The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer

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Summary: A more realistic view....
Review: This book changed my running and in a small way changed my life... The book helped me move from running a mile or two a day to running a half-marathon without a whole lot of difficulty. It was motivational and informative. Clearly designed for the beginning runner, which is what I needed. That said, I never completed the marathon I set out for. Plagued by a knee injury, I just could not complete the goal. It was not for a lack of motivation... I tried to run through the injury and probably hurt myself worse as a result. I still recommend the book, but I would also recommend 1.) getting some other reference books on running (such as from runners world) for additional information, 2.) give some time to the pre-training program 3.) find somebody else who likes to run, you will need the support 4.) get THIS book and start running!

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Summary: Great book for beginners
Review: I used this book for training for two 1/2 marathons last year and am now using it for my half-marathon in February. It includes very practical information for both physical and mental preparation. The schedule is very do-able and the personal stories are inspiring to say the least. Although I have no plans to run a full marathon, just following it for the half has been excellent and worthwhile. I don't think I would have finished my two half-marathons last year without assistance from this book.

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Summary: Walt Disney World Marathon, 01/09/2005
Review: I NEVER would have picked myself as a marathon runner, but thanks to this book, I AM!!! When I first saw the book in the bookstore, I was intrigued by the title - The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. I thought, "Why would a non-runner want to run a marathon?" I opened it up, and there was the 16-week schedule right in front of me. It seemed too easy to be real, so I put the book down, made my other purchases, and went home. However, I kept thinking back to the premise of the book - that anyone can run a marathon....ANYONE. My curiosity got the best of me, and the next day, there I was in the bookstore reading more. Before this purchase, I had never run more than 1 mile at a time, ever.

Mind you, this is about finishing a marathon, not winning one. Elite athletes take years of hard training to compete at that level, and no book is going to help anyone get there in just a few weeks. However, with slow steady progress and the right mental attitude, you can train your body to keep moving for the amount of time it takes to finish the marathon (for me, it was 4 hours, 46 minutes).

The keys are very simple:
1. Get the right shoes. Lots of running injuries are related to shoes that don't fit the runner (pronating, motion control, etc.). You can't train for a marathon in a pair of Keds.

2. Stretch. Before and after the run, stretch. The book could have put the stretches earlier in the book for those who read as they train; still, almost an entire chapter is related to stretching.

3. Drink. Another major mistake beginning runners (like myself) have is not drinking enough water during and after your training runs. Water is the body's lubricant, without it, things can grind to a halt.

4. Mental Attitude. 26.2 miles is a long way, having a bad attitude makes it even longer. A positive attitude can give you the energy you need to have productive training runs, and a successful marathon.

5. Slow, steady progress. No week's training is more than 10% more than the week before (with the sole exception of week 6). This will allow your body to adjust to the higher mileage with less risk of injury. However, due to the condensed timeframe of the schedule, the generally used two-weeks up, one-week back mileage method isn't used. Whether that helps or hurts is a matter for discussion.

On another note, you really have to want to run a marathon, because despite the simplicity of the training program, you still have to run about 500 miles to complete the marathon training schedule, so don't be fooled by the relative ease of the training schedule.

Overall, if you are a non-runner, or are new to running, and want to run a marathon, this is a great book to have, and a very valuable resource. It worked for me, now I'm a marathoner, and no one can take that away from me!


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Summary: I Just Finished the 2004 NYC Marathon Thanks To This Book!
Review: I just finished my first marathon, the 2004 NYC Marathon, thanks to this book. I don't really like running and had not run more than a 10K prior to following this training program. I was so happy to see that I could finish a marathon training just 4 days a week. The experiences of the runners profiled in the book were inspirational. I love NY, the crowds all along the route definitely kept me going.

Rating:
Summary: Just Mediocre
Review: I won't say that this is a bad book but it certainly has problems. This is another you can run a marathon in n weeks book that has the athelete adding a huge number of training miles in a very short period of time. The authors also provide a program to get nonrunners started. They claim there has never been a failure. First, the results are based on a course and no information is provided on dropout rate. Second, the authors have written journal papers on the results from the course and conveniently not included the dropouts. Thirdly, although the authors claim the runners are from a variety of backgrounds, weights, etc. this is not really true. There is only one truly heavy runner and he was a former football player. Fourth, for some inexplicable reason, the authors seem to believe the runner can run through just about any kind of injury! The mental training aspects of the book are good enough and the stretching sections are useful for the uninitiated. But many people will be injured if they follow this training plan. The real basic assumption here is that those for who the program does not work will disappear and not be heard from again. That is unfortunate for there is a real need for a book at this level.

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Summary: Follow this program cautiously!
Review: I am actually amazed at the number of positive reviews and outcomes posted here. That's great for those who have found that this training program worked for them. However, I personally found this program to progress too quickly in mileage increase and i found myself at a physical therapist and lost an entire summer of planned races as a result. When I started this program I was 35, very healthy and generally fit but never ran more than 5-6 miles- in other words, exactly the type of person for whom this book seems targeted. One of the potential reasons that I had such trouble with this plan was that i am a trail runner. Running trails has such different demands (such as building the leg strength required to climb hills and training your body to respond to impact from non-flat surfaces) that following the program outlined in this book is very unwise. Now, the authors never claimed that the program should be used or avoided by trail runners, but I think future editions might seek to clarify this. There is a general rule in running- all kinds of running- called the 10% rule, meaning that as you build your base, you never increase your mileage by more than 10%. I don't think the program in this book follows that and for me the increases came too quickly. Take your time, don't rush into a marathon and definitely don't run through pain! The authors are correct about the mental aspects that you must face as a runner, but forcing your body to perform when it sends you the signal to stop can lead to disaster. Run smart!

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Summary: IT REALLY WORKS
Review: My husband and I started running 5Ks about 3 years ago. Last year he purchased the book in preparation for a 1/2 marathon that we ran two days after our wedding. With the 1/2 marathon under our belt, we thought, why not a marathon? Running in a running group with some folks that have completed multiple marathons and were running more miles during the week, I was skeptical that peaking at 36 weekly miles would sufficiently prepare us.

We read the book weekly and followed the program pretty religiously. The mental training makes all the difference in preparing you. I would recommend this program to runners of all abilities. If you can complete the training, and remain hydrated during the marathon, you will finish.

2004 Chicago Marthon Finisher

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Summary: this training plan really does work!
Review: I just ran the Sacramento Marathon this past weekend (it was my first) and finished it feeling great as a result of the guidelines set out in this book. I highly recommend this book to first time marathoners and highly recommend the Sacramento Marathon as well (flat course through residential area and park and it's 85% in the shade). The plan is easy to follow and the different aspects addressed (physical, mental, nutrition/diet, testimonies of others who used the training book) are essential to finishing a marathon for the first time.

I want to do another one now! I had never run more than a 10k prior to training for this marathon but worked out regularly so I didn't really need the additional 4 weeks of pre-conditioning but this 4-5 month plan really does work.

The training plan is distance-based and you run 4 times a week (2 short runs, 1 medium and 1 long run) and never run over 18 miles at one time, max out at 36 miles per week. I looked into other training plans that were time-based and found them too rigorous for my first marathon (required 6 days of workouts, 3 runs and 3 cross training days, etc).

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Summary: This book delivered its promise!
Review: I am a marathoner! I completed the Edmonton Centennial Marathon on August 22. I finished second last and they were already pulling up the barricades when I went through at just over 6 hours, but I crossed the finish line. Just like the authors said I would. Since my goal was to finish, I was not disappointed that I had to walk portions of it. The authors tell you to walk with your head held high, and I did - it helped me to regroup so that I could run the last few miles strongly towards the finish line. The weather was cold and wet, and the wind really knocked me out. But I did it. I started the program outlined with the pre-mileage program - by running five minutes and walking five minutes. Like some other reviewers had said, Four Months to a Four Hour Marathon was out of my grasp. I used to love to run, but hadn't run in years. Anything over five miles seemed impossible. Their program worked.

I felt like I knew some of the people in the book with the profiles. The chapters seemed to hit areas when I needed them. When I had concerns or had problems keeping my motivation going, the book addressed them. The mental exercises really helped - the visualization and concentration became mandatory during some of the long runs and even some of the shorter ones when I would rather have been doing anything else! I replayed good runs in my head when I was staggering along, and it really helped me to finish.

The book has two short runs, one medium run and one long run per week. It is a modest schedule, mileage-wise, compared to a lot of other programs. I felt I could stick with the schedule more easily than most of the other ones. I also liked the fact that they continually remind you that your goal should be to finish, not to worry about time or attach other agendas to the event. Some of the mental exercises seemed kind of silly at first - telling yourself you are a marathoner right from the outset was tough. I felt like anything but! Everything started to fall into place and make sense during the longest runs. I used all of the tools they gave me.

The only criticism I have is that there is no index so stuff was hard to find. The authors also talked about how 16 miles would probably take between 2 and 3 hours, which contradicted their advice not to wear a watch and to concentrate on finishing. It took me more than 3 hours to do that distance.

Thank you Tanjala, David and Forrest! You made the finish line possible!

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Summary: Change your life!
Review: This book will take you from coach potato to MARATHONER in less than 6 months! I was able to complete the Berlin Marathon last year and am now inspired to try another in Paris next April! I never thought I would be able to do it. I am in my late 50's and was about 60 lbs overweight. I hadn't run in decades. I felt like I was 100. I was out of breath getting up in the morning. This book's program allows you to start walking if you are really out of shape, and work up to running. I never saw another program like that. I was also inspired by 4 months to a 4 hour marathon, but I was unable to even start that regimen. If you are at all interested in possibly getting in shape and trying this life changing activity, get this book. You will not regret it.