Run Strong

by Kevin Beck

Run faster and longer with less effort than ever before! Putting in the miles is only one part of the training equation. You can become a much stronger overall runner by improving leg turnover, efficiency, body alignment, muscle balance, and running-specific muscle strength, and by finding your most effective range of motion. Expert coaches and runners show you how to assess what you need and implement these training methods into your current program. And if you're returning from injury, you can bounce back stronger and faster than ever before. Make your base miles pay off by improving your efficiency and economy. With Run Strong you'll maximize your current fitness level and see results at the very next race!

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Angelino Desmet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given my limited experience with books on physical exercise—not physical exercise itself—I carefully say that Run Strong is a book worthwhile. I learned a handful of important facts. This sounds little, but some seemingly tiny tweaks can have remarkable consequences; e.g. snowball effect, compound interest.

It could use some additional images to clarify things such as the angle of movement or terminology. Another nuisance is unhelpful acronyms. It's ironic that the book occasionally repeats itself while using acronyms to shorten text.

In general, if you're planning to do sports for the rest of your life you should probably read this book.

[Eamonn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a bible for all things running. One for the back pocket.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just reread this during a holiday book crisis (i.e., I was out of town last weekend and didn't get to the public library, and now the library is closed on Thanksgiving -- what were they thinking?). thankfully, it has been a while, so I did enjoy it and re-learn. Chapters by various expert contributors on peripherals of running training -- flexibility work, strength training, cross-training, timing your peak correctly, etc.

Lots of good stuff, but I particularly valued the chapter on cross-training by Scott Douglas. As in his full-length books, he does a great job of taking into consideration real-world constraints while still giving it to you straight. For instance, he's convinced me that I don't spend nearly enough time cross-training when injured. I'm so pleased with myself for doing it at all (even 30 minutes of deep water running I consider a triumph of willfulness and persistence) that I don't really hold myself to a high standard, and consequently my fitness deteriorates badly when injured for any length of time.

I wouldn't get this as your first book on training, but if you have the basics in place this is an excellent supplement.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a quite nice book with 12 diverse and easily–read articles from different experts within the running field. I especially like McMillans chapter on NMT/LAT training and Kellogg’s chapter on the cardiovascular engine. On the negative side, parts of the various theory has become outdated and the book contains a few unsupported claims and lacks proper references.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sad but didnt finish it, preferred other books in this genre