The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer

View other editions of The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer.
View books by David A. Whitsett, Forrest A. Dolgener, Tanjala Jo Kole.

Does what it says on the tin - Rated
o.k technically i was not a 'non-runner' i started running Jan 07 and managed a couple of half marathons in that year.

This book, albeit very 'American' does what it says on the tin. i chose it because i liked the idea of only training 4 days a week ( i work 50hour weeks). It gives concise information on training and nutrition and although some of the psychology stuff seemed daft, it DID actually help-i felt really stupid chanting "i love running, i love hills, i am a marathoner" whilst out running, but oddly enough it helped when i was out for a 16 mile run in a snow blizzard in march!! (i was the only one out on the road so nobody could hear me)

So i followed the program, i ran the Edinburgh 2008 marathon, i completed it in 5hr 11min 48sec. ( a time that i am really pleased with!!) and the most important thing is i lOVED every second of the 26.2miles and plan to do it again!

So basically-this book is great for your first marathon, it wont get you the fastest time, but if you follow the program you will be a marathoner!!!!

Got 16 Weeks? - Rated
Originally published in 1998, this book has been around awhile and stood the test of time. Who's it for? NORMAL people who have the desire to run and complete a marathon BUT also have other commitments that take up their time such as a family, job, etc. Don't have tons of time to train? This is your book. Need to get together a plan of attack? Keep reading.

The promise of the book is to that you'll be able to run 26.2 miles training just 4 days a week with no runs over 18 miles. It is based on a marathon class offered over the years at the University of Northern Iowa that touts a high success rate for 1st time marathoners. The book accomplishes this goal in sixteen chapters, one for every week of training.

Each chapter is cleanly divided up into 3 parts. Part one deals with the mental aspects of marathon training (which in my opinion is just as important as physical preparation when it comes to marathons), part two lays out the actual training program for the week, and the third part of each chapter contains advice and suggestions from people who have done the course and the program.

The book has a final 17th chapter which gives advice such as what to do after the marathon to make sure you recover well. Finally, the book ends with three appendices- one is a list of marathons to help you pick from, another on research that has been done on the program, and the last one a list of references and resources (always good to have those at hand).

All-in-all its a very COMPLETE book covering everything you can imagine about training for a marathon such as stretches, weight training exercises, nutritional advice, how to dress, and what shoes to wear.

Some practical bits: the 16 week training program does start you out running three miles, so in reality, you can tack on about another month or so of training to the 16 weeks in order to build up to the 3-mile starting point of the program. Along the same lines, pick a marathon that will be held no less than five months from the time you expect to start getting ready. And finally, runners suffering from plantar fasciitis might also want to check out "The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution." Good luck :)

Nice book but not for me.... - Rated
I bought this book because I am completely new to running, I am running the race for life in June and I wanted hints on how to train safely. I thought that this would be the book I needed but I was wrong. Although the book is nicely put together it is a bit too American for me, also the need to calculate "stuff" put me off because I really haven't got a mathmatical mind. I think if you are that way inclined, it would be a useful book but not for me.

Just what I needed!!! - Rated
This was simply the best Christmas present!! Reading the book has helped me get my head round everything thing to do with training for my first marathon. I feel more confident going out running, understanding that it is a building blocks process.
A must buy for your first marathon!!

it just works - Rated
I can't add that much to what other reviewers have written, except to say that the approach described here really works. I've just run my first marathon in 4:46 with no other help except this book. The psychological aspects of this book will seem hideously American to UK readers but they're essential when the going gets tough, as it inevitably will do. I'd give it ten stars if I could - in fact I can't recommend it highly enough.