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Marathon Excellence for Everyone: The Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Approach to Training and Racing
The Modern Approach to Marathon Training.
Marathon Excellence for Everyone lays out an in-depth, evidence-based approach to training and racing that will transform you from an ordinary runner into a fearsome marathon specialist.
With the Marathon Excellence approach, you’ll use targeted workouts across the full spectrum of speeds to improve the physiological roots of marathon performance, then hone your fitness with long, fast, marathon-specific workouts paired with generous recovery.
Whether you’re making your first serious attempt at the marathon, aiming for a Boston qualifier, or gearing up to compete in the elite field, this book is your authoritative guide to marathon training.
You’ll learn how
Supercharge your aerobic fitness by lifting your VO2max and steady-state maxBoost your endurance by increasing your resilience and improving your running economyPush your physical limits with advanced techniques like special blocks, double threshold, and heat trainingOptimize your race-day fuelingOvercome injuries and illnessAnd much moreFeaturing detailed training plans for everyone from first-time marathoners to high-level athletes, Marathon Excellence doesn’t just tell you what workouts to do—it explains how to do them and why. You’ll get detailed instructions for every workout, with guidance on effort level, difficulty, and pacing.
As race day approaches, Marathon Excellence will guide you through planning out your fueling, pacing, race tactics, and mental approach. On race day, you’ll be prepared for whatever the marathon throws at you.
Even if you want to write your own training plans, this book will teach you the foundational principles of modern marathon training, as well as the science behind them. You’ll take a deep dive into the latest findings in exercise physiology so you can optimize everything from your first day of training to the last mile of your race.
Marathon Excellence for Everyone lays out an in-depth, evidence-based approach to training and racing that will transform you from an ordinary runner into a fearsome marathon specialist.
With the Marathon Excellence approach, you’ll use targeted workouts across the full spectrum of speeds to improve the physiological roots of marathon performance, then hone your fitness with long, fast, marathon-specific workouts paired with generous recovery.
Whether you’re making your first serious attempt at the marathon, aiming for a Boston qualifier, or gearing up to compete in the elite field, this book is your authoritative guide to marathon training.
You’ll learn how
Supercharge your aerobic fitness by lifting your VO2max and steady-state maxBoost your endurance by increasing your resilience and improving your running economyPush your physical limits with advanced techniques like special blocks, double threshold, and heat trainingOptimize your race-day fuelingOvercome injuries and illnessAnd much moreFeaturing detailed training plans for everyone from first-time marathoners to high-level athletes, Marathon Excellence doesn’t just tell you what workouts to do—it explains how to do them and why. You’ll get detailed instructions for every workout, with guidance on effort level, difficulty, and pacing.
As race day approaches, Marathon Excellence will guide you through planning out your fueling, pacing, race tactics, and mental approach. On race day, you’ll be prepared for whatever the marathon throws at you.
Even if you want to write your own training plans, this book will teach you the foundational principles of modern marathon training, as well as the science behind them. You’ll take a deep dive into the latest findings in exercise physiology so you can optimize everything from your first day of training to the last mile of your race.
445 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
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59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 4, 2025
Excellent training book and the most clear and systematic approach to marathon training I’ve read. Highly recommend to anyone with a serious interest in running a good marathon.
November 16, 2025
Really excellent, up-to-date, clear, and concrete. He makes a pretty compelling case for the Canova/Italian-school style of using percentages of pace and constantly varying stimulus, building systematically from scientific evidence to practical applications. I've read Daniels and Pfitz (and Bryon Powell) and like Davis the most of the lot.
Wish he didn't quote charlatans like Nick Bostrom and Sam Altman in a couple of the chapter epigraphs, but that's just a little irk. Obviously doesn't affect the overall quality of the book.
Wish he didn't quote charlatans like Nick Bostrom and Sam Altman in a couple of the chapter epigraphs, but that's just a little irk. Obviously doesn't affect the overall quality of the book.
October 17, 2025
Probably the most comprehensive marathon training book you can find. Highly recommended! It’s clear, practical, and every argument is backed by solid evidence — not just opinions
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews