Masters Running: A Guide to Running and Staying Fit After 40

by Hal Higdon

An expert, highly motivational guide to running after 40-filled with age-specific advice for training effectively and safely-from the author of Run Fast, Marathon, and Fitness After Forty
To succeed as a masters runner, you need to train more intelligently than younger runners.

You have to know how to incorporate rest into your program and when to use alternative activities, such as swimming, biking, or walking, to maintain aerobic capacity. And, because runners are more likely to injure themselves as they age, you need to learn how to limit that risk.

How do you develop base fitness? How do you improve? What should you do to maintain flexibility? What foods should you eat to stay fit? In Masters Running, Hal Higdon-who after 40 went on to win four gold medals at the World Masters Championships plus five silver and bronze medals-teaches older runners training techniques that will make them better and smarter runners. You'll learn the importance of strength training; whether to incorporate speedwork-and what the dangers are; the 10 most common running injuries-and how to avoid and cure them; and how to train for a marathon as a senior (with firsthand advice from Higdon, who ran in over 100 marathons after age 40).

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2005

About the author

Hal Higdon is an American writer and runner. He has contributed to Runner's World magazine longer than any other writer. He is the author of 34 books, including the best-selling Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide. He has worked as a freelance writer since 1959, and has written a variety of subjects including a children's book that was made into an animated feature. He ran eight times in the United States Olympic Trials and won four World Masters Championships. He is one of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA).

Reviews

[Zen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed Masters Running, even though it is a strange mish-mash of autobiography and training manual. The author, Hal Higdon, combines stories of his running career, and involvement in the early "Masters" (over 40) running and fitness movement, with tips and training plans for those who would like to follow in his footsteps (haha).

Mr. Higdon is a force to be reckoned with. He is now 87 and still going strong! For his 70th birthday he ran 7 marathos in 7 months!!! Although I could never hope to acheive these feats, I did find the training information interesting and helpful, and Mr. Higdon's enthusiasm inspirational. Most importantly, the book recommends never really getting out of shape, so you can easily move between easier and more difficult challenges. This also protects your health in the long term. Overall, an easy to read book, with some helpful tips and stories.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more a history of masters running and Hal Higdon's place in it. There was a lot of repetition in the book which made it more boring than it should have been.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly fun, easy read. That said, it felt like 15% guide and 85% anecdotes.

[David Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summary of actions to take and training to follow. A little repetitive.