Rating: 
Summary: The ideal primer for the first-time marathoner
Review: "How to Train for and Run Your Best Marathon" is an invaluable tool for marathoners of all levels. The author provides comprehensive information regarding running, cross training, strength training, nutrition, and the psychology of competition in an easy-to-read format. Especially helpful is the race countdown chapter, which details all the steps to take in the month, week, days, and minutes before the race. The section concludes with advice on what to do after the race, as well. Several marathon schedules are included for all experience levels. All marathon runners, whether novice or experienced, will benefit by having this book on their shelves.
Rating:
Summary: The ideal primer for the first-time marathoner
Review: "How to Train for and Run Your Best Marathon" is an invaluable tool for marathoners of all levels. The author provides comprehensive information regarding running, cross training, strength training, nutrition, and the psychology of competition in an easy-to-read format. Especially helpful is the race countdown chapter, which details all the steps to take in the month, week, days, and minutes before the race. The section concludes with advice on what to do after the race, as well. Several marathon schedules are included for all experience levels. All marathon runners, whether novice or experienced, will benefit by having this book on their shelves.
Rating: 
Summary: Still Trotting
Review: All in all, this book was an enjoyable, common-sense read. I was a little disapointed because there was little technical advise about training. To start, the author discusses her first marathon experience: no pain, effortless, and sub-four hours. She is a gazelle-type and alludes to "see a doctor" if you feel you are carrying excess weight. True, the book is ten years old. I am a "heavier" runner at 140 lbs and 5'8". I have run 2 marathons in around five hours. My time splits are not even listed in the time chart of Gordon's book. Also, throughout the nutrition chapter Gordon continually stresses low-fat and high carbohydrate eating. In addition she states that runners need not be interested in increasing their protein intake. Knowing my own body, if I ate the combination that the authors discuses, I would surely balloon up to 150lbs and plus. No offense to Gordon, however because she is a gazelle and has never had to worry about weight. Great to hear mention of weight training but not enough info about how it might make one bulk up and or become faster. All in all, I am obviously a novice working for a 4:40 marathon and this eating plan has worked well for this pro. I would recommend this book to beginners to have on their shelf. It is a two hour read and covers the basics with good safety tips. I would not recommend this eating plan for everyone and would encourage more protein and fat. I found that the section on cross training was well written and very helpfull. :-) Happy Running!
Rating:
Summary: Still Trotting
Review: All in all, this book was an enjoyable, common-sense read. I was a little disapointed because there was little technical advise about training. To start, the author discusses her first marathon experience: no pain, effortless, and sub-four hours. She is a gazelle-type and alludes to "see a doctor" if you feel you are carrying excess weight. True, the book is ten years old. I am a "heavier" runner at 140 lbs and 5'8". I have run 2 marathons in around five hours. My time splits are not even listed in the time chart of Gordon's book. Also, throughout the nutrition chapter Gordon continually stresses low-fat and high carbohydrate eating. In addition she states that runners need not be interested in increasing their protein intake. Knowing my own body, if I ate the combination that the authors discuses, I would surely balloon up to 150lbs and plus. No offense to Gordon, however because she is a gazelle and has never had to worry about weight. Great to hear mention of weight training but not enough info about how it might make one bulk up and or become faster. All in all, I am obviously a novice working for a 4:40 marathon and this eating plan has worked well for this pro. I would recommend this book to beginners to have on their shelf. It is a two hour read and covers the basics with good safety tips. I would not recommend this eating plan for everyone and would encourage more protein and fat. I found that the section on cross training was well written and very helpfull. :-) Happy Running!
Rating: 
Summary: Good for the beginning marathoner
Review: Although I am a first time marathoner, I am an intermediate level runner, and especially enjoy the half marathon distance. I bought this book to train for the marathon, and found it helpful. One thing I did not like was the recommendation to run for minutes rather than miles. I guess I'm enough of a mileage junkie and not good enough at judging pace that I found it disconcerting to have to guess how far I went. Also, that way you have no idea what kind of pace you are on for the marathon itself. The author has made the book easy to read and well organized (except for the training schedules) If you are beyond the beginner level, save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Good for the beginning marathoner
Review: Although I am a first time marathoner, I am an intermediate level runner, and especially enjoy the half marathon distance. I bought this book to train for the marathon, and found it helpful. One thing I did not like was the recommendation to run for minutes rather than miles. I guess I'm enough of a mileage junkie and not good enough at judging pace that I found it disconcerting to have to guess how far I went. Also, that way you have no idea what kind of pace you are on for the marathon itself. The author has made the book easy to read and well organized (except for the training schedules) If you are beyond the beginner level, save your money.
Rating:
Summary: If you are a first time marathoner, buy this book NOW!
Review: An excellent tool for the beginning runner. The author is straightforward, clear and concise. Some of the running books tend to wander and focus on the "Zen" part of running. If you are starting out in the running thing, you need some cold hard facts and no-nonsense advice.
Rating:
Summary: A cookbood recipe for your 1st (or 2nd or 3rd) marathon!
Review: I decided to run my first marathon, then I decided I needed help. I was lucky to pick up the Bloch book. I just followed the instructions, wrote my plan according to guidelines in the book, and I ran my first marathon a minute under my objective.If you're going to use this book, though, you have to accept the concept of running "minutes" instead of "miles" during training. I found this psychologically advantageous because running a set time duration each day is less daunting than running a fixed distance. If I wasn't feeling great, I just ran slower. In the end it all worked out. In addition, running minutes frees you to run anywhere, without having fixed "milestones." If I was on vacation or on business and my plan said to run 80 minutes, I just aimed in some interesting direction and ran 40 minutes, and came back. I didn't have to worry about how far I ran. It's four years later, and I read her book cover to cover each year to make sure I'm not missing anything. It covers all the basics.
Rating:
Summary: A cookbood recipe for your 1st (or 2nd or 3rd) marathon!
Review: I decided to run my first marathon, then I decided I needed help. I was lucky to pick up the Bloch book. I just followed the instructions, wrote my plan according to guidelines in the book, and I ran my first marathon a minute under my objective. If you're going to use this book, though, you have to accept the concept of running "minutes" instead of "miles" during training. I found this psychologically advantageous because running a set time duration each day is less daunting than running a fixed distance. If I wasn't feeling great, I just ran slower. In the end it all worked out. In addition, running minutes frees you to run anywhere, without having fixed "milestones." If I was on vacation or on business and my plan said to run 80 minutes, I just aimed in some interesting direction and ran 40 minutes, and came back. I didn't have to worry about how far I ran. It's four years later, and I read her book cover to cover each year to make sure I'm not missing anything. It covers all the basics.
Rating:
Summary: Good, common sense way to train for any running program
Review: I liked the way she deals with the various fitness levels (couch potato up to marathon running). Her schedules have helped me realize the importance of a set program. After years of struggling to figure out running and only getting mediocre results, I'm finally getting the satisfaction I've heard about from other people, inlcuding family members.
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