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Half-Marathon: You Can Do It
Jeff's trademarked run-walk-run method has helped hundreds of thousands of average people to get off the couch, train for marathons and half-marathons without injury and has helped veterans to improve times. This book offers a step-by-step program that starts with setting up your training each week. Jeff will show you how to select a realistic goal, and which workouts are needed to prepare for various performances. The book is loaded with tips on how to stay motivated, eliminate aches, pains, and injuries, with the minimum training needed to enjoy other aspects of life.
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2006
69 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 21, 2016
If you've ever desired either to run a half marathon or to improve your training for one, here is your guide and road map. This is a comprehensive book on how to get there ---- preparation, training, nutrition, dealing with lack of motivation, dealing with injuries --- everything. It's very readable, and I do believe that this book can help anyone in normal health to reach that half marathon goal. As an older runner, it even has valuable advice on how to prevent the injuries that discourage older runners from even attempting long distance runs like this one. All in all, a valuable reference, and I will use it to prepare for next half marathon this coming spring!
May 13, 2010
This book was OK, it was quite redundant, could had just as easily been a long pamphlet on how to start running. I got this and a few other of his books at the same time, and they are all pretty much exactly the same except for the primary training plan.
May 11, 2011
Half-Marathon: You Can Do It is a collection of running wisdom and training programs of Jeff Galloway, one of best known running coaches and former 10k Olympian.
There are different programs for the half-marathon, depending on what time you wish to achieve. They are all based on Galloway's run-walk-run method, though much of the advice applies even if you're not using walking breaks. Then there are chapters that explain how to do speed training, hill training, magic mile trials runs, burning fat etc. and some more (pretty light chapters) on equipment and clothing, injury prevention and running in old age.
Overall this is a decent book that you can use as a basis for developing your own half-marathon training program. There are, however, a few complaints:
1. Its look and feel is that of a children's book. I guess the rationale is that runners are not readers so you need a book with big font and shiny pictures to get them to view it.
2. As mentioned above, some chapters are bit light in content. They're probably just there so that the publisher can list that the book give this information on the cover.
3. While he certainly knows a lot about running, there's a feel that Galloway isn't quite keeping up with time. So there's little to no advice about software (such as mapmyrun.com or Garmin Connect) that you can use instead of keeping a running logbook and the likes.
4. He seems to be an adherent of lactate-threshold/cardiovascular anaerobic model of running physiology and doesn't seem to know or care much about latest developments in the field (such as the central governor theory etc.)
There are different programs for the half-marathon, depending on what time you wish to achieve. They are all based on Galloway's run-walk-run method, though much of the advice applies even if you're not using walking breaks. Then there are chapters that explain how to do speed training, hill training, magic mile trials runs, burning fat etc. and some more (pretty light chapters) on equipment and clothing, injury prevention and running in old age.
Overall this is a decent book that you can use as a basis for developing your own half-marathon training program. There are, however, a few complaints:
1. Its look and feel is that of a children's book. I guess the rationale is that runners are not readers so you need a book with big font and shiny pictures to get them to view it.
2. As mentioned above, some chapters are bit light in content. They're probably just there so that the publisher can list that the book give this information on the cover.
3. While he certainly knows a lot about running, there's a feel that Galloway isn't quite keeping up with time. So there's little to no advice about software (such as mapmyrun.com or Garmin Connect) that you can use instead of keeping a running logbook and the likes.
4. He seems to be an adherent of lactate-threshold/cardiovascular anaerobic model of running physiology and doesn't seem to know or care much about latest developments in the field (such as the central governor theory etc.)
April 12, 2021
You can run a half marathon, mostly, if you put your mind to it. And then remember to eat well.
September 6, 2012
My boss gave me this book when I told her I was thinking about running a half marathon. It is a great book for those who want a great running program, but have no idea where to start (like me).
The book focuses on his walk-run method, which is basically run for a few minutes (between 2-5, depending on your level) then walk for a bit (between 1-3, again that depends on your level). If you plan out your walk to run ratios, you won't get tired as easily and you'll be able to finish the half marathon!
The book also gives a suggested weekly schedule and tips on eating, stretching, running in heat and cold weather, setting goals and priorities and using the right equipment. I'm not the most experienced runner (I'm starting at the beginner level) but I thought it was a very informative and useful book. I've been using the training program for almost two weeks now and I'm quite happy with it. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to start running!
The book focuses on his walk-run method, which is basically run for a few minutes (between 2-5, depending on your level) then walk for a bit (between 1-3, again that depends on your level). If you plan out your walk to run ratios, you won't get tired as easily and you'll be able to finish the half marathon!
The book also gives a suggested weekly schedule and tips on eating, stretching, running in heat and cold weather, setting goals and priorities and using the right equipment. I'm not the most experienced runner (I'm starting at the beginner level) but I thought it was a very informative and useful book. I've been using the training program for almost two weeks now and I'm quite happy with it. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to start running!
August 5, 2012
The Galloway run/walk method has given me the confidence to run a half marathon and this is the perfect guide to get me to the finish. The walk breaks are simply genius! I only do run/walk now even for my 5k's. Funny thing is...I'm not in love with running, but it's great exercise. The walk breaks truly make running better because it's only in short spurts (time intervals chosen by you). I spoke to a lady at a 10k that was using the method and the Galloway Timer (available on his website) and she said "I run for the beep". That pretty much covers it! The book touches on all aspects of training for the half marathon and some valuable information that I had never heard any where else. Definitely a worthwhile read!
May 12, 2011
I started training wih the plan on his website before i got this book. There are big differences between the plans which i dont understand, but this book fills in a lot of the missing details from the website and offers info on nutrition, cross training, clothing, and motivation. Of course i could find all this information online but there is so much conflicting knowledge out there that its nice to have one book to reference when you have a question. I'll use this book until i have some more experience and can figure out what works best for me.
May 21, 2011
I guess I should come back after my first half in October and to update the training results, but the book was super easy to read, and makes a lot of good points about running for the enjoyment of running, not time, and training in a way to avoid injury. I was really surprised at the accuracy of the "magic mile" to predict longer run times.
The negatives: it seems the book is a compilation of previous shorter writings, so there is a lot of repetition throughout the book and some slight discrepancies in workouts, specifically the Thursday runs.
The negatives: it seems the book is a compilation of previous shorter writings, so there is a lot of repetition throughout the book and some slight discrepancies in workouts, specifically the Thursday runs.
January 3, 2009
Used this book to build off of a long run of 6 miles to train for a half marathon. It's easy to use, has several training plans for people that are doable (not crazy!!!) Completed my first half marathon in 2008 in 2 hours 8 minutes and plan on using the book again to run another one in May of 2009.
October 22, 2010
Good, basic information for conquering half marathons. I frequently refer back to the training plans and a few other sections of the book. Although, I do think that the information could have been organized into longer chapters of related information. If a chapter title only has enough supporting information for one or two pages (with pictures too!) then there is probably another place it can go.
February 11, 2012
good book with lots of information. great training advice (hills, sprints, timing your "magic mile", long runs) and injury areas (how to treat and how to correct the running issue causing it). VERY easy read, does repeat himself quite often throughout the book. Galloway has TONS of experience running and coaching.
March 2, 2012
A decent book on running, but definitely basic. By the time I read it, I had already learned a lot of what was presented. Still good information, though. It also has several 1/2 marathon training plans, two of which I've already followed. It helped me through the Army 10 Miler and the Disney 1/2! I do love me some Jeff Galloway <3
July 13, 2012
Very interesting. Having walked and walk/jogged two half marathons, I read this in preparing for my third. He has some theories / opinions that go against what I'd learned in the past (re: stretching, for example)... but since I *do* want to be able to run for enjoyment/fitness for years to come, definitely worth the read.
January 27, 2011
It worked! I loved the beginners program. I finished my first 1/2 marathon feeling strong, with no injuries during training, and wanting to do it again! I am hoping to get the courage to try his full marathon program.
January 13, 2011
I plan to use this book to train for a half marathon in September. I've been using the run-walk-run method for at least a year, and I love it! It allows me to run longer distances without major pains or injury.
October 3, 2015
Super useful read. There are training programs to prepare you for your first half, or to help you improve your time. It covers everything from form, to eating, to dealing with weather and motivation issues. It made me feel much more comfortable as I'm beginning to train for my first half.
February 24, 2012
This was a pretty good book, a lot of great info for beginning and advanced runners. We'll see though how it helps me train for my half! :) I like though that it includes several training plans to choose from and also explains pretty well certain running terms or techniques etc.
March 24, 2012
I was a little bit disappointed by this book. I found a number of things which were just unbelievable. For example, the little section on losing fat. The run-walk method seems interesting and something I might try in the future, but I was hoping for something a little more in depth, more detailed.
December 28, 2007
I don't understand his aversion to stretching, but otherwise I think his books are great for beginners like me.
February 6, 2008
Great training book - really good for beginner runners - i use it weekly as I am training. Also a lot of great training schedules for experienced runners as well as lots of nutrition tips.
December 25, 2008
I liked getting some more training tips for my next half marathon. This will continue to be a good reference book, especially for speed workouts.
September 18, 2009
Nothing earth shattering...interesting perspective on the walking and I am using some of his speed workouts
January 24, 2010
With the exception of a few training plans, this was really more of a general running guide (not special to half marathons, in my opinion). But the info presented was helpful nevertheless.
March 9, 2010
I can do it!
January 22, 2011
An overly-complicated book with not a lot of substance. The section on training schedules is good, but that is literally 10 pages of the whole book. The rest is filler.
May 4, 2011
Lots of great information on running, diet, preventing injury, etc. A good, informative read.
December 27, 2011
Some of the things he said were common sense but there was A LOT of valuable information. I see a Half-Marathon coming my way sometime in 2012!
October 23, 2012
Excellent resource for half-marathon training! Still consulting it but marked as read as we have transitioned to the official training schedule pace for the WDW Half in Jan!
January 8, 2013
As far as I can tell, Galloway keeps writing the same book over and over, with modifications for different distances. I've used some of the information.
March 9, 2013
Getting ready for running my first half...the November 2013 Wine and Dine Half at Disney's Food and Wine festival.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews