[.ca] Lore of Running-4th Edition (ISBN 0873229592)

Running Bible:
If you have a top notch personal coach who tends all your needs, you don't need any book to improve your running. If you are like me who have the passion for serious running, enjoy reading and analytical thinking while having a full-time job + other professional activities, this book is a must-have. I got one for me and two as presents to my friends. Using this book as the major reference to coach and heal myself, I qualified for the Boston Marathon at my marathon debut after about one year's training, took 10 minutes off in another year and I am on my way to beat NYC marathon qualification time for guaranteed number. Running programs are everywhere. "Individualizing" has become a cliché. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms and principles behind body and training is essential to derive a healthy and effective training program that adapts to the body's response. Lore of Running distinguishes itself from other running books by offering a large volume of solid evidence to support the principles concluded by the author. The readers have the freedom of utilizing these materials, often presented in interesting ways such as stories about famous runners, to make their own conclusions. I feel like having a very pleasant academic discussion with the author who is convincing, but not dictating while reading the book. The background of the author - ultra-marathon athlete, researcher and practicing sports MD is perfect for writing such comprehensive running book. This book is certainly not a quick recipe. It takes time to digest the material. If you enjoy reading, it is a plus. I have read some section multiple times. Another very good running book that takes much less time to read is Daniels' Running Formula by Jack Daniels that is geared more toward elite runners, but still very helpful for midpack runners like me.

From a guy who makes a living from coaching running:
This is an absolute must. It is excellent in the exercise physiology department which is the bases of a successful performance. It is like a map which has all the information one needs to succeed, (pending on ones genetic makeover as well as the other little bits and bobs)however, that map is only as good as the map reader. Also if you are studying exercise physiology or sports science, biomechanics etc. it has loads of references which are great to sling in the back of the bibliography...ooophs. Finally I have a library of over 200 running books and if I had to take one to my grave this would be it.

An expanded Table of Contents has been posted:
I agree that this book is great. It is 900+ pages (slightly repetitive) but includes only a one page table of contents. Needless to say I was a little annoyed. So I wrote this one: http://www.scribd.com/doc/3046228/lore-of-running-toc-25 I also recommend Daniels' Running Formula, Bernadot's Advanced Sports Nutrition, and Bompa's Periodization Training for Sports. Although with Polar's RS800sd watch (~$600) Daniel's formula is no longer necessary because the watch can give real-time info on your running-efficiency (Vo2 per speed).

Not _the_ book:
This certainly is a comprehensive book about running but I wouldn't call it THE book like many people have. I've found this book most useful for diagnosing and treating injuries but what comes to the training sections, it wasn't written with the competetive athlete in mind. Noakes gives all the usual research about VO2max and running economy but I think he unfortunately doesn't take the knowledge to the level of the average runner. In other words, he doesn't give the principles of training plain and simple, put into schedules, like some other books do. I'm not saying that this is a bad book or that you shouldn't buy it, I'm just saying that it's maybe not THE book of running. If you are looking for comprehensive training information get another book but if you just want a comprehensive book about running, you can do well with this book.

An absolute must for every runner!:
This book was the reason I got interested in running in the first place, and 4 years later I am about to run my first Comrades Marathon (90km). It has provided me with just about all the information I ever needed on the subject of running and I can not imagine being without it. Buy it! You won't be sorry.