Once considered a feat for superhuman athletes, the marathon is now within every mortal's grasp. Former couch potato John Bingham has joined forces with coach Jenny Hadfield to create a winning plan that works for every mortal--even you.In Marathoning for Mortals, you'll find the courage to train, the willpower to persevere, and the tenacity to finish one mile after another. John and Jenny stick with you every step of the way, from your first insecure thoughts to your last...

Known by fans as "The Penguin" for his back-of-the-pack speed, John Bingham is the unlikely hero of the modern running boom. In his new book, the best-selling author and magazine columnist recalls his childhood dreams of athletic glory, sedentary years of unhealthy excess, and a life-changing transformation from couch potato to "adult-onset athlete." Overweight, uninspired, and saddled with a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoking habit, Bingham found himself firmly wedged into a middle-age slump. ...

"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...

September 11, 2001 changed the world and changed the United States. But most of all, it changed the men and women who were sent to Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime and to bring freedom to the Iraqi people under his rule. This is the story of one combat medic and his journey to and from one of the most dangerous cities in IraqSadr City. Follow SPC Bingham as he gives a detailed account of the day-to-day life of a soldier and combat medic during the initial stages of what ...

Weimar Cities explores Germany's efforts to come to grips with its great cities after World War I; by extension the book measures the feasibility of the postwar experiment that was the Weimar Republic. The book focuses particularly on the weakness, both local and national, that resulted from the disjunct between the cities’ perceived and actual power.

If there is a common theme here, it might be a morbid one...I leave you, the reader, to decide for yourself. For, although age and loneliness and death pervade some of these stories, they are ultimately about love, of one sort or another. Whether it be a love of a life; the love of a friend; or the love of ones self...it is there; or it is conspicuous by its absence.

“Each new page [is] more spellbinding than the one before—this is surely one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read.”—Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of DogsWhen Bernd Heinrich decided to write a memoir of his ultramarathon running experience he realized that the preparation for the race was as important, if not more so, than the race itself. Considering the physiology and motivation of running from a scientific point of view, he wondered what he could le...

Are you ready to be inspired? This book contains amazing tales of extreme endurance from athletes around the globe. These aren't pros or elites these are everyday people who decided to step outside their comfort zone and attempt to achieve the extraordinary. You'll get to read stories that include:- An amateur athlete's emotional journey through his first 50 mile race.- An amazing weight loss journey that resulted in crossing the Ironman finish line with jus...

Marathons make you miserable, but they also give you the most unlikely and the most indescribable pleasures. It’s a world that I love – a world unlocked when you dress up in lycra, put plasters on your nipples and run 26.2 miles in the company of upwards of 30,000 complete strangers. Phil Hewitt, who has completed over 25 marathons in conditions ranging from blistering heat to snow and ice, distils his personal experiences into a light-hearted account of his adventures along the way from B...

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...

117 marathons, 52 days, 32 pairs of shoes, 57 years old: A fascinating glimpse inside the mind of an ultramarathon runner and the inspirational saga of his phenomenal journey running across America.The ultimate endurance athlete, Marshall Ulrich has run more than 100 foot races averaging over 100 miles each, completed 12 expedition-length adventure races, and ascended the Seven Summits - including Mount Everest - all on his first attempt. Yet his run from Californi...

Nearly 10 years after its first publication, Aurum are re-issuing this classic running book which has defined a genre. It includes an introduction from bestselling author Robert Macfarlane and an epilogue from Richard Askwith.The concept of fell-running is simple: it’s a sport that involves running over mountains – sometimes one, sometimes many. It’s also immensely demanding. While running uphill is a stamina-sapping slog, running pell-mell down the other side requires the agility –...