How to be prepared no matter where running might take you
Millions of runners around the US are interested in special experiences, whether it means running a bucket-list event like the Boston Marathon, or competing in beautiful and challenging locales such as Rome or Death Valley. Whatever race you choose, there is no one better to guide you on your journey than Bart Yasso, chief running officer at Runner’s World magazine. Over the past 40 years, Yasso has run more than 1,000 races, across all seven continents, at every conceivable distance, from local 5Ks to grueling ultramarathons and Ironman triathlons. He’s truly done it all, and in Race Everything , he shares the secrets of how he trained, the particularities of each course, and the specific insights he has gleaned to help you run your best no matter the distance.
This book offers tried-and-true advice on how to train and what to do on race day to make the best use of your training. It provides everything you need to know to succeed at the most popular race distances, including general training principles, targeted training plans for beginners and experienced runners alike, and insider tips based on Yasso’s own experiences and those of other top runners he has known and run with. The goal is to inform and inspire runners eager to challenge themselves by tackling the world’s signature races. You will also learn Yasso’s methods for winning the greatest race of all, longevity, so that you can remain healthy, fit, and able to race for decades to come.
Whether your goal is to complete a 5K or 10K race in your hometown or conquer the Antarctica Marathon, Runner's World Race Everything will be your guide.
Great for runners who want to do their own adventures. Bart Yasso, Chief Running Officer of Runner's World magazine, has lived an amazing life. He talks about his favorite races, and how to train for them, in this book. It has a fun, not technical, tone. Helpful read.
This was a good book. I liked Bart Yasso's sense of humor; I found myself laughing out loud several times. I did not know that he has been a vegetarian for a long time because of his love of animals or that he has battled Lyme's Disease several times, which subsequently affected his running.
As the former Chief Running Officer for Runner's World, Bart Yasso has lead a colorful life running races all around the world (including Antarctica) and various distances (even the Badwater 146-when the race finished on Mount Whitney). Bart is also famous for the Yasso 800s workout and it was neat to learn about how he accidentally discovered it and how his Runner's World friend named it after him when he published it in the magazine in the 90s.
This was an easy read. Each chapter covers a certain distance 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, ultras, unconventional races, etc. Bart discusses different training strategies (e.g., speed work, hill work), lists a few of his favorite races, gives course advice for some races (like the Boston and NYC Marathons), and there are beginner and advanced training plans for each race distance. He's also a big believer in cross-training and strength training, something he attributes to giving his running longevity. He bikes a lot and has completed several Iron Man Triathlons and even qualified for and then competed in the Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
I'm always on the hunt to add in different speed workouts into my training plans, so I will definitely be filing some of the workouts in this book away for future reference
One of the better running books I've read. Bart's conversational tone made me feel like I was hanging out with a friend just chatting about the old running days. He provides training plans for any distance along with some of his favorites. This is one I will keep for my permanent collection to return to again.
I really love all that Bart Yasso has to say, so I was excited when this book was announced. Early reviews seemed to indicate that there wasn’t enough new material for it to be worth retail, so I was glad when the library had a hard copy.
This book is equal parts a race memoir and training tips. A lot of Badwater Bart’s personal details are known due to his frequent writing for Runner’s World, but I enjoyed some new to me details, such as the specific races that his Lyme flares affected. I liked his history with some of the iconic road races-like him, some of these races have aged and are no longer the race they were, so this was a nice look back through running history as well as Yasso’s running history.
I appreciated that the general training plans (the Runner’s World standard ones, I think) were accompanied by race-specific ones. Of particular use is his plan to “callous” the quads, which he covered in his chapter on Boston. This isn’t anything that can’t be found online, but it was nice to have it in one volume.
Overall, I’m glad I read this but glad I didn’t buy it, as it isn’t one I’d keep and there wasn’t a ton of material if you’re already familiar with Bart’s Runner’s World career. And if you’re a runner at all involved in the online running community, you probably are because there’s a reason he’s a legend. David Willey’s foreward set the perfect tone. The book gave me some nice training tips I plan to implement and some races I might think about (running definitely re-scratches the travel itch! But hasn’t rekindled Antarctica fire), but nothing earth shattering. A fun, light read. My one complaint, he kept writing “breaking” when he meant “braking”. It was slightly distracting
This took longer to read than it should have...because life got in my way and I couldn't just sit and read.
That said, it's an easy read and so very informative! I wish I had read this book when I first started running! It's certainly going to be near my desk to refer to as I start training for my next race.
Mr. Yasso includes anecdotes from his own life, training plans for different race distances, tips and tricks for dealing with race series, tips and tricks for hit, humid days (I wish I'd had that advice before running my second best 10K 3 days before the book arrived at my house!), tips for running at high-altitudes....and so on.
Someday I will run the Runner's World Half...
And I will include Yasso 800s and heed his advice on callousing my quads.
Thank you, Bart Yasso, for sharing your knowledge and experience!
I liked this book and thought it was a great intro for those looking to further their journey into running. Bart Yasso, the chief running officer of Runners World, will be retiring at the end of the year and this book is a great bookend to his amazing running journey. That is not to say, he will retire from running, but he will leave the magazine and will, I am certain, run whatever he wants and when he wants....though, he probably does that now haha.
I liked the plans in the book, the stories of Bart's favorite races, and the advice for specific races. I guess I was expecting more of a biography of races and not training plans, but yea, it has it all. Again, the book is easy to digest and should be in every runners bookshelf.
Great review and kind of 10000 foot flyover view of running and training for a variety of running events. Yasso pulls on his expertise and knowledge and gives some great tips/advice for new and seasoned runners alike. If you're looking for science-based reviews and depth, read Matt Fitzgerald. If you're looking for a more light-hearted review and personal anecdotes, read Yasso. If you're like me, you can enjoy reading both!
My biggest criticism is of the frequent "sales" of the Runner's World brand and events throughout the book. I understand this is his endorsement but it got a little bit overt and wearisome to hear about it over and over.
If you know running you know Bart Yasso. The man is famous, and in some cases infamous, in the running community. A true guide to all race distances and styles, this book will give you insight on how to prepare for your next event no matter your tenure in the sport. My favorite part of the book was Bart's personal anecdotes about specific races for each distance. As a girl who graduated from a Virginia college, I'm going to have to put the Monument Avenue 10k on my bucket list. I love how simple he keeps the process. His enthusiasm for racing is infectious even through written word.
It is a very good introduction to running every kind of distance and endurance event you can think of, by a man who has experienced all of them.
I have yet to try the YASSO's 800, but I'll definitely give them a go the next time I train for a marathon.
My only quarrel with the book is that it is very US centered, so many of the suggested races are in the US, and all the training plans are in minutes per mile and not in minutes per km, but I guess that's to be expected.
Great book if you’ve just caught the running bug and are wondering what’s out there as far as races and the adventure they bring. I’ve experienced a little bit of everything all ready so it wasn’t new in that regard, but I do love reading about some iconic races that I hope to do someday like the Boston Marathon or the Peachtree 10k. Running is all about racing for me so this book really speaks to my “why” for running.
The book is a good summary of races of all types along with some recommendations from Bart Yasso on his favorites. Each chapter is full of good tips learned from Bart's personal experience and some recommended training plans which worked for him. A good introduction for beginner runners, and a good read for experienced runners.
This is a great little book that gives inspiration along with solid advice and training plans for tackling everything from a 5K to an ultra trail race. Bart Yasso is an incredible guy with an amazing history of running and so my favourite parts of this book were the lovely stories that Bart tells from his illustrious running career.
A great guide for runners of all levels & interests. The advice is simple, broken down nicely & mixed in with some fun running stories. I’ll definitely be including this in my go to guides when training for & planning races.
A great guide for runners of all levels and interests. The advice is simple, is broken down and includes interesting stories to keep you entertained. I definitely would consider rereading for information in the future if I decide to try some different distance races.
This was more about the author's experiences at certain races than helping you run, mainly like a biography in my opinion. It was okay but not what I thought it was. If I was planning to run the same races, it would have been more informative.
Good information, great anecdotes and tips for racing all the distances. It is a very easy and quick read. If you like to run, and you like to run races, then take a look at this quick book.
An educational and entertaining collection of running stories and knowledge gained by Bart Yasso. I hope to take part in some of the recommended races!