Customer Reviews

Lore of Running-4th Edition

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is really complete... maybe to complete in the sense that their is sometime to much information. If you are a professionnal, you might be looking for so much details and stories. But if you rather like to have the information straight to the point, you might start getting a bit anoyed by reading through 900 pages. We could whish for an abreviated version of this book.

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.

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.

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.

This is the most complete book for sport training. 4th edition is up to date with all R&D from late 1900 and 2000s. It is a must for runners and cyclists of all ages and abilities. It is written in easy to understand language.

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.

What more can I say? I wasn't a runner till I read this book

This is without doubt the best book ever written on the topic of long-distance running. Although it is very enjoyable read throughout, it goes into far greater sceintific and practical detail than any other book I have encountered in fifteen years of running. It is, and will remain, a classic.

This book provides a common sense approach to running backed up by detailed sceintific data and analysis. As such it very usefull for everyone in athletics from the novice to pro and coaches. It will definitely help you get the best out of yourself while avoiding the pitfalls. The best I have seen and one that I continue to find usefull after 4 years of reading and 15 years of running.

The Lore of running is simply the best there is for any serious athlete...The scientific analysis of preparing then pushing the human body to its limits is well documented throughout the evolution of this sport . The principles apply to endurance in triathlon , which includes swimming & biking as well as running . Bravo is all I can say . The book is at my bedside year round especially now while training for Western States 100 mile run next month.