The Runner's Handbook: The Best-selling Classic Fitness Guide for Beginner and Intermediate Runner

"'The Runners Handbook' is a comprehensive book covering nearly all aspects of running. It stretches to just over 700 pages, which is a lot of information about this sport. The topics it covers are extremely varied and include, reasons to exercise, getting started and maintaining motivation, training diaries, beginner and intermediate programs, racing, equipment, nutrition, altering your running to suit different environments, fitting your training in with everyday life, women runners, aging runners, kids and disabled runners, illness and injury, cross training and supplemental training and overall wellness. Glover writes extremely well and informally, making for an interesting and engaging read. This book has plenty of tables, but no diagrams that would have added to the overall aesthetic and made clear some of the points raised. This book is written mainly for the American market, but the information enclosed can easily be applied anywhere. It doesn't have much information on various training techniques, such as fartlek and intervals and although these are mentioned briefly, not to any great degree. This is an in-depth and comprehensive book, but for a more attractive package that provides much of the same information I recommend the runners world complete book of running by Amby Burfoot."
~ Written on 2008-05-24

"If you're training for your first marathon, a 5k 'Race for Life' or just trying to get fit then this book will help with your motivation.

It's a thick book full of information about how to run, when to run and what will compliment your training. It's a US book so some of the info is US-orientated but still valid on this side of the so called 'pond'. I've skipped many chapters and cherry-picked the information I felt applicable to my needs. It's a good book which I find to be more of a motivational tool rather than a book which defines my running.

It's aimed at the serious runner, a competitor. That's not me - I run to keep fit, I don't run in competitions. However, the book is still a worthwhile purchase and it does help you run, and as I said, it's quite motivational."
~ Written on 2008-05-04

"It was painful having to read a page of explanation on a stretch when a simple diagram would have explained easily. This man is clearly allergic to graphics. Other than this it is pretty faultless. I was cheered that the author, an accomplished runner, also needed orthotics to not be crippled. It makes me motivated to be better even though my biomechanics are not perfect for running, having double joints."
~ Written on 2007-12-19

"It seriously did change my life which for this price isn't bad at all.

Six months ago I couldn't run but signed up for a 5k Race For Life. I bought this book and its been my running bible ever since. I followed the beginner's running programme and 2 months later ran the 5k in 29 minutes. There are programmes for 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon races. Advice on diet, trainers, injury, race preperation and anything else you could need to know. If you want to get into running, improve your time or distance or start racing then I'd totally recommend this book."
~ Written on 2007-10-06

"Extremely easy to read providing a wealth of down to earth advice. Indexed to help you to get that advice you are looking for."
~ Written on 2007-09-26