The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer

Originally published in 1998, this book has been around awhile and stood the test of time. Who's it for? NORMAL people who have the desire to run and complete a marathon BUT also have other commitments that take up their time such as a family, job, etc. Don't have tons of time to train? This is your book. Need to get together a plan of attack? Keep reading. The promise of the book is to that you'll be able to run 26.2 miles training just 4 days a week with no runs over 18 miles. It is based on a marathon class offered over the years at the University of Northern Iowa that touts a high success rate for 1st time marathoners. The book accomplishes this goal in sixteen chapters, one for every week of training. Each chapter is cleanly divided up into 3 parts. Part one deals with the mental aspects of marathon training (which in my opinion is just as important as physical preparation when it comes to marathons), part two lays out the actual training program for the week, and the third part of each chapter contains advice and suggestions from people who have done the course and the program. The book has a final 17th chapter which gives advice such as what to do after the marathon to make sure you recover well. Finally, the book ends with three appendices- one is a list of marathons to help you pick from, another on research that has been done on the program, and the last one a list of references and resources (always good to have those at hand). All-in-all its a very COMPLETE book covering everything you can imagine about training for a marathon such as stretches, weight training exercises, nutritional advice, how to dress, and what shoes to wear. Some practical bits: the 16 week training program does start you out running three miles, so in reality, you can tack on about another month or so of training to the 16 weeks in order to build up to the 3-mile starting point of the program. Along the same lines, pick a marathon that will be held no less than five months from the time you expect to start getting ready. And finally, runners suffering from plantar fasciitis might also want to check out The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution. Good luck :)

The training course (which includes only four runs a week) is very reasonable for us non-runner types, but what really make this book work are the mental exercises. Due to injury I actually missed the two longest long runs and started two weeks of physical therapy a month before my marathon. But because this book keeps reinforcing keeping a positive attitude it never occured to me that I wouldn't finish. Well, this Sunday (Oct 22) with a heavily bandaged knee and my longest previous run being only 16 miles, I finished the Marine Corps Marathon in 5:39:39. I found out after the fact that even my doctor didn't think I'd make it.For the record, before I started training six months ago I had never been a runner. My first run of 1.6 miles made me dizzy, exhausted and very sore afterwards. Six months later I can run 26.2 on a bad knee. If anyone out there is at all interested in running a marathon I say go for it. The feeling of running across that finish line while the crowd is cheering you on is more than worth it. If you do decide to do it, buy this book.

I bought this book because I was not a runner and wondered how anyone could possibly run a marathon. I started up Jan 4 2000 in the dead of winter. I used the book exclusively to prepare for the Pittsburgh Marathon May 7, 2000. The mental preparation and the training schedule were perfect. The schedule has you running only 4 days a week. Running more than 4 days a week would not have been possible with my work and family. The personal stories in the book are very helpful to motivate you to continue your quest. I went from no miles to finishing the marathon in only four months of training. If I can do it following the book, anyone can. You do not need a running partner although it could be helpful. I kept good notes and compared back to each chapter. Great course to follow for the first marathon. The biggest lesson of the book is to have your only expectation is to finish the marathon. Not how fast!

For years I had watched people run marathons, and was filled with a mixture of awe and the feeling that "they are nuts!" Deep down I knew that I wanted to tackle a marathon someday, but I was scared that I didn't have it in me. This book changed that perception.In the spring of 1999 I suddenly decided to sign up for the Twin Cities Marathon. In searching for advice on how to prepare, I checked out every book I could find at our local library. Most of them were just not for me. They assumed that I had been running for years (in truth, I hadn't laced up my shoes in almost 10 years). The minute I picked up this book, that all changed. It might as well have been titled "Ben's Marathon Trainer."The tone/mantra of this book is simple and consistent -- "If you WANT to run a marathon you CAN run a marathon." You set your goal (to finish the race regardless of time) and visualize that goal early and consistently. Each chapter focuses on one week in a 16 week training schedule. They provide a well paced physical schedule like all the other books. However, what this book provides that the others are lacking is a week by week EMOTIONAL training schedule. I don't know how many times I would come back from a training run feeling a little down, pick up the the book, and find that the next section talked SPECIFICALLY about the emotions I had felt on the run.Count me as one of this book's success statistics! Just as I visualized, I finished the TC Marathon with flying colors (if not a flying time ;) ). Better yet, I loved every minute of it.

As a non runner and very limited and inconsistant excerciser, I found this book as I grandiosely thought about running the NYC 99 Marathon. The holistic approach was inspirational beyond belief. The primary theme of the book which was continually addressed in every chapter drove home the fact that "perception can become realty". The main goal was to focus every aspect of your training on your number one goal ie, to finish the marathon. When I mentioned to those who knew me that I was training for the marathon using this book, they really thought I was experiencing delusions of grandeur thinking "right you can read this book and run a marathon in 16 weeks; don't believe everything you read" After following everything in the book with only one slip up when I tried to do too much I was fully ready to run 26.2 miles. After a brief feeling of anxiety while on the bus to Staten Island, once I started running I had no doubt that I could finish. The personal statements from the students in training and the overwhelming statistics of how many of the students or "followers" finished gave the book total validity. If you follow the book in its basic beliefs, you can run and finish a marathon. These include: not over training, not setting unrealistic expectations or other agendas, not listening to others telling you you're a dreamer not a marathoner, not going on any crazy diets, and not thinking negative. Simply doing what the book says is enough. The major issue will be that you must be able and willing to make the commitment and except in extraordinary situations never put other priorities ahead of the training. You must run 4 days a week, take a day off before and after the long run, dring plenty of water, buy the right shoes and clothes, trying eating good foods (I always remembered what I ate after I started my run; fried foods make your run a real drag). THIS BOOK WORKS. When they say believe us that you will finish if you do the training our way they are CORRECT..I finished the NYC 1999 Marathon On Nov 7th (5hr, 23min but whose counting) having gone from taking a month to run 3 miles without stopping 20 weeks earlier. The book is a major self esteem builder. When you realize that less than 1% of the population have finished a marathon and you are one of them you will know the feeling of personal success. NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE AWAY THE FEELING OF FINISHING. WHAT A FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. This book goes beyond running to developing a positive attitude toward life in general. I have given it to several others three of whom are now training for their first marathon. Beware though, positive can be addictive.