North American Ultrarunning: A History explores the rich heritage of ultradistance running stretching back thousands of years; the Americas were originally peopled by nomads on foot. The book documents ultradistance feats by Native Americans, the earliest European explorers and settlers, before recording the growing development of the professional sport in North America in the nineteenth century. This fascinating story continues onwards into the twentieth century to the Pyle Trans-America ...

The Marathon des Sables is billed as the toughest footrace on Earth. It consists of around 150 miles of running across scorching desert plains and peaks, in temperatures soaring above 40 degrees C. As if the distance, the heat and the terrain were not enough, the whole race must be completed carrying all the food and kit required for the seven days of the event.The Marathon des Sables is an incredible event. The single biggest piece of advice that I received during my preparation w...

The basic rationale for running barefoot or in minimalist models goes something like this: Humans evolved to cover long distances by foot. By introducing a thick layer of cushioning and an elevated heel between the foot and the ground, modern running shoes alter natural running form. But modern running shoes alter form in ways that lead to injury. Therefore, getting back to a more natural running gait by running in little-to-no shoe will lead to improved form, which should lower injury rat...

From basic tenets of training to nutrition guidelines,this is the first resource for runners to fully integrate nutrition with training for a complete and systematic pre-race plan. "A must for marathoners"(Library Journal).Every year, roughly 2 million people participate in marathons and half marathons in the United States, and, no matter what level they are, every one of these runners has likely hit "The Wall," running out of muscle fuel in the final mile...

“The best running book ever.” —Bob Anderson, founder of Runner’s WorldWhether you’re a miler or an ultramarathoner, if you want a fit, fast, and injury-resistant running body, there’s a better way to train than relentlessly pursuing mileage. This easy-to-use workout manual draws on the latest research in running physiology to target all the components that go into every stride—including muscles, connective tissue, cardiovascular fitness, energy production,...

The Natural Running Revolution Has StartedLearn how to use minimalist running shoes as tools for improving your running form and run injury-free for life.Understand what the latest footwear technologies offer and decide which works for your situation.Learn what's wrong with traditional running shoes and how you can prevent injuries in the future.Run Natural. Run Free.

"You don't have to run fast to be a real runner!"John Bingham, "the patron saint of the back of the pack," commands "The Penguin Brigade"-- those thousands of dedicated runners who have learned that the greatest joy in their sport comes not from how fast they go or how thin they become, but from simply having the courage to take the first step.Now Bingham shares the wisdom that took him from couch potato to columnist for Runner's World magazine. No Need for Spe...

Think you know the story of Olympic runner Zola Budd? Think again. Even if you remember how the barefoot prodigy broke world records and was blamed for favorite Mary Deckers career-crippling fall, her story has more heartbreak and nuance than the headlines would have you believe.

How to cross-train to improve running times and prevent overuse injuries--whether you are participating in your first 10-K or competing to win a marathon or triathlonIf you want to enjoy a long, successful life of running, it's essential to incorporate non-running activities into your training program.Strength exercises will keep your muscles in balance. Flexibility exercises will keep them supple. And alternative endurance activities will help heal existing injuries while ...

How does a boy from a small Oregon farm town get swept up in the politics of his chosen sport? Out of Nowhere takes the reader along on Geoff Hollister's 33 year journey at the center of Nike, the company that would change not only the world of athletic shoes and apparel but the business of sport itself. Nike began with a handshake and a few hundred dollars passed between Phil Knight and legendary track coach Bill Bowerman. Hollister was coached by him at the University of Oregon and was B...

Great Marathon Running is a short, simple and to-the-point guide to how to train for and successfully complete a marathon. Whatever the aim - whether to be quick, raise money or just finish - in just 96 pages readers will discover the essential training points and how to go from complete starter to marathon runner in just a few months. Ideal for the busy, the time-pressured or the merely curious, Great Marathon Running is a quick, no-effort solution for those who've always toyed with the i...

I wrote this book for all us who neither have the time nor the inclination to read many books these days, yet nonetheless aspire to do something magnificent at least once in our lives, such as completing a full marathon race. We may have even purchased magazines, training guides, athletic gear, and gym memberships, all in support of such an endeavor - but have just not found the right program to make it stick among daily pushes and pulls that time flexes over our lives. For all of us, this...