The Runner's Handbook

by Bob Glover, Jack Shepherd, Shelly-Lynn Florence Glover

If you're a runner, or would like to be one, The Runner's Handbook will answer all your questions. Fitness expert Bob Glover-who has trained thousands of runners-shows you how to devise a training program and keep at the top of your form.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Sports, Fitness, Self Help, Reference, How To

752 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 1978

About the author

Bob Glover is best known as an author of instructional running books. He is author of the book The Runner's Handbook: The Bestselling Classic Fitness Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Runners, which is a best-seller trade paperback. Another Glover book, The Competitive Runner's Handbook has sold nearly 200,000 copies.
Glover is also notable for his coaching. In 1978, he directed his first New York Road Runners class. More than 3000 runners of varying skill levels participate yearly in these classes. In addition, he conducts the City Sports for Kids track program for the New York Road Runners.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When people ask me (and I am not kidding, they actually do ask me!) how I learned to run, I say, well, I bought this book and I did what it said. It is pretty much magical, people, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Perhaps one day, there will be an update to it, but for now, I think this is the best it gets.

Guides you from non-running to running. This book is totally sensible and practical and practicable. I went from never having run in my life to running 3-5 times a week, which I've been doing for three years now!

I like best how personable this book is. I feel that I would actually enjoy the company of the authors, and I do feel, as the book's author says, like "Coach Glover is cheering [me] on!" This is not one of those "no pain, no gain" type books; he actually says "no fun, no run," meaning that if you aren't enjoying it, maybe you shouldn't be doing it.

There are chapters about women and about kids and about aging and about running with health challenges. There's a lot of practical stuff about nutrition and things like that that is probably a bit out of date by now, so if you are concerned with the cutting edge nutritional stuff, I'd supplement this with a subscription to Runner's World.

I truly mean it when I say this book changed my life!

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some great advice. There is, unfortunately, a lot of filler, including fifty pages of copy-and-pasted nutrition advice you already know (I mean, come on Bob -- the Food Pyramid? Really?) The book is also confusingly organized, so that it can be difficult to sort the actual training advice from the general ra-ra-running-is-great cheerleading, especially in the early chapters. That said, for folks like me who would rather read a guide than join a club, this is the perfect personal trainer, and there isn't a facet of running it doesn't cover. I've only read the parts that apply to my own training program, but I absolutely believe that this book could take me through my first marathon if I wanted it to. I definitely won't be buying another running book for quite awhile.

[Alan Liddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, well-informed, and time-tested advice on beginning running. I used this book when I started running at 17 to get in shape for military service, and I've used it again to get back into running over the past 6 months. I come back to it again and again for information about training schedules, technique, gear, and cross-training. As of this review, I've run two 5Ks using this book as a guide, and I'm training for longer races now using the schedules straight out of this book.

I give it only 4 stars because the diet information is straight out of the USDA guidelines from the 90's. I don't want to claim that just because it's old that means it's wrong (indeed, maybe eventually diet advice will come back around to those recommendations), but I would almost prefer a more empirical approach, even if it isn't rigorous. The guy ran the New York Road Runner's Club for decades, he must have talked to people about what they ate and spotted some patterns. Even anecdata would have been more useful than canned recommendations.

[MarkH · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent guide that has everything you need to get started running. This is a comprehensive book that answers any question you have about getting in shape through running. It is important to point out that the book is a little out of date regarding nutrition and a couple other areas, but that is bound to happen with this type of book considering the changes in the last 30 years. I would still recommend this book for anyone that wants to be more active. Another sad fact is that Americans are in even worse shape collectively than when the book was first published and the number of sedentary people continues to rise. It shouldn't be so hard to fit 3-5 hours of exercise into a week.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth a skim for the beginner runner (it is over 700 pages, so be selective where necessary as to what to read and what to skim).

I've personally run just over 1,000 km over the past 2-3 years since starting running and I think this would have been a perfect book to pick up before I started. Even now though, there is something worthwhile in this for me.

[Hank · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of long, it's kind of old-school in tone or advice at times, but you could do MUCH worse than follow the advice or programs in this book, which are generally a masterclass in working up to hard things slowly and steadily, appropriate preparation, and taking joy in the process rather than the destination.

[Erin Matson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers all the basics for a new runner; a bit dated.

[Billy Joe Candelaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

My running bible :-)

[Mindi Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really big book for something as simple as "putting one foot in front of the other". I skimmed most of it, but also found a lot of helpful information. I really liked learning about the studies that show how women improve their aerobic capacity after childbirth. Joan Samuelson, the 1984 Women's Olympic Marathon winner said, "No marathon has ever been as difficult as labor." I've survived labor four times, hopefully I'll feel the same way about marathons after I run one (in June if all goes as planned!).

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really helped me get back into running after my first two pregnancies. Bob Glover's running advice is very accessible (versus elitist like some running books) and you feel very supported in your running goals, whatever they may be, just by reading it. I used the plan in this book to train for and run my first marathon in 2009. Although I've been a runner for many years, I still felt I got a lot out of this book and recommend it to anyone who runs or aspires to run.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit it; I skimmed. But even so, I learned a lot about running and this book got me through Basis Training alive. Army Drill Sergeants will do a lot (of yelling and otherwise) to get their trainees through Basic, but they don't know anything about running other than "just do it and do it fast... in that direction." This book helped me not only in Basic, but afterwards as I continue to train. During one of my tests in AIT, I even had FUN! A phenomenon that still occurs from time to time.

[Andres Mosquera Salazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buen libro para comprender de manera general los conceptos del deporte de los corredores: la maratón . El libro trata muchos temas de manera sintetizada que sirven de gran ayuda para los corredores principiantes e intermedios.



De manera muy particular, el libro me ha motivado a seguir corriendo y querer perseverar en este deporte.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the NYC Road Runner's classes they teach, the Glovers' focus mainly on beginner racers. But there are chapters in this book for everything from extreme weather running to diet, to motivation, 5Ks to marathons. It's one of my bedside staples. I have 2 copies!

[AF · Rating 3 out of 5]

This looked helpful based upon the Amazon reviews, and recently a friend who is a runner said it was a good book. Lots of good tips for starting out and info on shoes, heart monitors, etc. Has tons of motivational stuff for those who need it (or you can skip it if you don't).

[Brad]

Great resource for someone who wants to start a running program. He takes you from running 1 minute nonstop to running 20 minutes nonstop in 10 weeks. Also, tons of information about shoes and clothing, nutrition, stretching, basically anything you need to know about running.

[InYourFaceNewYorker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for training the beginner runner or-- in my case-- retraining! It comes with workouts to help get yourself in shape, tests so that you know where you're starting from, and even a bit of information about exercise physiology!

[Paul Ratazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this when I first started running, c. 1997. It's full of great information that helped me learn a more structured, purposeful approach to training. In addition to the old Galloway book, this book was an important part of the first few thousand miles of my running life.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year ago I had never run more than 3 miles. This book helped me get through a half-marathon and then the St. George marathon with all kinds of excellent tips.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for anyone trying to get into running.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

learned a ton. Thanks to a friend for loaning it to me. My newly-found hobby of running is going to improve from what I've learned!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great information for a beginning runner, with training plans you can go back to again and again as you prepare for bigger and better races!

[Reet78 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I will keep it forever despite the fact I haven't run in years!

[Randy Marcellus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a 400,000 ft view of running. If you've jogged more than a mile, this book isn't for you. If you're considering leaving the couch but haven't quite gotten to it, this books for you.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the empowerment this program provides. My 5 year old and I hope to try the schedule out!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't technically finish, but close enough. Decent book with a good overview of EVERYTHING but a bit dated. Still was worth picking up from the library (I love you library books on Kindle).

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every runner should have it on the bookshelf.

[Jo Lau · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start for potential marathon runner.

[Anwen Garston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got me running.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for getting a person motivated and learning some basics of running. I brushed up on a few techniques and otherwise made sure I wasn't doing things all wrong. =)

[Andreas Michaelides · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing, it literally covers anything you can think about running, it’s a must have for everyone that wants to call his or her self a runner.