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No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running
"You don't have to run fast to be a real runner!"
John Bingham, "the patron saint of the back of the pack," commands "The Penguin Brigade"-- those thousands of dedicated runners who have learned that the greatest joy in their sport comes not from how fast they go or how thin they become, but from simply having the courage to take the firs...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
April 20th 2002
by Rodale Books
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Any book that makes me feel good for my 11 minute mile pace is worthy of at least four stars right out of the gate.
John Bingham, who writes monthly columns for Runner's World, woke up one morning - in his late 30's or early 40's, I believe - to discover he was a mess. He was overweight, hooked on cigarettes, and booze, and couldn't even get up the stairs without huffing and puffing.
So, he started running. Months later, he was a testament to what healthy living can do. ...more
John Bingham, who writes monthly columns for Runner's World, woke up one morning - in his late 30's or early 40's, I believe - to discover he was a mess. He was overweight, hooked on cigarettes, and booze, and couldn't even get up the stairs without huffing and puffing.
So, he started running. Months later, he was a testament to what healthy living can do. ...more
I was introduced to this book by my step-father when he was working with John Bingham to make the instructional video "Run for Fun". When I first started trying to run two years ago I started "No Need For Speed" but was really engaged enough to finish it. I wasn't all that engaged in my running either. I ran for a few months, and gave up before I was even able to complete a mile.
I started to re-read this book because I had started running again and had found that...more
I started to re-read this book because I had started running again and had found that...more
If you regularly cycle 100 miles a week or swim 50 laps a day and want to take up running as a nice little cross-training variation to your program, this probably isn't the book for you. While the guidance and suggested starter program applies to nearly any new runner, most of it is geared toward people in their mid-30s and older who haven't been terribly active and might be timid about getting out there or unsure about the specifics. His 12-week walk/run program is less structured and more grad...more
Inspirational and easy to read, No Need For Speed is an almost perfect introduction to the world of running. Bingham gears the book towards those who haven't exercised in a very long time, so if you're already running, this book probably isn't for you. He offers good tips on purchasing the right shoes, and stresses the importance of sticking to a healthy lifestyle. I felt motivated and energized at the end of the book, and am really glad I read it. My only wish is that it was a little more techn...more
Jenny
rated it
Recommends it for:
anyone wanting to start running, no matter how young or old
Shelves:
running
I really enjoyed this book. It's funny because I wouldn't think of myself as an adult-onset runner, but in some ways, I feel like I am. I ran track during most of junior high and high school, but obviously did not make running (or exercise or anything like it) part of my life or lifestyle. Which is really what I am hoping to do now. I think the reason I really liked this book was because it was full of hope; that any regular person can make the choice now to get into running and be successful an...more
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I just read this book in two days. I loved it. I have a few books about how to run, schedules and stuff like that. This book talks about how to be a runner. It really deals with all those insecurities you might have that keep you from running. It talks about what it is really like to be a beginner runner and has an inspiring chapter about eating healthy as well. If you want to be a runner but are hesitant about it or you run but you still don't feel like a "runner" for whatever re...more
I picked this book up as I was training for my first marathon in 2007 (marathon in January of 2008) and loved it. Having completed the marathon and having a few half-marathons along with a host of smaller races behind me, I recently picked this up to read again and loved it as much the second time through.
Bingham regularly writes for Runner's World and his approach to running is that it's not whether you win or if you even run "fast" or if you run "far" but that y...more
Bingham regularly writes for Runner's World and his approach to running is that it's not whether you win or if you even run "fast" or if you run "far" but that y...more
This is great and collaborates with "Running for Mortals" perfectly. It should be read prior to "Running for Mortals" though as it it would make sense to do it the other way around. IF your wanting to get into running whether you never have or used to and want back in, this is the book for you. It's not instructional the entire time there is a lot of useful information that can comfortably get you off you but and out the door.
I wish I'd read this years ago. Bingham is hilarious and I love his style. He'd be good for anyone contemplating fitness at all. I was belly laughing when he described how he'd return from a run, plop on the couch and smoke a cigarette to celebrate. For people who've been running awhile, you'll nod in agreement as he shares multiple stories of how he learned that it's the love of running and not the race that matters.
I appreciated this book written from the perspective of another adult-onset athlete who doesn't feel a need to have an identity dictated by your PR; however, I was expecting a little more substance. I've never really been an athlete and even now use that term very loosely in regards to myself.
Now that I've gotten into running, or am at least training for a 5K next month, I've been curious to see what's been said or written about running. This was a useful book for inspiration, long-term motivation, and tips. Bingham's funny and interesting anecdotes made the book entertaining as well.
Great book on running. Learned that it doesn't matter how far I run or how long it takes me, being out there makes me a runner. (I stole this quote from the books, but it fits.) Learned about setting goals and accepting my limitations.
I loved this book! I felt like it was written just for me. I really had a complete, life-altering change in attitude toward running somewhere in the middle of reading this. I have been running off and on for maybe three years, and the whole time I felt like I was pretty much engaging in self-inflicted torture. And now I honestly, truly can say I LOVE RUNNING!!!
Although this book didn't give me a lot of new information about running, it did help to reboot my attitude towards being "slower than a slow thing" and toward doing what I can, where I am with what I've got. As such, I think it was well worth the read :-)
A very inspiring book, especially somebody like me who is really overweight but aspires to be a runner. It's OK to run some and walk some. I will probably re-read this in the future if I start getting discouraged. :)
I picked this up looking for a technical how-to on getting in shape SLOWLY and found that that's not what this is. However, it's great for motivation and an easy, quick read.
GREAT running book! I would recommend this to anyone and everyone who needs encouragement or just thinking about beginning to put one foot in front of the other.
I wish I had read this book earlier but even so everything John talks about is something relatable on a daily basis. I highly recommend this for anyone.
Another great book for beginning runners. I like John Bingham because he rejects the notion that you have to be a fast runner to be considered a runner.
This book was OK. I mean, I suppose I should have known better going into it that I probably wouldn't love it for a few reasons: (1) the title, (2) his support of the run-walk method, (3) the fact that he was an adult-onset athlete. I think he is preaching a great thing (that it's never too late to become fit) and I think someone (especially one who is a bit older) would really enjoy this book. I just can't associate with being an overweight, beer-drinking, lazy person for most of my life. But i...more
I like this guys style. Pretty interesting overall. It's a nice kind of refresher in some ways, with some newer ideas for me. Overall good!
If you would have asked me six months ago if I would read a book about running, I would have laughed in your face. I continue to be amazed that number one, I read a book about running, and number two, that I enjoyed it! I learned a lot of valuable lessons about becoming a "real" runner.
I am a slow runner and sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be, but as I read John Bingham books, I realize that it is just who and where I am in my running at this moment. In this book you will learn a little more about just running for you, not for speed, YOU! He does also help out with learning about cross training, eating and running basics. In the beginning many think we should be running really fast after weeks of training and that isn't the case. We need to just do what feels good for our bo...more
A fun read for folks like me who are still struggling with the 15 minute mile at a walk. It is ok...
Bingham makes me proud to be a penguin and a back of the pack runner. As he says, all of your effort feels the same to a record holder and someone in the back.
Useful primer for a beginner but I liked his first book The Courgage to Start much better
One of the most inspirational books I've ever read. It's a must reread every so often!
if you read one bingham book, you read them all pretty much.
Loved it!!
Simple, honest approach to running for the 'adult-onset athlete'. Unintimidating, positive and likeable.
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aka 'The Penguin'. John Bingham became well known for his 'The Penguin Chronicles' in Runner's World where he told in detail about his development from couch potato to runner and how that changed his life.
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“The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”
—
87 people liked it
“It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or how far I could run. The joy was in the act of running and in the journey, not in the destination. We have a better chance of seeing where we are when we stop trying to get somewhere else. We can enjoy every moment of movement, as long as where we are is as good as where we'd like to be. That's not to say that you need to be satisfied forever with where you are today. But you need to honor what you've accomplished, rather than thinking of what's left to be done (p. 159).”
—
51 people liked it
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