Marathon books - Spring Marathon

Cathryn

19/08/2003 at 13:27

I've just sent in my ballot application and also my charity application. It will be my first marathan and I'm already very over excited about it.

I'm aware it's a fairly huge undertaking and am looking for a book to advise on training, nutrition, injuries etc....basically a guide to running a marathon. Can anyone recommend a good one?

Thanks

patrunner

19/08/2003 at 13:44

Bob Glover's The Runners Handbook has absolutely everything in it for beginners, improvers etc. It also has a really inspirational story about Fred Lebow who started the New York Marathon and how his nephew trained up and ran it with Bob Glover in five weeks following Fred dying of cancer and always wanting one of his family to run it. When I am feeling I cant do it I always read this bit!!!!!!!

HTA

19/08/2003 at 13:44

There are lots of them Cathryn, but the one that always comes up on the forum is 26.2 - its out of print now, but if you can get a copy 2nd hand on Amazon, its geat!!

candy ollier

19/08/2003 at 14:15

cathryn just hang around this forum closer to the time for tips on everything

for nutrition, training tips etc you can't beat 'the triathlete's training bible' by joe friel... yes its by a cycling coach and aimed at ironman triathletes, but its the best endurance training manual around IMHO

for training schedules see www.halhigdon.com - as good as any

most schedules wont have started yet but personally i'd take the opportunity to get some quality training in early anyway

Chaos

19/08/2003 at 15:19

The absolute bible is the "Lore of Running" by Tim Noakes (make sure you get the latest edition). Could be a bit overwhelming to be honest but if you don't mind a slightly academic approach then you can't go wrong. He looks at a lot of what these other books say and assesses them in the light of academic knowledge and real-life experience.

I enjoyed Bob Glovers book a lot as well and agree it was inspirational though not so keen on some of his ideas. Jeff Galloway htough is another author with some sound, interesting ideas and is very suitable for first-time marathoners.

Good to see your starting to look at training so soon! Get some solid base/endurance level training in now building up nice and slowly, and you'll be sorted by next April. Good luck!!

Barnsley Runner

19/08/2003 at 17:37

Bob Glover for an excellent introduction for beginners and improvers. Tim Noakes when you become a running obsessive - it's fanstastic!

krusty_

19/08/2003 at 17:48

if scientifically excellent, analytically precise, and extremely detailed books are your thing, then the Lore of Running is excellent.

if you're looking for something aimed more at the first time runner, then i'd recommend:

The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. David Whitsett, Forrest A.Dolgener, and Tanjala Mabon Kole. Masters Press, 1998.

This combines basic running training, nutritional guidance, and psychological strategies.

It got me round (but then again I was overtaken by the Wombles and countless pensioners).

Chris

annajo

19/08/2003 at 21:57

I enjoyed reading Richard Nerurkar's book (Marathon Running), it was less aimed at the elite runner than I thought, and he mixes in bits about his own racing and preparation with more general advice - its also quite cheap so guess why I picked it up originally!

annajo

19/08/2003 at 21:57

runners world is quite good in the months leading up to a marathon for beginners and more experienced runners as well

Barnsley Runner

19/08/2003 at 22:20

Depends which way the wind is blowing in the RW offices. The training schedules for 2003 were more challenging than 2002.

Would be nice if they could do them for times under 3:00 as well.

There's an article in British Runner this month on working for a 3:30 marathon.

Still, RW does cover the things you may not have thought about such as registration, the day before etc. On the other hand you could just read last year's as they churn out the same old stuff.

Curly Sue

20/08/2003 at 12:25

Marathon Runners for Dummies, its really good and thinks of everything. Its written by a woman too!

Cathryn

20/08/2003 at 13:47

Wow - thanks everyone!! I shall go and do some book buying!!! Really appreciate your advice

Blobbert

20/08/2003 at 22:07

Cathryn...

Good luck with London next year...It was my first Marathon this year and I'm heading to Blackheath again next April...I could, like some of the folks already, readily recommend Bob Glover's books, although some of the best advice I ever had on marathon running (and running in general) came from this forum...especially as the big day gets closer.

Best of luck, mebbe see you there.

Blob.

Annie Mole

28/08/2003 at 11:54

Try The Looniness of the Long Distance Runner it's very very good.

Curly Sue

28/08/2003 at 14:28

I totally agree with Annie, it made me laugh out loud in places, and still kept me motivated in running my first marathon dispite the injuries he sustained!

Fozzie

28/08/2003 at 22:01

Chris F

I've just ordered The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer from Amazon. Hope it's as good as you reckon it is.

I have a place carried over to the 2004 FLM so need to start the serious training now.

Mecca Ibrahim

30/08/2003 at 08:31

Lots of books from Marathon Guide.com here. I imagine they've put quite a bit of research into the list and it looks quite strong list to me.

krusty_

30/08/2003 at 17:34

Fozz

I'm sure you'll like the TNRMT. If you ignore the occasional piece of schmaltzy writing (you'll see what I mean), I think it provides a really decent, balanced and often quite interesting guide to running a marathon.

See you in 2004 (hopefully)

Chris

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