Rating: 
Summary: Extremely Motivational
Review: This book really motivated me. When I read the stories of others' challenges and how they stayed committed and stuck with it, it inspired me to do the same. I could relate to a lot of the stories, and found the book easy to read since it's basically like a book of short stories. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the encouragement to stick with a running program and a commitment to do a marathon, especially their first marathon.
Rating:
Summary: This book made it possibe
Review: While certainly not a "how to" book, (in fact in some cases it's a "how NOT to" book) this book made it possible for me to complete my first marathon. It provided the motivation every time the training became really hard. Gail Waesche did an excellent job providing a broad cross section of first marathon experiences. For some strange reason though, it was always the stories of runners who really suffered through their first marathons that I read again and again. These were the people I thought I could really relate to! A marathon IS a 26.2 mile monster. And because it's such an awesome accomplishment, it is often a lifechanging experience. That's what Ms. Waesche gets across, and that's exactly what is was like for me. Everyone who has run a marathon, or more importantly, has even the hint of desire to run a marathon, has to read this book. It makes a very difficult and wonderful experience seem humanly possible. Thank you Gail for writing this book. And please PLEASE come out with a volume II.
Rating:
Summary: This book made it possibe
Review: While certainly not a "how to" book, (in fact in some cases it's a "how NOT to" book) this book made it possible for me to complete my first marathon. It provided the motivation every time the training became really hard. Gail Waesche did an excellent job providing a broad cross section of first marathon experiences. For some strange reason though, it was always the stories of runners who really suffered through their first marathons that I read again and again. These were the people I thought I could really relate to! A marathon IS a 26.2 mile monster. And because it's such an awesome accomplishment, it is often a lifechanging experience. That's what Ms. Waesche gets across, and that's exactly what is was like for me. Everyone who has run a marathon, or more importantly, has even the hint of desire to run a marathon, has to read this book. It makes a very difficult and wonderful experience seem humanly possible. Thank you Gail for writing this book. And please PLEASE come out with a volume II.
Rating:
Summary: This book made it possibe
Review: While certainly not a "how to" book, (in fact in some cases it's a "how NOT to" book) this book made it possible for me to complete my first marathon. It provided the motivation every time the training became really hard. Gail Waesche did an excellent job providing a broad cross section of first marathon experiences. For some strange reason though, it was always the stories of runners who really suffered through their first marathons that I read again and again. These were the people I thought I could really relate to! A marathon IS a 26.2 mile monster. And because it's such an awesome accomplishment, it is often a lifechanging experience. That's what Ms. Waesche gets across, and that's exactly what is was like for me. Everyone who has run a marathon, or more importantly, has even the hint of desire to run a marathon, has to read this book. It makes a very difficult and wonderful experience seem humanly possible. Thank you Gail for writing this book. And please PLEASE come out with a volume II.
Rating:
Summary: I laughed, I cried, I cringed at the potential agony
Review: While I enjoyed most of the writing in this book, it took me a couple of chapters to wrap my mind around the prose. Nonetheless, I enjoyed 25 of the 26 stories chronicled, and found moments of inspiration, humor, and wisdom. The book embraced the likes of Marathon legends as well as the first time runner ("adult onset athletes" as penned by John Bingham:) All in all, a great read, and certainly a huge reason why I believe I can succeed at running my first marathon targeted for this September.
Rating:
Summary: I laughed, I cried, I cringed at the potential agony
Review: While I enjoyed most of the writing in this book, it took me a couple of chapters to wrap my mind around the prose. Nonetheless, I enjoyed 25 of the 26 stories chronicled, and found moments of inspiration, humor, and wisdom. The book embraced the likes of Marathon legends as well as the first time runner ("adult onset athletes" as penned by John Bingham:) All in all, a great read, and certainly a huge reason why I believe I can succeed at running my first marathon targeted for this September.
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