy to understand, and relate to. The only runner that might not want to read it, is the elite runner that knows it all anyway :) The rest of us love to read books by people that can relate to the every day runners experience, as well as give us practical advice to become the best we can be. John and Jenny are encouraging and inspiring, and that is evident in this book.

I found this book a great read for both newbies and experienced runners. Although I have been running for years, I found his wit and wisdom through the retelling of his own story both motivating and encouraging. New runners I have lent it too love the fact that he keeps things simple and on a readable level. If you are looking for a book about VO2 max, periodization, and HR threshholds...look someplace else. But if you want to be reminded of why you are running in the first place, pick up this "tell it like it is" account of running.

I've been an on again/off again runner for about 10 years and I've read several books on running over the years. So, I THOUGHT that I knew what I was doing. After reading through the first half of this book, I came to realization that I really don't know what I'm doing as a runner at all! I wish that this book existed 10 years ago when I first started running - I'd be in much better shape than I am today. This book is geared for beginning runners, but you might be surprised at what you can learn, even if you've been at it for a while. Last, this book is fun to read and I'm finding it to be quite inspirational.