Rating: 
Summary: Interesting read-- but no PR's for me
Review: As an experienced road-racer for a decade, and user of a heart monitor for several years, I looked forward to learning to use it more effectively. Author of the classic, "Once a Runner," Parker promises marked improvement and PR's, backed up by enthusiastic testimonials. I eagerly followed his 12 week training plan to the letter, achieving 45-55 mile training weeks without injury or fatigue and increasing my cardiovascular fitness with a drop in resting heart rate to 45. Unfortunately, my 5K race pace slowed considerably as a result. All the easy running in the program made the hard training days feel much harder and converted me into a slower runner. This form of training just may not be suitable for every "compleat" idiot runner!
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent guide to heart monitors!
Review: Before you strap on a heart monitor, you should definitely read this book. It will improve your PRs (it did mine). If your running has become a chore, the tips in this book will put the fun back into your training. I definitely recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Run to the Bookstore and Buy this Book!
Review: Don't run without reading this book. Solid research, breezy writing.Most practical and credible % heart-rate formula available. At 54 years of age, I clocked a 5:14 mile after 3 months of following the book's advice and intermediate training schedule. Whether you want to get fit, lose weight or run faster, this book shows you how. It's scientific and it really, really works!!! Well done, Mr. Parker!
Rating:
Summary: Shows how to train smarter not harder!
Review: During the years that I've been training and competing in races from the mile to the marathon, I've read everything I could get my hands on about running. This Book Is The BEST!. It is the only book I have ever recommended to anyone on the subject. Here's why.. (1) The author is extremely readable. He informs without being condescending or a becoming a statistical drone. (2) The program works for you and with you. No more guessing whether you're training to hard or not hard enough. As you're fitness improves (and it will), so does your pace -- with NO ADDITIONAL effort. (3) Running has becomes a pleasure again. The core of the program are runs done at 70% of your max heart rate. These runs build endurance at a pace that leaves you looking forward to the next run. (4) The book gives training plans for those who don't want to plan a program, but, also explains the "philosophy" clearly enough so that one could confidently adapt your training to meet your individual needs. Now, you may notice that I haven't mentioned faster race times. I believe the author has the best comment on that -- IF YOU DON'T RUN A PERSONAL RECORD AFTER FOLLOWING HIS PROGRAM. HE PROMISES TO REFUND YOUR MONEY. I could go on but the proof is in the pages. If you want to improve your health and your running THIS IS THE BOOK.
Rating: 
Summary: Runners Choice
Review: I agree with another review here that this book provides little specific information for the triathlete. There is only one chapter on multisport, and it doesn't provide any additional information to anyone who has done any reading on multisport training. From a training standpoint, this is just a book for runners. With that in mind, however, this book is an interesting read and very informative, without too much technical information, on the basic physiology at work. I feel it can even be useful to the multisport athlete despite the shortcomings discussed above. It's only going to help your running, however, and you are going to have to experiment yourself to figure out how to incorporate the heart rate into your running training because the basic training philosophy espoused calls for 5-6 running days per week which will be too much for most triathletes.
Rating:
Summary: Not so good for a beginner
Review: I bought this book after reading all the 5-star reviews from Amazon readers, but found it not so useful for someone like me who is new to running. It's written in a friendly, conversational style but the author assumes you are already a runner and know quite a bit about training. For example, Week 1 of his "Novice" training program includes a 5-mile run and several 3-mile runs, and he assumes you already know about intervals, tempo runs, and other training techniques. If you're below this level, there's not much guidance for you here. This book is probably terrific for the experienced and committed runner, especially one who has had some coaching. However, if you're just starting off with running for fun or fitness, an alternative I'd recommend is the chapter on heart rate monitors in "The New York Road Runners Club Complete Book of Running and Fitness" (Random House, 1997), which I found after I purchased this book. It offers a much shorter, clearer discussion of training with a heart rate monitor and includes a good plan for those just getting started. Happy running to you experienced folks and us beginners too!
Rating: 
Summary: Good but could be meatier
Review: I found the advice in this book to be excellent. It is factual and straight to the point. However, the main point of the book is to run your "easy" runs at 70% of max heart rate and your "hard" runs at 85%. Good advice but that's what I paid $23 (Cdn.) for? Hardly seems worth the money. There are some good training programs contained within but nothing I couldn't get over the Net for free. The middle of the book is filled with testamonials which are interesting and certainly give credence to the author's training theories but only serve to highlight his main point about 70% and 85% training. I would have liked to see some more specific examples of different types of workouts and how you can use the heart rate monitor to increase their effectiveness or simply to add variety to a training program. Overall, simple but excellent advice.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to read but exercises too hard
Review: I had been running for years and had also done a few marathons when I decided to use a heart monitor. As I saw lots of 5 stars for the book I decided to buy it. In my opinion it asks too much of the runner. I reached a point where I dreaded to run on certain days because of the book. My rest heart rate was 51 and my maximum heart rate was 199. Even at novice level I had to run at 85% several times for 400 yards or 800 yards. I think it is a must to use a heart rate monitor but don't use the programs the author suggests. For German readers I suggest Ole Petersen's books "Ironman" or "Marathon".
Rating:
Summary: This book is the cure for burnout!!
Review: I have been an on-and-off runner for the last 15 years (33-years-old now) Back in my younger days, I used to run the same 6-mi course virtually every day, with little to no variation. My goal?...To be faster than my fastest time on that course. This was my concept of fitness. In retrospect, there is little wonder that running became a chore admixed with assorted minor injuries. Up until about a month ago, whenever I got back into running, I would essentially duplicate this "training" method. No wonder I have been a three months on, two months off kind of guy for so long. I picked up this book and have started to truly train smarter and not harder. The heart rate monitor does not lie and gives the best objective measure of how you are working. Staying within the recommended HR ranges allows one to get what they need out of each workout, but still have something left over. I agree with earlier reviews that there is little meat in this book (run easy days at 70% of less of HR range MAX; run hard days at 85%+); nevertheless, it is an entertaining book with little fluff, inspiring testimonials, and a bunch of workout plans in the back to give any level of runner a framework to get going. It is a quick read (about 2 hours for me). Having perused the Triathletes Training Bible by Friel ( a highly rated book for any kind of athlete), this book seems to be geared toward the average athlete and is devoid of, what I feel, is annoying minutae. I truly believe Parker's method will keep me away from burnout. Heck, it may even get me to race one day. Get this book..then loan it to a friend!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I have read on Heart Rate Training.
Review: I have been running with a Heart Rate Monitor for about 4 years now. And I have read a lot of books about HR training. I believe that this book is the best as it gives a very simple plan to use and train with. Written for a runner by a runner.
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