How to Run a Marathon: The Go-to Guide for Anyone and Everyone

by Vassos Alexander

Ever been tempted to try a marathon? Maybe you’ve just started running, perhaps you’re gaining confidence, or are you already well on your way to conquering the iconic distance? Whatever stage you’re at on your journey, join marathon man Vassos Alexander as he shows us why we shouldn’t be afraid of the big 26.2.

Every marathon runner’s journey is different. You might have caught the bug after experiencing that adrenaline rush of completing your first 5k; it might be a desire to finally cross something off your bucket list; or, perhaps it was a bit of an absentminded afterthought while watching TV, crisps in hand, and a niggling voice saying ‘maybe I could do that’ – it was for Vassos, at least. However far along you are in your journey, How to Run A Marathon shows us that absolutely anyone can take those first steps to defeating the distance. In fact, you’ll probably end up enjoying it a lot more than you think.

Including inspiring interviews with runners from all walks of life, delightful tales of remarkable marathons all over the world, crucial training and nutrition tips and so much more, Vassos shares all the lessons he’s learnt — from start line to finisher’s medal.

Funny, candid and motivating, this book will not only help you succeed in your marathon quest but empower you to complete the distance any way you want. Whether that’s achieving a particular time or simply finishing in one piece, How to Run a Marathon will guide you through.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Sports, Fitness

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2021

Reviews

[Christine Parkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a mixture of the author recounting his marathon experiences and hints and tips from experts around things like the food to eat, exercises to do and how to avoid injury. I found it interesting but not much that I don’t already know. Listened on audio and found it a bit strange when one of the narrators put on different voices when speaking on behalf of different experts. Sounded like Hugh Grant doing impressions! I give this 3 and a half stars.

[Kasey Cañas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent read but a horrible title. This book was 90% a collection of runners and their stories. The other 10% barely touched on information about running. I’m sure this book is great for someone already trained that enjoys running marathons. However, I am not that person and the book is not going to do anything more than to give a beginner like myself something to maybe aspire to one day.

[Lynn Dang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the motivation I needed for my marathon training!

[Cassie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, helpful, and motivating. Love the geeky enjoyment the author clearly has for running. It made me more motivated to go for a run.

[Caitlyn Bason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because of this book, I’m signing up for a half marathon. It really was motivating! I feel like I can do a marathon if I train enough now.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the narrated version of this book and enjoyed the mixture of personal experiences and running tips. I learned a few things and this book helped me to see that the more running you do, the easier it gets. I think the author showing up to run a marathon hungover is a feat in itself! There are heaps of exciting events out there and now I would like to add running the Athens marathon to my bucket list!

[Katerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook version, narrated by the author himself. Inspiring, emotional & very enjoyable. Got to love all the interviews with running specialists & athletes as well as the personal anecdotes from his own experience running marathons around the world.

Flirting with the idea of the Athens Classical Marathon once life goes back to 'normal' and it's safe to do so!

[Nicoletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho iniziato a correre da poco e ancora non sogno neanche di poter fare una maratona, ma questo libro è un riassunto estremamente interessante di tutto ciò che ci sia da sapere sull'argomento, da allenamento a alimentazione, logistica e riduzione degli infortuni. L'ho ascoltato ma penso comprerò anche una copia cartacea da riconsultare.

[Bailey Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not saying I’m going to run a marathon… but I’m one step closer to it.

This was honestly the perfect book to end summer with. I ran 15 5K’s this summer, and had nowhere else to go. I physiologically hit a wall with running.

This was the perfect book to learn how to recover from all those runs, and prepare for longer more challenging runs.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, funny and informative, but don’t listen to the audiobook unless you want to feel the pain of voice actors doing a Sopranos-esque New York accent, or an even worse Boston accent that was so cringe I might need a good week to recover.

[Nel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wrong title because it Doesn’t tell you how to run a marathon. Just tell shares his experiences of running marathons.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vassos Alexander’s helpful and highly readable book is mainly aimed at first time marathoners, which I’m not - I’ve done a few in the past, but am pretty rusty and unmotivated of late, so I was hoping both for some top tips and inspiration to get running again.

There’s lots here to relate to, right from the beginning. (I can totally relate to Vassos’s feelings on the morning of his very first marathon (he’s run a heck of a lot since) - especially the unreasonable number of toilet visits required. Glad it’s not just me.)

While Vassos is a far faster runner than I’ll ever be (an “easy” marathon for him is one where he finishes in just over three hours), the book is very inclusive, featuring interviews with the likes of Lisa Jackson (who has finished last in multiple events, and whose fantastic book Running Made Easy first got me started, around 12 years ago, in my early 40s) and iconic women’s marathon pioneer Kathrine Switzer.

It doesn’t really feel like a how to guide, although there is lots of good advice herein - it’s more a miscellany of interviews, tips, race stories and general thoughts about all things running.

There are many inspiring stories here, from the Skid Row running club for homeless runners to the bloke who, when his planned 2020 London Marathon was cancelled due to You Know What, instead ran 200 laps of his garden dressed as a rhinoceros.

It was good to see a section addressing particular issues for women runners, although a little disappointing that there was no mention of the menopause. Older women run, too!

I definitely related to the litany of race day mistakes committed by the author, and laughed out loud at this: “I once trained hard for the London Marathon, early January to late April, only to discover that I had, in fact, clean forgotten to enter.” I can so imagine that happening to me, albeit probably not with the hard-to-get-into London Marathon. (I’ve never actually turned up to a race without my trainers, although I have had pre-marathon anxiety dreams about forgetting all my kit and having to run in my nightie and slippers.)

The final section of the book contains three 16-week training plans (divided into beginner, improver and advanced) which actually look pretty good. There’s no shortage of marathon training plans out there, obviously, but these definitely look approachable and doable. There’s also a roundup of marathons in the UK and abroad to help you decide where to focus your efforts ... at least, once mass-participation events again become a thing that happens. For what it’s worth, my favourite is the beautiful and well-organised Loch Ness, which I’ve done several times now, and I have little desire to attempt what is the holy grail for many, the London Marathon (looks way too crowded for my liking). It depends what suits your tastes and personality and there’s sure to be something here for everyone.

A really enjoyable, honest, and - yes - inspiring read. I’ll get my trainers back on.... maybe even today.

[Phil Whittall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved both of Vassos Alexander's other books and listened to them while out running. I did the same for this one but it proved quite irritating. The problem is not so much the content which is fine. It's helpful and has enough for the person who has never run a marathon and for the person who has run a few.

Neither is the problem with Vassos as narrator. He is engaging, honest, funny, and doggedly joyful about his running!

No the problem is with the other voices. For some reason, and given that Vassos works for BBC Radio, they took the mind boggling decision to use two actors to do the voices of all the people Vassos interviewed. In the end it just became a huge distraction and didn't work at all. It would have been better had Vassos just read it or better still used the voices of the actual people and as I said that shouldn't have been a problem for Vassos.

Anyway, this is a book I'd read and not listen to if I had the choice again.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice summer read combining anecdotes from the various marathons the author has read around the world and practical tips on how to prep for running a marathon. I liked the included “running for women “ section, with some useful insights. Overall, a decent and informative read for any serious runner.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually just a really nice read

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: english is not my first language, not even my second. Please keep that in mind while reading this review.

So, two thirds into the book I was going to give it a mere 3 stars, mainly because I had already read the author's previous books and some stories felt a bit repetitive. But I probably wouldn't have that feeling if I hadn't finished Running up that hill just a couple of weks ago.

Then, almost at the end of the book, came the part that changed everything: a whole chapter on women's running. Maybe you don't get why I am so excited about it, so let me put you in context: as an avid reader and a woman who runs, I've read many, many books about running. Of those, a sizable portion had runnig advice: proper running form, nutrition, recovery... And NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM TOOK EVEN A SINGLE SENTENCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A SINGLE WOMEN'S RUNNING ISSUE.

Look, I'm not asking for much, maybe just a sentence where it's due: if you're talking about body composition, just mention that women's fat-muscle proportion is very different from men. Or, if you're talking about the risks of heel landing and the injuries it leads to, maybe mention that it can cause pelvic floor problems.

Yes, I know that there are books all about women's runnig, and I've read some of them. But I don't think it's much to ask for that a book aimed at all kinds of runners, and not just men, mentions this issues (and I repeat: just a mention. No need to go deeper, just a couple of words).

So, come How to run a marathon, a book written by a guy, and a whole chapter is dedicated to women's runnig. I almost cried. And what a chapter! Instead of making assumptions, he interviews experienced women who know what they are talking about. They discuss both the political issues (discrimination mainly) and the health issues (stressing pelvic floor care. I know I sound repetitive, but trust me, it's as important as taking care of your knees).

If you've read this far and still need convincing: the book is an easy read. It's funny, inspirational and uplifting. The mix between personal stories and practical advice makes it both entertaining and useful.

Kudos, Vassos. I hope this book leads the way.

[Maria P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this useful and informative especially not having listened to any of his other books before. The first part I was less interested in, listening to peoples experiences and obtaining PBs of under 3 or 4 hours, (especially Vassos) - all a bit out of my league! I know it was supposed to be inspiring but it just felt other-worldly to me (eg the woman who runs barefoot) and just not down to earth and relatable. The second part was much more useful with tips on how to succeed. I’m not yet thinking about doing one, but just looking for inspiration to get me running more frequently and increasing distance so this will help with that. I might take a look at his other books too as many reviews think they are better.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mix of inspirational stories and practical advice in training for and running a marathon, including a detailed training plan. Anchored around the author’s own experiences in marathon running it is both reassuring and fear-inducing! The author, by his own admission, is a fast runner and has taken to distance running with more vigour than many of us! As a new runner this might feel slightly alarming at first, but I found the structured approach and openness about the challenges faced reassuring.

Not just for would-be marathon runners, this will be of interest to anyone interested in endurance sport and general sporting books.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that can inspire couch potatoes to atleast start moving . I moved to the mall to buy a step counter and started walking a little more .
It is an easy read as it’s organised in topic specific chapters , it introduces runner who started from all levels of fitness as well as gives a detailed look on the various stages in a marathon. It also talks about various run clubs and marathons , gives a bit of culture perspective into the world of running


I have kept this book in a to be re read pile on my kindle and plan to revisit it when I am consistent in walking. . Wish me luck !

PSC prompt 2025 : book about a run club

[Alex Mirande · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm probably missing some context as I did not know (nor truly know now) who Vassos Alexander was, but I picked up this book thinking it would guide me as I train for my first marathon. It did not. It's mostly anecdotal with only a few actual tips at the end. It did inspire me to keep running for fun, but paradoxically, it discouraged me from running a marathon, not because it's hard, it just doesn't seem enjoyable. Many chapters in the book focused on traveling for the weekend just to run, feeling bored while running and long lines to use the bathroom before the race.

[Tom Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, I have been into running for a long time. This provided a really good refresher and also some new tips to work into my schedule.
There's a great variety of guests in the book, providing lots of useful advice on all aspects of running.
You don't have to want to run a marathon to enjoy this book. From a person who has never run in their life but wants to get into it to someone who runs marathons regularly, I think you'll get enjoyment and something you can take away and use.

[TwoDrinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this though didn’t find it as engaging as some of the others I’ve read. Perhaps because it was written by a man who seems to find rubbing relatively easy (unlike me). But, I liked that he looked in to what to do and also highlighted where he’d totally clocked up or had not focused. The only thing that I found really odd were the two voice actors. They did accents but it was still obviously them underneath and that was a bit distracting.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second half of this book is useful, especially the chapters on stretching and injury.
This didn't read as a how-to guide and the title is misleading. I liked the descriptions of some of the marathons, and I got a real sense that this is an exciting subculture that has its own rhythms and lexicon. I appreciate that this is as much a personal memoir as a book advocating running, but I found the tone a bit smug and discouraging to those of us who can't run a sub-3.

[Tim Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read dozens of running books and this on is my favorite! Vassos talks about his own experiences which I find funny and entertaining. But, he also talks about running history which I also found educational. You’ll hear about Pheidippides, Emil Zátopek, and Kathrine Switzer all through Vassos fun perspective. He then gives recommendations on how to get the most out of your marathon experience. I loved it!

[Eileen Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but I will say it is for beginners and basic, but I liked the stories of individual runners who some famous and some not who done inspiration events (first women to run a marathon race in American against prejudices as it was seen as a man's sport, women too weak to run a marathon) recommend for a total beginner some handy tips.

[Lin Harink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the authors voice narrating this informative and interesting book.
Makes me want to sign up for the Hampshire Hoppit and the Baccus for sure!
The voices of the other 2 people, especially the female narrator were a little grating though, especially when they tried to do some weird regional accents.

[Mat Greener · Rating 5 out of 5]

picked this to listen to when I couldn't really think of anything else but it surprised me much better than my expectations. with lots of interviews with other people like physics, people who often finish last, the first women to ever run the Boston marathon. suits anyone from someone first starting running or wants to be inspired to do so to hardened club runner

[Abhilash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. A mix of authors experiences and anecdotes from different marathons, interviews of famous marathon runners and advice on how to train and prepare for a marathon. Lets see how much of it can I put in practice.

[Emma Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, accessible book written by passionate runner and familiar broadcaster. A good read for those interested and/or preparing for a marathon. Some inspiring tales and some useful tips, though the focus is on the narrative- it’s not a running manual as such.

[Alkistis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pleasure to read. I'm at week 5 of the beginner programme -- I have been running consistently for a year now, have completed one half marathon comfortably, but still think the 3-days a week beginner is for me, combined with strength training once a week.