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Summary: I'm a Marathoner
Review: This is the first review I've ever written on Amazon. This book made such a difference in my life, I had to comment on it. Six months ago I decided I needed to do something to get in better shape. I was in decent shape, I played raquet ball a few times a week, but I couldn't run more than a mile and really didn't have any interest in doing so. I came across the book title on Amazon and decided to check it out. I read the book while on vacation and decided I was going to run a marathon. I did the pre-training for a week and then began the program. Then the most important part, I started telling friends and family I was going to run a marathon. I finished my first marathon yesterday( 10/28/01) in Mystic, Connecticut, in four hours and 51 minutes. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I learned that the marathon was the reward and the training was the goal. During my training I read a number of marathon books, they all had helpful advice, but none were as important as this book. It was a guide, a reference and logbook. Its no longer just a book, its a memoir of the journey to my first marathon!
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Summary: It Worked for Me!
Review: After buying this book, I started training in June 2000 with the aim to run the Cape Cod Marathon at the end of October. While physically fit at age 32, I had never run a marathon nor ran even three miles since college. The book was a terrific step-by-step guide in achieving the goal of running a marathon. Whenever I had a question during the training program, it seemed the book would anticipate it and answer it in the next chapter. The mental preparation they advise really works and confirms the fact that it plays just as important a part in running a marathon as the physical. And the simple fact for me to prove the book's worth is that I finsihed the Cape Cod Marathon in 4 hours 44 minutes. Not to mention that it was run in sub-freezing temperatures with snow by the end of the race. The book was so effective in my training, however, that I had no doubt I would finish the race. I would recommend this title to all novice marathoners...
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Summary: Christmas to Boston - Three Short Months & 26 Long Miles
Review: My wife and I were not really runners. We ran for general fitness and no more than five miles at a time, a couple of times a week. In late December 2000 we learned that some of our, more dedicated, running buddies were planning to run the Boston Marathon. Two had run it and the Dublin Marathons the year previously.
On a cold and miserable January Sunday morning, after an absence from running for at least six months, we were on our way to meet the group and fulfill mumbled New Years promises. "Why not" we echoed almost in unison, and the decision to run the Marathon was made. The rashness of youth!
Decision made we joined in the training programme the others were following. I, however, needed more information on nutrition, stretching, approach etc and went looking for a book. It is a difficult thing to select a book on Marathon Training from the veritable library available; I bought up the first one I saw!
"The Non Runners Marathon Trainer" was a bit heavy on jargon, visualisation, "Marathoners" etc to start with. However, I soon realised that gems of information such as 'not setting a completion time for your first marathon' and 'not being afraid to walk stages if necessary' were the secret to success.
We were fit enough to get into the training without too much trouble. The book made clear that the real battle was the mental one. The approach taken helped me overcome my inherent laziness and Fiona her uncertainties; she ran a 4.03 and I a 3.56. She put her time down to having gotten her 'head straight'. My training was hampered by an injury and a lazy head and I wouldn't have finished if I didn't understand the mental aspect of the day.
We intend to run the London Marathon this year and my brother is at this minute buying the book as part of his preparation for the trot.
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Summary: From Couch Potato to Road Warrior
Review: I bought this book because I was not a runner and wondered how anyone could possibly run a marathon. I started up Jan 4 2000 in the dead of winter. I used the book exclusively to prepare for the Pittsburgh Marathon May 7, 2000. The mental preparation and the training schedule were perfect. The schedule has you running only 4 days a week. Running more than 4 days a week would not have been possible with my work and family. The personal stories in the book are very helpful to motivate you to continue your quest. I went from no miles to finishing the marathon in only four months of training. If I can do it following the book, anyone can. You do not need a running partner although it could be helpful. I kept good notes and compared back to each chapter. Great course to follow for the first marathon. The biggest lesson of the book is to have your only expectation is to finish the marathon. Not how fast!
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Summary: EXACTLY WHAT THE TITLE SAYS
Review: If you have ever thought it would be cool to run a marathon but shrugged it off because you're not an athlete - this book can take you to the finish line! You will find all the physical, mental and inspirational information you need in here. I used this to run my first marathon last year, and I had only run a few 5K's in college (I'm early 30's and overweight). I was able to finish with no problems. My brother ran with me and followed this program too... and he had never run ANY race EVER. A very do-able training schedule, since it's only 4 days a week. Others have also commented and I agree, there may be better choices for you if your goal is not to simply finish a marathon. This book focuses on getting a typical couch potato like me to the finish line without injury. Look elsewhere if you want to achieve a specific time. Enjoy running your first marathon....YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
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Summary: An integral part of my training!
Review: For years I had watched people run marathons, and was filled with a mixture of awe and the feeling that "they are nuts!" Deep down I knew that I wanted to tackle a marathon someday, but I was scared that I didn't have it in me. This book changed that perception. In the spring of 1999 I suddenly decided to sign up for the Twin Cities Marathon. In searching for advice on how to prepare, I checked out every book I could find at our local library. Most of them were just not for me. They assumed that I had been running for years (in truth, I hadn't laced up my shoes in almost 10 years). The minute I picked up this book, that all changed. It might as well have been titled "Ben's Marathon Trainer." The tone/mantra of this book is simple and consistent -- "If you WANT to run a marathon you CAN run a marathon." You set your goal (to finish the race regardless of time) and visualize that goal early and consistently. Each chapter focuses on one week in a 16 week training schedule. They provide a well paced physical schedule like all the other books. However, what this book provides that the others are lacking is a week by week EMOTIONAL training schedule. I don't know how many times I would come back from a training run feeling a little down, pick up the the book, and find that the next section talked SPECIFICALLY about the emotions I had felt on the run. Count me as one of this book's success statistics! Just as I visualized, I finished the TC Marathon with flying colors (if not a flying time ;) ). Better yet, I loved every minute of it.
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Summary: Awesome Book!
Review: This was an awesome book! I was a non-runner and in 4 1/2 short months I just completed my first marathon. The only book to use. Well written and easy to follow.
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Summary: Amazed Myself
Review: This is a very inspiring book. I give credit to these authors who gave me the incentive to complete my first marathon. It is very well written and very encouraging. If you've never attempted such a feat and want a little push, I recommend you buy this book.
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Summary: GREAT FIRST TIME MARATHON BOOK!!!!!!!!
Review: This is my first review for Amazon. The book The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer is a WONDERFUL BOOK!!!! I got the urge to run my first Marathon about 6 months ago and my stepsister recommended this book to me. So I signed up for my marathon (Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 1/11/04) and started the training. This book was AMAZING!!! It gave me a really easy to follow schedule for running as well as valuable nutrition tips, stretching tips, and some wonderful and inspirational stories that helped me not only finish my first marathon but finish it in under 5 hours!!!! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever thought about running a marathon, you WILL be able to finish a marathon after reading this book!!!
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Summary: Running a marathon is the best idea you've ever had
Review: If you read this review then you've probably thought that hey, you too could run a marathon. Let me congratulate you, this is the best idea you've ever had!
I ran my first marathon in May 2002 and it has literally made me a different person. I know now that whenever I set my mind to something, I can do it, and marathon training has provided me with the self-discipline and self-confidence that I didn't have before. Want to lose 20 pounds or grow big biceps? No problem, just do it! This is the lesson I've learned from marathoning, nothing else really comes close to this experience. Now when I've hopefully reinforced your idea, you need a training manual. I had several books at my disposal when I was training, all with slightly different marathon training programs, here's the list (in the order of increasing difficulty of the program)
"The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer" by David Whitsett
"4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon" by Dave Kuehls
"Galloway's Book on Running" by Jeff Galloway
"Competitive Runner's Handbook" by Shelly-Lynn Florence Glover I believe the first two in this list to be good for first-time marathoners. "The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer" has the easiest program mileage-wise, if you have never run before then this is probably most suitable for you. However, I ended up using the "4 Months" book as the primary source myself for the following reasons.
1) Information was easier to find in "4 Months". It was very convenient to carry around with me and I could QUICKLY find all relevant information while the other books had too much "fluff" in them.
2) "The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer" emphasizes on every step how their primary goal is not competitiveness but safety and the author discourages you from setting a time goal. If you don't feel competitive at all and just want to finish a marathon, it's perfectly fine and "Non-Runner's" is a great book for you. However, I have always been a competitive person in my life, so "4 Months" suited me better.
3) The weekly long runs in "Non-Runner's" go up to 18 miles. Now this lets you finish the marathon but I feel that a longer run would be better for two reasons.
First, the harder you train, the easier the marathon itself is. My personal training program was relatively hard and it required great effort to complete it. However, running the marathon itself was really surprisingly easy and I could handily beat the four hour mark. There's nothing wrong with an easier training program but I promise you that the more you've trained, the more you will enjoy the race.
Second, many scientists believe that human body is capable of doing whatever it has done before plus about 10%. "4 Months" follows this idea and the longest run there is 24 miles. At the same time "Non-Runner's" has 18 miles as the longest run and then focuses on "beating the wall" i.e. a point of exhaustion that you're supposed to hit at around 20 miles (notice how this is approximately 10% more than 18). My longest run was 24 miles and there was no wall when I raced! Your own experience may vary but longer runs do help you greatly. These are the reasons why I'm giving "Non-Runner's" just 4 stars. Now don't get me wrong, it's a great book and it does help you run a marathon (which is the greatest thing you'll ever do!) but I feel that for some people other books would be more suitable. Anyway, whichever book you get, good luck with your first marathon!!
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