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Summary: The definitive guide for 1st time marathon training...
Review: I loved this book! Everything, I mean everything, you ever wanted to know about running is here. I just ran the NYC Marathon on 11-4-01 thanks to the Coach Glover (author) training program, and I finished in 4:49. I went from clueless non-runner to marathoner using this book. Following this program, I went into the marathon confident that I would do well and I would even enjoy running the marathon. This, coming from someone who used to despise running. Regarding the book, I especially enjoyed Glover's breezy and humerous writing style. It's not just for marathoning, so buy it even if you are just looking to get some fitness advice. You will get off to the right start and learn to love running. I am now ready for Glover's book for competitive running
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Summary: Excellent comprehensive guide for new runners
Review: I picked this book up just as I began running and found it the best overall information source for all of my questions about running, racing, nutrition, stretching, injuries, etc. Well written and amusing! After only ten weeks I went from being fairly sedentary to running four miles at a stretch, and am training for my first 5K.
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Summary: I ran 4 miles yesterday; Thanks to Bob Glover
Review: I started last August as an out of shape, overweight, unmotivated failure. Over the past 10 years I've tried all sorts of plans to get into exercising regularly. Then I turned 28 and realized that if I didn't change this pattern, it was only going to get harder after I crossed 30. I'm proud to report that thanks to Bob Glover, I'll enter my 30s in better shape than I entered my 20s. He started me out with an easy to follow 10 week plan. That gave me enough momentum to finish a 5k race without walking. That was fine and good.. but before I knew it the holidays were upon us and I was sure that my old patterns would emerge and I'd find excuses to stop the running program. Luckily, Bob's program is so easily progressive, that a habit had been forming. There was now enough motivation that the highlight of my day was the hour reserved in the morning for a quiet jog as the sun was rising. No excuses were necessary: running is enough fun that I automatically find ways to keep running in my schedule no matter what's going on, or where I am. Got thru the holidays, got thru vacations, and continue to enjoy running as a part of my life. 6 months later, Bob Glover's book is as essential as it was when I first started the program. I refer to it for tips as the seasons are changing, and I rely on reading the physiological explainations to understand how my body is adapting. Bob Glover is right. If a pig can be trained to run an 8 minute mile - so can I :-)
Rating: 
Summary: good for beginners
Review: i think the best way to learnabout marathons is to train with the official trainers of that marathon. i have learned many things from this book but most crucial information is already on the web on many websites.
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Summary: 10 weeks after starting review
Review: I'm usually skeptical about workout/diet/exercise/etc. books because usually it's someone touting their new "fad" programs that stick around in the news for a couple of weeks and fade away like yesterdays business, or perhaps a book geared towards those who are in shape already and want something to maintain that fitness, therefore being far too difficult for beginners. Well, there's a reason that this book gets 5 stars by nearly everyone here, and I have personally experienced the benefits from the programs listed inside.
I am a 21 year old recent college graduate; I used to run sprints in track at my 1A high school...not state qualifying fast, but I could run a 400 meter dash in 53 seconds, a 200 in 24, and a 100 in 11; I weighed 170 pounds at 5'10" but was extremely fit due to lots of sprinting and weightlifting (which is why I weighed that much), but I could barely run long distances (proved when I was unexpectedly thrown in the 2 mile my freshman year...still don't know why coach did that, I got last place). Then when I started college I majored in computers and have pretty much been sedentary since. I went from a muscular 170 pounds to a fat 200. I could sprint 200 meters with ease in High School, but afterwards I could hardly walk up a flight of stairs without gasping for air. I tried several times at my own running programs by trying to immediately run a mile each day and progress from there...all I got was insane shin splints and gave up. I figured I was doing something wrong and thus looked up on Amazon for good running books, and I stumbled on this gem. On the 4th of July, I started the program in this book. I only took a one week hiatus and returned from where I left off (no setback) and now I've reached week ten, and I am running 3 miles better than I could in high school (I think at a 7 minute/mile pace!). Now, four months removed from four years of college, I'm back in my high school running form, I weigh 185 (without giving up "unhealthy" food, but instead following the advice in the book) and that is only from the Beginner program...I can't wait until I get through the Advanced Beginner workout (30 minute nonstop runs).
The program in this book really works, but I think I'm fortunate to be younger than runners in the age group I think this book is for and I think I had a relatively easy time with the program because of it (why I added some background). I gather that this book is written more for people in their late twenties and higher, since Bob likes to discuss workouts around 9 to 5 schedules. I wish there was a chapter dedicated to runners in different professions, like myself who is still stuck in retail so I'm already exhausted from being on my feet for 8+ hours and my schedule fluctuates like crazy and it makes it really hard to set up a running schedule; perhaps an added chapter that would cover people in different professions such as retail, 9-5, and even for college students who aren't out for sports! That was my biggest problem in school was finding time to work out, what with 19 credit hour semesters and 40 hour work weeks.
Oh well, that's a tiny nitpick at best that shouldn't shroud a book that not only covers some excellent running programs, but almost everything else related to it, such as gear, nutrition (TONS of info here, and some surprising info for you anti-carb people), running in poor weather conditions, and other info. This book is written very well, instead of other books which read like stereo instructions. I thought it would be a dread to try to read all of the info inside (I can barely read comics folks, I just look at the pics), but this book seriously gets you motivated to work out (no exageration, this book pumped me up), and I give this book five stars for that alone. Glover has truly debunked the theory of "no pain, no gain" and that I believe is why people fail when trying to work out on their own. For me this program is like a locomotive; when I started it WAS hard, but I'm now running 3 miles/20 minutes with ease!
You don't need other books on fitness, just this one. You will save yourself mounds of stress by avoiding multiple sources of info. I recommend doing the workouts 5 days a week from the get-go. Stop reading this long, ridiculous review and buy the book...NOW!
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Summary: A very good book for beginning runners
Review: I've been running off and on for almost 10 years, running for a week or two, giving up, and then trying again a few months later. Each time I started, I didn't really know what I was doing. I wish I had read this book first - I could've saved myself a lot of time, pain, and aggravation.Bob Glover's book is inspirational and educational. The techniques and sample running schedules he presents are right on the dot, his information (which he draws from a variety of professional sources) is correct, and his writing style is very entertaining. Since I've started his book I've shaved a minute and a half off of my 5k race time, I'm running more often and farther, and my shin splints haven't acted up in the 8 months I've been following his advice. I've also lost 5 pounds (not that I wanted to) and feel terrific. Originally published in the 1970s when the running craze erupted, the book has been refined and updated to keep it in line with new information on health and nutrition and technological advances in shoe design and clothing. This book could be the only book you'll need to enjoy running as a hobby and a sport. It's that good.
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Summary: An Excellent Guide to Running
Review: I've had this book for years and it is one that I always go back to. Glover covers everything that you need to know. He has a friendly coach-like tone that really encourages me to run. There are sections for beginning and intermediate runners as well advice on how to get into racing and marathons. He also covers nutrition, running shoes and clothing, cross-training, and a whole lot more. This is really the only book you need on running.
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Summary: Great for Beginner and Intermediate Runners
Review: If you are a beginner or intermediate runner looking to improve, get this book. I consider myself an intermediate runner - I'm currently up to 20 miles/week and have never run a race of greater than 5 miles. I found this book to be a great inspirational tool as well as a valuable reference. I'm flirting with the idea of running a marathon and will certainly use Coach Glover's training program if I do. The best thing that I found was that the book is *readable* - so many self-help and non-fiction books seem like they were written to increase sales at Starbuck's. Since October, 2000, I've been logging my running (and recently weight) in an Excel spreadsheet where I also graph certain key statistics (total miles over a running seven day period and average minutes/mile over the same period). A number of people who know about this think that I'm insane (or a geek). Coach Glover recommends keeping a diary (though he doesn't address graphing), confirming my sanity (or his geekiness).
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Summary: "The" book for new runners
Review: If you are considering taking up running, I strongly recommend this book. An absolute necessity to introduce new runners to the sport that continues to serve as an excellent reference book as your running improves.
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Summary: Outstanding in all respects - Highly recommend!
Review: If you have found this review because you are looking for the best book on how to start, or re-start, your running / health program - LOOK NO FURTHER! YOU HAVE FOUND IT! GET THIS BOOK **NOW**! My wife and I decided this past summer (2003) to start an exercise program together - something that would be fun, increase our energy levels, allow us to lose weight, and that we could do anywhere we travel. After talking to a number of friends, I purchased this book and began reading. Words, alone, do not allow me to express how much I enjoyed this book! It's extremely well written, packed with outstanding methods and approaches, and is one of the most interesting books I have ever read on health maintenance. Bob Glover has somehow successfully put many years of practical experience into a single book that is not only easy to follow, very comprehensive for the beginner to the advanced runner, but he speaks through the book as thought your were his close friend. Since starting the "Beginner Runner's Training Program" (chapter ten) eleven weeks ago, my wife and I have gone from walking 30 - 45 minutes (5 - 6 days each week) to running 3 miles (5 - 6 days each week). We have also completed two races - the March of Dimes 5 mile Race and our first relay team marathon (TowPath). Plus, we have each dropped 20 pounds, we feel more energetic, we talk more now each day than we ever have, and we are having FUN! A whole new world has opened up to us since we have been running and we have a number of marathons (1/4 or ½ marathons) that we are planning (already signed up!) to do. If you are looking for common sense approaches to this wonderful sport, or need the encouragement from someone who has "been there, done that" - this is the book for you. Besides, how can you go wrong for this price?!?!?!?!? Go for it - you will be very glad you did.
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