Rating: 
Summary: A great help to the first-time marathoner.
Review: This book describes, in a concise and easy to follow manner, the best way to train for a marathon. As a first-time marathoner, I found the proposed training schedlues invaluable. By following the author's advice (for the most part--I'll admit that I didn't take all suggestions) I was able to finish my first marathon in a respectable time.
Rating: 
Summary: not bad for a beginner
Review: this book had all the generic information you find in most running books. i do not recommend this to any experienced runner. the author was trained by benji durden of boulder colorado and the routine in the book is similiar to his routine that i follow from a 1993 runner's world article (5 pages) that really works. i was kind of disappointed when i ordered this book because i based it on the other reviews and was expecting to learn something new about the marathon.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of Useful Information
Review: This book is one of the best marathon training guides on the market, and I would highly recommend it, particularly if it will be your only marathon training book. (John Hanc's Essential Marathoner is also good for a first timer, but Gordon Bakoulis' book has more information.)The author does a nice job of providing training schedules. Unlike the preceding reviewer, I though she was pretty clear that her schedules are measured in minutes, and that there is no assumption of 10 minute miles. What sets this book apart, however, is the clear information on speedwork, strength training, nutrition, and race preparation. On balance, a very nice book and highly recommended to anyone seeking to run their first marathon or to improve on a previous time.
Rating:
Summary: running in Kansas
Review: This book was suggested to me by a friend and I love it. I consult the book daily, and have scribbled notes and underlined things. It is nice to have a coach -- even if it is a book -- to look to for advice. The nice thing about this book (and I can't say if this is something all other marathon books do) is that it offers a training schedule in minutes - not miles. In other words, beginners can apply the workouts to their own pace. I run my marathon in April. This is a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Generic
Review: This is a very generic running book and should have been titled: "How to Train for and Run Your FIRST Marathon". There was very little in there that could help me improve my time. A good book for a first-timer.
Rating: 
Summary: A great tool for the first-time marathoner
Review: Wow. Thank you, Gordon Bakoulis Bloch: Without you, I would not have had the courage to train for and run my first marathon in Sept. '99. I understand that this isn't the book for the truly experienced, but I found it immensely helpful, especially with training schedules. Using Bloch's plan, I ran a 3:45 my first time, was very happy about it, and didn't die. In fact, I felt great at the end. I'm using it again to run my second; I'm not ready to graduate yet!
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