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Breakthrough Women's Running: Dream Big and Train Smart
Breakthrough Women’s Running is written just for you—a woman runner who has big goals and needs a plan to achieve them. In her trademark fun and upbeat style, professional runner and coach Neely Spence Gracey will set you up for success with an inside look at her own story in the sport—paired with the science, experience, strategies, and insights that have worked for her and countless other female runners who set challenging goals and achieved them.
Told with engaging storytelling and packed with colorful images and practical recommendations to improve your running, Breakthrough Women’s Running offers 5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon, and run-walk training plans to suit your current distance or pacing goals. With the strength and mobility workouts included in the plans, you don’t have to wonder where and how to fit in these important (but often overlooked) components of a successful running training program. Learn how to breathe in rhythm and how to focus with mantras and mindfulness exercises. Get specific guidance on how to best manage unique challenges that women confront such as hormone fluctuations; training through the menstrual cycle, while pregnant, or after childbirth; and training while also raising a family. Know how to train to prevent injury as well as how to return to running should an injury occur. And fuel your training with five simple recipes that are nutrient dense and simple to prepare.
You’ll hear from well-known, successful women runners such as Sara Hall and Nell Rojas on how even elite runners experience highs and lows in their training as well as how they themselves overcame obstacles to reach their goals. At the ends of chapters, you’ll find Breakthrough Goals—a section of small, tangible actions that you can apply in your own training to overcome specific obstacles.
If you’re looking for a strategic and progressive approach for breaking through your physical or mental barriers to achieve more successful and fulfilling running, you’ve found it with Breakthrough Women’s Running.
Told with engaging storytelling and packed with colorful images and practical recommendations to improve your running, Breakthrough Women’s Running offers 5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon, and run-walk training plans to suit your current distance or pacing goals. With the strength and mobility workouts included in the plans, you don’t have to wonder where and how to fit in these important (but often overlooked) components of a successful running training program. Learn how to breathe in rhythm and how to focus with mantras and mindfulness exercises. Get specific guidance on how to best manage unique challenges that women confront such as hormone fluctuations; training through the menstrual cycle, while pregnant, or after childbirth; and training while also raising a family. Know how to train to prevent injury as well as how to return to running should an injury occur. And fuel your training with five simple recipes that are nutrient dense and simple to prepare.
You’ll hear from well-known, successful women runners such as Sara Hall and Nell Rojas on how even elite runners experience highs and lows in their training as well as how they themselves overcame obstacles to reach their goals. At the ends of chapters, you’ll find Breakthrough Goals—a section of small, tangible actions that you can apply in your own training to overcome specific obstacles.
If you’re looking for a strategic and progressive approach for breaking through your physical or mental barriers to achieve more successful and fulfilling running, you’ve found it with Breakthrough Women’s Running.
- GenresNonfictionSportsHow To
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2022
21 people are currently reading
1245 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 7, 2022
A running bible. I’m lucky enough to be coached by Neely but this book took everything one step deeper - step by step tools on how to build your training block and how to set up your goals. So many personal stories from Neely that illustrate what an incredible athlete she is but also how much she has learned over the years and how passionate she is about coaching. The way it’s written makes it easy to see yourself in Neely, even though I’m not an elite runner I could identify the same type A tendencies and that’s what made Neely’s sound, practical and longevity focused tips and philosophy so helpful. The book doesn’t just have a training plan but it has a description of all pieces that go into a training plan. Also, focused on the female athletes experience which is SO helpful. Helps you really understand the science behind running without getting too into the dry and boring weeds. Neely discusses all the components of her training philosophy that I’ve begun to be familiar with having been coached by her for a year but reading them very more detail and alongside her personal experience made me realize so many additional things and for me, knowing the why behind the method is so valuable. The format of this book is enjoyable, easy to read, and easy to find and go back to valuable sections. The mindfulness journaling prompts and goal setting prompts and things I’m really excited to dig into.
June 5, 2022
I’m so grateful there are finally good books being published about women’s running and that they are worth reading. I wish I had had this book as a high school and college runner and while I was pregnant.
July 8, 2022
Is there anything particularly new or groundbreaking in this book? No, not if you're an experienced runner. Is it worth picking up anyways? Yes! It's a comprehensive look at how to achieve your own fitness breakthroughs for a variety of goals and life stages. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on women's running, seen most strongly in an entire chapter devoted to pregnant and postpartum fitness (super relevant to my life right now). I learned some new tricks and approaches in this book, and was reminded of many other bedrocks of good training: consistency, recovery, and the "extras" like fuel and mobility work. I'm sure I will return to it frequently when my postpartum goals are in motion.
July 15, 2022
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! It is filled with clear but non-judgmental advice and thoughts on running, real stories, and science-backed information. I liked the practical options provided at the end of each chapter and how each chapter focused on one aspect, such as food, recovery, breathing, or even periods and pregnancy. The tone was positive and encouraging and continually motivated me. It’s great for people just starting out or people who have been running for years. I will hold it on my bookshelf as a great resource to pop back into for a variety of reasons.
June 29, 2022
So well written and full of engaging profiles of athletes who have had to overcome plenty of obstacles in their running career. Great information on how to train for different races (5K to an Ultra). I never thought a running book could be a "fun read", I am happy to say I was wrong!
April 10, 2023
Excellent read. I’ve known Neely for many years and was so excited when I heard she had a book coming out. She did a great job on this. Lots of good info on getting your body, mind and spirit race ready. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
February 14, 2024
Some helpful nuggets of running wisdom! Mostly nothing new though
May 30, 2025
Great resource for a relatively new runner; lifelong runners should skip it.
February 26, 2023
If you’re a runner who wants to go to the next level and unlock that missing link, this book is IT. I heard Neely speak about the book on a podcast and decided to buy it. From head-to-toe, mental game to shoes, Neely has researched and sought insight from athletes and experts. I will definitely read this over and over!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews