[.ca] Galloway's Book on Running 2nd Edition (ISBN 0936070277)

From Amazon.com:
As a young man, Jeff Galloway traveled the world and entered international running events, satiating his desire to compete and cultivating his love of the sport. He became the "running equivalent to a ski bum," and his book, Galloway's Book on Running, retains that laid-back feel while still managing to be an incredibly comprehensive source. Anecdotal and engaging, the book opens with an American running history and the Five Stages of a Runner, which sets a bar by which you can measure yourself and minimize "the pitfalls and maximize the gains of your running future." Galloway then describes how the three levels of training--base, hills, speed--are crucial to enhancing and improving performance. Reasonable mileage programs for specific race distances, such as "Less mileage for a faster 10K," address the many myths circulating about mileage requirements for injury-free and effective training programs. You'll also find such minutiae as the natural reactions of the human body when running in hot or cold weather and hints for a more comfortable run. Note this striking warning: "Men, please wear more than nylon tricot shorts if you value your future family production. Penile frostbite is no joke." Whoa! He also discusses the importance of hydration: "Many of the undesirable aspects of racing--poor performance, muscle soreness, even injury--are partially or wholly attributable to dehydration." And, for those curious about the physiological reasoning behind hitting the "wall" or the difference between fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fiber, an entire chapter is committed to "Physiology--What Happens Inside When You Run." --Cate Bick

Disappointed:
A great book with one exception. I purchased the First edition of this book and used it as a guideline for my 1st marathon. In preparation for a 2nd marathon, now several years later, I purchased the second edition as I lost the first book. I was disappointed to discover that this edition does not include a marathon Training Program.

Technical and common sense:
I just turned 50 and have always been active but I'm new to running. I got this book to get a clue and have been very pleased. You can tell that the author has a world of knowledge but he presents it with plenty of common sense making it easy to read and understand. I have read it through twice and will refer to it again as I progress.

Positive and Powerful, Go Farther with a Wise Teacher:
This book is perfect for those who have just discovered running and would like a primer on how and how not to train. It's main stregnth is its well-rounded nature, containing everything from historical anecdotes to nutrition and tips for older runners. Galloway's voice is humane and humble. At least in this book, he practices what he preaches: an oversized ego is an obstacle and running is done for the joy it brings. After reading sections of this book, I did some late-night running at the campus track and I could see where a lot of runners were going wrong. They were trying so hard to run that after a few minutes they were exhausted. Galloway's book is more well suited to people who want to take the long and slow road, built on slow and long runs, to greater speed and eventual marathon competition. It might also be a bizarre, yet inspired, gift to your favorite couch potato (Just make sure he or she's not the type to get pissed at such a suggestive gift).

New Runner, or Stepping Your Running Up a Notch? Start here.:
"Galloway's Book on Running" by Jeff Galloway has become a running classic, providing the basics about running, training, and racing for years. Galloway does not presume the runner is a casual "New Year's Resolution" jogger who will likely quit in a month. Instead, he looks to build a foundation of sensible workouts, leading to genuine fitness, endurance and speed. He gives instruction of every detail important to new and intermediate runners, from stretching to hydration, from injury management to weight loss, from running for kids top running after age 40. Especially useful for runners looking to transition from running occasionally, to running as a lifestyle. Whether for fitness or for racing, there is enough here to progress through to the next stage. Galloway presents training charts, for example, for those looking to run a 5K. if you goal is to finish the 3.1 race, or to run about 17:00, there is a chart customizing the necessary training -- four charts per distance (5K, 10K and half-marathon). Shoes are a key part of a runner's uniform, and there's a chapter on that. There are also sections focused on women's running, the mental aspects of running, and proper form. Jeff Galloway's credentials as a runner are topnotch, but he has years of experience training runners at all levels. I am convinced this book will provide all a runner needs at those crucial early levels and beyond. I fully recommend "Galloway's Book on Running," and give it as a gift to a friend this Christmas. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Galloway's book is very comprehensive:
I have been a runner for 25 years and I have read the odd running book. I teach a 'begin to run' course so I was looking for beginners. I was amazed how much I learned from this book. Even though it is almost 20 years old the information is very relevant. I enjoyed how it is written. I recommend it to beginners and enthusiasts alike.