20 Best Books For Runners (2023 Update)

Although running is becoming one of the most popular sports, learning to run properly can take time, energy and consistency. you need to do it regularly to become good at it and until you have achieved a certain level of competence, it is unlikely that you will enjoy it very much, or for very long. for many runners physical and mental barriers can stop progress. this book’s ultimate aim is to help you enjoy to run – to enjoy the feeling of movement, to overcome inertia, to renew yourself and to boost energy as a result. master the art of running is based on the proven principles of the alexander technique that encourage good body use and greater awareness of the way your body functions and moves. the technique teaches you how to release tension from your back and neck and how to run without suffering from injuries. the authors’ perspective on the sport takes them into areas rarely touched on in conventional manuals. instead of placing importance on speed, targets and goals it emphasises the importance of the way you run so you can transform your training and performance.

A few years ago jonathan cairns was 46, fat, unfit, and going through a very painful separation. he had never exercised and had zero energy but as a way of dealing with the pain and frustration of his separation, he decided to take up running. or as he talks about in his book the plant-based runner: a personal guide to running, healthy eating, and discovering a new you, he started to 'put one foot in front of the other'. this book is raw and real. there is nothing in it that is not tried and tested by cairns, and it has an authentic ring about it. this is a personal story, about his struggle to see his children in the face of a relentless, anti-father bias in the judicial system. he is running to solve problems, running to find solutions as opposed to running away from trouble. he takes responsibility for everything that is his. straight-talking and funny, jonathan takes you by the hand and chapter by chapter helps you to put your excuses aside and find a new appreciation for your body, your health and for the power of confidence. you feel like if you follow his steps you could do a lot more with your life. there are books that you will read that tell you how to live, or how to do something that will improve your life, and if you follow the advice, as you might for a time, it may work, for a while. and there are books that will leave you changed, transported to another place in yourself and in the world you inhabit because of the power of the story that you have read. even if you are not a runner or a dad deprived of your kids, this is a read that has inspiration and hope.

Let four months to a four-hour marathon be your personal trainer. whether you’re a competitive veteran or a recreational beginner, this essential guide will tell you exactly what to eat, what to wear, what to expect, and how to train. when race day arrives, author dave kuehls, contributing editor at runner’s world and a marathoner himself, will have you in the best shape of your life—physically and mentally. all you have to do is take the first step.four months to a four-hour marathon includes: – day-by-day training schedules for 4-hour and 5-hour marathoners – detailed diet plans – the marathoner’s mind-set – right and wrong things to wear – how to pick the right sneakers – pain vs. performance—how far to go – common pitfalls to avoid—in training and during the race – a list of the 36 marathons in north america where you can run the fastest times

Running for dummies is for everyone with a desire to run. if you’re a reforming couch potato, it helps ease you into a healthier lifestyle. if you have olympic aspirations, take a look at different ways to improve your training. this easy-to-understand guide is also for those who want to: lose weight decrease blood pressure live longer relieve stress boost creativity find a fun way to exercise find dependable guidance for buying running shoes. explore ways to maximize your training program. discover the races you’ll enjoy running. coauthored by the “world’s fastest woman” and world record holder florence (flo-jo) griffith joyner, running for dummies has world-class advice on these topics and many more: nutrition and weight loss hitting your stride speed training reaching your peak the day of the race marathon training identifying and treating injuries cross-training and treadmill training running for kids and seniors run around the block or around town. tired of pavement? run through the woods. keep track of your personal progress in handy running logs in the back of the book. improve your health, feel good about yourself, and have fun! with several million runners on the road today, you’ll find a lot of company, encouragement, and friends benefiting from this healthy and fun activity.

In run forever, boston marathon winner and former runner's world editor-in-chief amby burfoot shares practical advice and wisdom on how to run with greater joy and health for an entire lifetime.everyone learns how to run at an early age. it's naturally wired into your body. yet in recent years, running has become complicated by trendy gadgets and doctrine. with a boston marathon win and over 100,000 miles run on his resume, amby burfoot steers the sport back to its simple roots in run forever. from a warm and welcoming perspective, burfoot provides clear, actionable guidance to runners of every age and ability level.whether you are a beginner runner or experienced marathoner, run forever will show you how to motivate yourself, avoid injuries, increase speed and endurance, and reach your goals. best of all, you'll enjoy optimal health throughout your life.

A comprehensive guide exclusively for women who experience the pure joy of running—or want to.more women than ever are discovering the unique benefits of running — for stress relief, weight management, endurance, and self-esteem. it's the simplest, fastest, most accessible way to fitness and good health known to woman. you don't need a partner, equipment, or even much time. now, claire kowalchik, former managing editor of runner's world magazine, answers every question about the overwhelmingly popular activity that builds endurance, melts fat, and even prevents illness. in this total running book for women, you'll learn: -how to get started and stay motivated -what to eat for optimal nutrition -how to run during pregnancy and after menopause -why running is the most effective form of exercise -how to prevent and treat injury -what to wear — from sports bras to running shoes -how to prepare for everything from a 5k to a marathon authoritative and friendly, the complete book of running for women is a sourcebook for both beginners and long-time runners. along with wisdom drawn from the author's personal experience, you'll find advice from the experts: coaches, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, doctors, and other women runners. including question-and-answer sections and a complete list of resources, the complete book of running for women tells you everything you need to know to be off and running toward better health and richer living.

Have you ever wondered if it is truly possible to run pain and injury free? do you yearn for the day that you will be able to enjoy the many benefits that running brings by running pain and injury free? sadly, among many runners is an inherent yet often unspoken belief that it isn't possible to run pain and injury free. many runners believe that if you run far enough and for long enough, injury will be the inevitable result. a physio's 5 step guide to enjoying injury-free and faster running readers will discover how to both prevent and overcome running injuries, and go on to enjoy new levels of exercise pain and injury free, and ultimately faster running. written by a highly successful physiotherapist and an accomplished triathlete and runner, this book offers runners of all levels hope – hope that it is indeed possible to run pain and injury free. this book is written for any runner who: – is seeking to proactively prevent injuries – is currently injured and looking to return to running – has been previously injured and never made a return to running – is not concerned about injury prevention or rehabilitation but just wants to get faster. brad beer is a gold coast based physiotherapist. in 2006 brad founded his first practice now known as pogo physio. recognised as a leading authority on running injury prevention and rehabilitation, brad – himself an avid runner – is passionate about seeing people unlock their true physical potential and discover the many joys and benefits of running. "it never ceases to amaze me how quickly i'm on the road to recovery or just generally tuned up every time i see brad. i often say 'he is a genius!'" – mat rogers, dual australian rugby representative "brad's unique 5 step approach is a proven method for beating running injuries. this book will assist you to finally run pain and injury free." – hayley bateup, ironwoman champion "utilising the exercises contained within this book i was able to go from not being able to walk downstairs without severe knee pain to being back in full training in only 4 weeks." – luke mcdonald "as a professional athlete the ability to run pain and injury free has been critical to my performance. at last brad has distilled the same principles he has used to help me run pain free over my career into a resource available to runners of all levels." – shannon eckstein, ironman champion

The undisputed classic of running novels and one of the most beloved sports books ever published, once a runner tells the story of an athlete’s dreams amid the turmoil of the 60s and the vietnam war.inspired by the author’s experience as a collegiate champion, the novel follows quenton cassidy, a competitive runner at fictional southeastern university whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. he is less than a second away when the turmoil of the vietnam war era intrudes into the staid recesses of his school’s athletic department. after he becomes involved in an athletes’ protest, cassidy is suspended from his track team. under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, bruce denton, a graduate student and former olympic gold medalist, cassidy gives up his scholarship, his girlfriend, and possibly his future to withdraw to a monastic retreat in the countryside and begin training for the race of his life against the greatest miler in history. a rare insider’s account of the incredibly intense lives of elite distance runners, once a runner is an inspiring, funny, and spot-on tale of one individual’s quest to become a champion.

New york times bestseller – a world-class runner and four-time olympian shares the life lessons he’s learned from each of the twenty-six marathons he’s run in his storied career. “an athlete whose wisdom and lessons aren’t just for runners.”—the washington postwhen meb keflezighi—the first person in history to win both the boston and new york city marathons as well as an olympic marathon medal—ran his final marathon in new york city on november 5, 2017, it marked the end of an extraordinary distance-running career. meb's last marathon was also his twenty-sixth, and each of those marathons has come with its own unique challenges, rewards, and outcomes. in 26 marathons, meb takes readers on those legendary races, along every hill, bend, and unexpected turn of events that made each marathon an exceptional learning experience, and a fascinating story.26 marathons offers the wisdom meb has gleaned about life, family, identity, and faith in addition to tips about running, training, and nutrition. he shows runners of all levels how to apply the lessons he's learned to their own running and lives. equal parts inspiration and practical advice, 26 marathons provides an inside look at the life and success of one of the greatest runners living today.praise for 26 marathons“26 marathons is a swift read, guaranteed to be popular with student athletes plus hard-core and recreational runners, who will undoubtedly agree that meb is an american treasure and running ambassador who never fails to inspire.”—booklist (starred review)“26 marathons gives great insight about the ups and downs in marathon running and how to cope with them. his advice on training, overcoming injuries, and adversity is for everyone. it’s pure gold!”—shalane flanagan, 2017 tcs nyc marathon champion

In the tradition of wild and h is for hawk, an outside magazine writer tells her story–of fathers and daughters, grief and renewal, adventure and obsession, and the power of running to change your life. named one of the best books of the year by real simple i'm running to forget, and to remember. for more than a decade, katie arnold chased adventure around the world, reporting on extreme athletes who performed outlandish feats–walking high lines a thousand feet off the ground without a harness, or running one hundred miles through the night. she wrote her stories by living them, until eventually life on the thin edge of risk began to seem normal. after she married, katie and her husband vowed to raise their daughters to be adventurous, too, in the mountains and canyons of new mexico. but when her father died of cancer, she was forced to confront her own mortality. his death was cataclysmic, unleashing a perfect storm of grief and anxiety. she and her father, an enigmatic photographer for national geographic, had always been kindred spirits. he introduced her to the outdoors and took her camping and on bicycle trips and down rivers, and taught her to find solace and courage in the natural world. and it was he who encouraged her to run her first race when she was seven years old. now nearly paralyzed by fear and terrified she was dying, too, she turned to the thing that had always made her feel most alive: running. over the course of three tumultuous years, she ran alone through the wilderness, logging longer and longer distances, first a 50-kilometer ultramarathon, then 50 miles, then 100 kilometers. she ran to heal her grief, to outpace her worry that she wouldn't live to raise her own daughters. she ran to find strength in her weakness. she ran to remember and to forget. she ran to live. ultrarunning tests the limits of human endurance over seemingly inhuman distances, and as she clocked miles across mesas and mountains, katie learned to tolerate pain and discomfort, and face her fears of uncertainty, vulnerability, and even death itself. as she ran, she found herself peeling back the layers of her relationship with her father, discovering that much of what she thought she knew about him, and her own past, was wrong. mesmerizing, transcendent, and deeply exhilarating, it is a book for anyone who has been knocked over by life, or feels the pull of something bigger and wilder within themselves. "a beautiful work of searching remembrance and searing honesty . . . katie arnold is as gifted on the page as she is on the trail. running home will soon join such classics as born to run and ultramarathon man as quintessential reading of the genre."–hampton sides, author of on desperate ground and ghost soldiers

Drop unwanted pounds and keep them off for good with runner’s world run to lose, your comprehensive guide to weight loss from the experts at runner’s world. running is proven to be one of the most effective, cost-efficient, and accessible weight-loss strategies. weight loss and running are not one-size-fits-all, and run to lose provides everything you need to customize a unique diet and running program that works for you. certified running coach jennifer van allen and sports nutritionist pamela nisevich bede show you how to incorporate running into an individualized nutrition and fitness program that will maximize your weight-loss results while improving your athletic performance. whether you are a seasoned marathoner looking to shave minutes by shedding a few pounds or a beginning runner lacing up for the very first time, run to lose provides you with the tools and information you need to get started and stay on track. this book is full of guidance on tricky topics such as how to balance your weight-loss goals while consuming enough nutrients to power your workouts; how to maximize your calorie burn; the best high-quality/low-calorie carbs to fuel your run; and advice on how to avoid common diet pitfalls. complete with easy-to-follow training guides and detailed meal plans, run to lose will help you shape up, get stronger, and achieve your fitness goals.

Charlie engle’s “fascinating account of the high and low points of his life as an ultramarathon runner…is uplifting and inspirational” (publishers weekly) as he describes his globe-spanning races, his record-breaking run across the sahara desert, and how running helped him overcome drug addiction—and an unjust stint in federal prison.after a decade-long addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol, charlie engle hit bottom with a near-fatal six-day binge that ended in a hail of bullets. as engle got sober, he turned to running, which became his lifeline, his pastime, and his salvation. he began with marathons, and when marathons weren’t far enough, he began to take on ultramarathons, races that went for thirty-five, fifty, and sometimes hundreds of miles, traveling to some of the most unforgiving places on earth to race. the matt damon-produced documentary, running the sahara, followed engle as he lead a team on a harrowing, record breaking 4,500-mile run across the sahara desert, which helped raise millions of dollars for charity. charlie’s growing notoriety led to an investigation and a subsequent unjust conviction for mortgage fraud for which he spent sixteen months in federal prison in beckley, west virginia. while in jail, engle pounded the small prison track, running endlessly in circles. soon his fellow inmates were joining him, struggling to keep their spirits up in dehumanizing circumstances. in running man, charlie engle tells the surprising, funny, and emotional story of his life, detailing his setbacks and struggles—from coping with addiction to serving time in prison—and how he blazed a path to freedom by putting one foot in front of the other. “a fast-paced, well-written account of a man who accepts pain, pushes beyond imagined limits, and ultimately finds redemption and peace” (booklist), this is a raw and triumphant account about finding the threshold of human endurance, and transcending it.

Several years ago ryan robert noticed his niece washaving body image issues. she obsessed about her weight and let it takecontrol of her life. eventually she even lost the confidence she onceeffortlessly displayed. as an avid runner, ryan knew if he wasable to get his niece to start running she would gain self-confidence,better mental and physical acuity. it would also allow her a betterfocus on health rather than weight. ryan started writing notes to hisniece about different aspects of running. these notes became the impetus for his book running inspired.running inspiredprovides a wealth of information for the non-runner and beginningrunner. the book covers everything from proper form, to shoes, torunning schedules, and food. there is also information on how to staymotivated including visualization exercises. these are the tools ryanused to teach his niece to run inspired and they will help you too.ryan's writing style is friendly, easy to read, and non-judgmental. if youhave ever thought about running, even if you've never tried it, running inspired is the perfect place to start.

Run for fun and personal bests is not about trophies and championships. it's ultimately about much more important goals and lasting rewards for the student athletes who built and benefit from our north central program. – the basic responsibility of a coach should never veer from the goal of stressing core internal values that guide athletes to personal growth. – i train cross country and track athletes, but this recipe, this process, should work for any athlete in any sport. i also believe it can guide other young people pursuing a personal goal in school, at work, or in their personal lives, who are asking themselves, "i know where i want to go, but how do i get there?"

The story of the 153-mile run from athens to sparta that inspired the marathon and saved democracy, as told – and experienced – by ultramarathon runner and bestselling author dean karnazes. in 490 bce pheidippides ran for 36 hours straight from athens to sparta to seek help in defending athens from a persian invasion. he was hailed as a hero and his run stands enduringly as one of greatest physical accomplishments in history. dean karnazes honours this achievement and his own greek heritage by attempting this ancient journey in modern times. his account of running the gruelling spartathlon, fuelled only by the figs, olives and meats available to pheidippides, will captivate even the most sedentary readers.

But there is one constant: for more than 30 years, runner's world magazine has been recognized worldwide as the most reliable and authoritative source of running knowledge. and for the past 7 years, runner's world complete book of running has been the classic book of choice for runners looking to run better, longer, and faster.inside, all the secrets of running are laid bare. need to know the best ways to start a running program? you'll find it. looking for tips on buying and preserving your running shoes? it's in there. from a complete look at running injuries to the benefits of sports drinks vs. water to the best way to increase your endurance and train for a marathon, look no further than runner's world complete book of running. contents include:- a sure-fire plan for beginners to get "hooked" on running- 15 surprising foods to boost your running performance- tips for triathletes to maximize your training efficiency- 11 rules to run a great marathon- a woman's encyclopedia of running- how to incorporate speedwork into your training- how to think like a champion- how to taper your eating, and your training, before a racewhether you are a beginner or veteran runner, here is the advice–both timeless and cutting-edge–guaranteed to maximize your performance and your running pleasure.

But there is one constant: for more than 30 years, runner's world magazine has been recognized worldwide as the most reliable and authoritative source of running knowledge. and for the past 7 years, runner's world complete book of running has been the classic book of choice for runners looking to run better, longer, and faster.inside, all the secrets of running are laid bare. need to know the best ways to start a running program? you'll find it. looking for tips on buying and preserving your running shoes? it's in there. from a complete look at running injuries to the benefits of sports drinks vs. water to the best way to increase your endurance and train for a marathon, look no further than runner's world complete book of running. contents include:- a sure-fire plan for beginners to get "hooked" on running- 15 surprising foods to boost your running performance- tips for triathletes to maximize your training efficiency- 11 rules to run a great marathon- a woman's encyclopedia of running- how to incorporate speedwork into your training- how to think like a champion- how to taper your eating, and your training, before a racewhether you are a beginner or veteran runner, here is the advice–both timeless and cutting-edge–guaranteed to maximize your performance and your running pleasure.

Running isn't a hobby, it's a way of life. runners run to be the best they can be, to challenge who they are, to inspire others and to champion their cause. from the woman who ran for three and a half days without sleep, to the 61-year-old man who broke records in an 875-km ultramarathon, this collection of unforgettable stories will inspire anyone who's ever pounded the pavement to keep on running and enjoy every minute of this liberating sport.

Humans have been running for millennia. among the many unique human attributes is our ability to run long distance. and yet running hurts. go for a run after work today and you'll probably wake up tomorrow with stiff limbs and a firm resolution to spend more evenings on the couch watching tv. running is a high-impact exercise: every stride sends shudders of force up anatomically complicated ankles and through delicate knees, goading your joints and muscles into injury. and yet millions train each year for marathons and triathalons the world over. running science explains the science behind running why it hurts, how one can run faster, how physics of surfaces and the soles of shoes all contribute to performance. this is a guide for anyone interested in running from those in armchairs who just want to read about the science of sport, to others who are looking for ways to better their next marathon.

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