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This is one to purchase and keep because you will find yourself wanting to come back to it later for reference.
I have found this book useful as an ultra runner, as a triathlete and as a middle school coach, but for me it has been a pick and choose process. I've not moved through the suggested stages (i.e. A, B, C) and levels (1, 2, 3) as given in the book. In fact, I find the layout in the book a bit disjointed. But don't let that keep you from it! Even if you use the book to learn some selected core exercises and warm-ups it is packed with practical and valuable information you won't find elsewhere.
As a middle school coach I have found the section on movement prep quite useful. By middle school kids seem to have been indoctrinated into the 'warm-up with static stretches routine' and I've found that they need to have a dynamic warm up just as badly as us old folks!
For myself, the portions of the book on "tissue management" have been of tremendous value to me. I also appreciate the fact that the author (Mark Verstegen) assumes that you have other workouts to do during your week and therefore the suggested routines have that in mind. (Most of us will not be doing the exercises and then taking 2 days to recover--we may have a 15 mile run or a mile swim to do that same day.)
As with anything, I think you should keep in mind you may need to adapt the program to your needs but it won't disappoint. Excellent book.
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I recently purchased this book to look for a different method of run training to mix my training up a bit this year. I read the overview of the book and was interested in seeing what the book had to offer. It is a pace-based running program based on a recent 5k running result and has only three days of running per week and cross-training on the non-running days. The paces are a bit faster than previous pace-based programs that I have read, so the runs were difficult at first. Many of the pages are filled with success stories and letters from runners that have followed the program and completed races with PRs after following the program. So, if you like to read case studies and get runners' perspectives, you will enjoy the format of the book. I did find myself skipping past some of the stories to get to the "meat" of the program. The book may be a good program to follow for those athletes that have a tendency to get injured on running back-to-back days or high mileage weeks.
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I picked up this book a few years ago when I was looking for a way to strengthen my core. It really focuses on injury prevention and strengthening the body from a functional point of view. This is completely different than most of the "strength" programs that exist today—as they are geared for putting on muscle and not geared towards specificity of sport. Core Performance also has a website which contains a great deal of information and I reference it often. But I would definitely recommend reading the book to gain a better understanding of the "why" of the different type of movements the author recommends—such as movement prep, regeneration of the muscles, explosive movements (ie plyometrics) and strength. I really like the concept of this program and feel the book is written in such a way that it is very informative and not filled with a lot of "fluff" and is relevant to the sport of triathlon and endurance sports.
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The author, James Citrin, interviews several athletes in this thought provoking challenging book. The general premise is that there is a common pattern among people who make successful transitions in life and become champions at what they do. Citrin explores what those factors are, and how you personally can apply them to your life.
I have just a couple cautions to the reader. First, the author's definitions of "success" and "champion" may not fit your definition, your viewpoint may be different-but that's okay- the final thought is that everyone wants their life to count for something. That brings me to my second caution, it is more than a book about sports if that is what you were looking for. The book falls into the motivational and self-help category--that is, the ideas offered apply as much to the to the business person as the athlete. Nonetheless, the book contains many entertaining stories and interviews with people you will know, like Tiger Woods,Tony Hawk, Billie Jean King, Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm, and Buzz Aldrin.
Most important, the book will inspire you to evaluate where you are in life and where you want to go, as well as mistakes to avoid. You will be challenged to form a vision for your life and be stirred to action. You will not be able to resist taking notes as you read this book!
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Would you be willing trade some of your weekly miles in for less mileage but more intensity? Would you be willing to not run at all on a couple days and cross train instead? (Swim, bike or other)
...Well, I wasn't sure how I felt about it either. I like running! But, what if you were able to run faster because of it? --Now I've got your attention!
For my first marathon, used a program which called for no speed work and no cross-training, just long slow miles followed by long slow miles. I ended up injured in the last month coming into the race. And, as much as I love running, I also had a lot of days where getting out and doing the work was becoming drudgery.
All that changed when I trained for my second marathon the same year and used this program.
The program gives you three key running workouts a week. The other days call for cross-training, such as biking or swimming. Included are programs for 5k, 10k, and the half-marathon, but the focus is definitely on the marathon. I should also point out that the emphasis in the book is on qualifying for Boston, but that does not have to be your goal, you simply pick a program that is appropriate for your marathon goal time.
Also notable, I was able to train for a sprint triathlon and complete the marathon program at the same time. (This program definitely works well for the triathlete, but you do not have to be a triathlete to benefit from the cross training.)
Moreover, the programs included are very detailed and structured, which I (being a little on the obsessive side) liked. I enjoyed having the workout spelled out for me and just getting out there and tackling it. The book will give you the exact splits you should be shooting for on every track speed workout and your pace goals for every tempo run and long run.
By the way, you will be challenged by the workouts, they are intense. You will feel like you've accomplished something after every run.
If you've heard of the "FIRST" training program this is it. It was conceived by professors and coaches at the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training. (Bill Pierce, Scott Murr, and Ray Moss) As mentioned above, each week calls for three quality runs, including track repeats, a tempo run and a long run and two cross-training workouts. Also included, are recommendations for strength training.
Initially, I found the book's arrangement a bit confusing, the program is detailed, but the layout of the book seemed all over the place. I pretty much had to read the entire book before I could start using any plan for training--but by the last page of the book I was ready to roll. So wouldn't let this modest drawback keep you from trying this really awesome approach to training.
I especially recommend this program for the runner who has had little to no experience with speed-work or intervals and would like to start incorporating it into their training. Also, I give a high recommendation for this plan to the injury prone runner with high aspirations because this is a way to tackle your running goal without breaking yourself along the way! And lastly, if you are limited on time (and who isn't), this program gets you to the starting line in top form without an unreasonable time commitment.
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"When you run a marathon, you mean it. We're built for running. We dream of flying. For now, though, we're built to run." -Benjamin Cheever
Never having heard of it, I accidentally stumbled upon this book upon the shelf, but drawn as I am to anything with "running" in the title, I picked it up. It did not disappoint. I found it informative, as well as entertaining and humorous.
Written by Benjamin Cheever, novelist and feature writer for Runner's World magazine, Cheever chronicles his own running journey starting in his late twenties as an employee of Reader's Digest, all the while intermingling essays on the role of running throughout history. Cheever bounces back and forth between his own running journey and a myriad of other running topics including the first marathon runner (Pheidippides), running in the military, Kenyan runners, and the Boston Marathon. My only complaint is that Cheever comes across as being a little whiny when it comes to the memoir sections of the book, but this is not enough to detract from the overall entertainment. I enjoyed it, it is fun and full of interesting historical facts. Grab it when you need some laughter, some inspiration, and a read that celebrates your passion for running.
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Gateway to adventure! Thinking about training for your very first triathlon? Start here! This book covers all the bases for the newbie. Buy it before your first triathlon and you won't regret it.
This book brought me through my first sprint triathlon-which says a lot. I delved into the sport of triathlon without personally knowing another soul who had done one! I had no one to ask questions of, no one to direct my training or ease my fears. I had this book. It was enough. I think I basically hauled this book around with me everywhere for four months, stealing every spare moment I could get to read, and re-read portions of it because I was so excited about my new training.
Harr writes for the beginner. I do not recommend this to the athlete who has successfully completed one or two tris, if you've gotten that far it probably time to look for a little more advanced material. That being said...I'm not sure I would have survived that first triathlon without the help of this book!
The product reviews in the book are now out of date, and I could have done without those anyhow, but the book would still be my number one recommendation for the beginning triathlete. The book is simple, motivational, and provides training programs designed for your goals and fitness level that will have you on your way to your first triathlon finish. So what are you waiting for?
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