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Daniels' Running Formula
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Get in the best shape of your running career with the scientifically based training in Daniels' Running Formula. In the book that Runner's World magazine called "the best training book," premier running coach Jack Daniels provides you with his proven VDOT formula to guide you through training at exactly the right intensity to become a faster, stronger runner.
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Paperback, Second Edition, 304 pages
Published
November 3rd 2004
by Human Kinetics
(first published May 1st 1998)
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Running is my weak spot. I can't even say why, but I count picking up running a few years ago to the best decisions I have ever made and now can't even imagine a life without it. Having that said, I'm not an athlete. I run and that's all I do. I don't train. But then I realized I actually did want to increase my knowledge on that subject and get more into the scientific bits. And that was when I was recommended this book!
Jack Daniels (not related to the whisky, but I wonder how often he gets ...more
Jack Daniels (not related to the whisky, but I wonder how often he gets ...more
Oct 15, 2015
Simen Næss Berge
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who wants to get serious about their running
Shelves:
personal-library
This book is simply amazing. I read it, followed one of the 26-week marathon training plans and dropped my marathon time by over 50 minutes in less than a year. From 3:55 to 3:03 after doing the 41-55 miles (66-89 km) per week plan.
The book does a good job telling you why you do every run as you do. It tells you what paces to hit for each run also. The plans are easy to follow and they are easy to customize to fit your life.
The only critism I have is that the long runs are too easy/slow. While ...more
The book does a good job telling you why you do every run as you do. It tells you what paces to hit for each run also. The plans are easy to follow and they are easy to customize to fit your life.
The only critism I have is that the long runs are too easy/slow. While ...more
As a recreational runner I found this book very helpful but also pretty advanced. It is definitely a resource that I will continue to utilize as I continue to improve in my running.
Jack Daniels is a professor of physical education, coach of Olympic athletes and olympic medalist himself. That was proof enough for me, to take a closer look on his ideas.
For me there were two important things in this book. First one was the idea of training load. I've understood that there is different load for different type of exercises, but this book got me to understand more about it and quantify the loads to some extend. I took that part directly in to use on my training diary and will ...more
For me there were two important things in this book. First one was the idea of training load. I've understood that there is different load for different type of exercises, but this book got me to understand more about it and quantify the loads to some extend. I took that part directly in to use on my training diary and will ...more
Done them all...Hansons, Pfitzinger, etc. The Daniels 2Q marathon plan is the right fit for me (your mileage may vary).
The 2Q method is wonderful and roughly follows the 80% easy 20% hard rule of thumb (which in my opinion is a far more sustainable way to train). I love how each Q is unique (some have a long warmup, others short, some marathon pace Qs have a break roughly halfway, others don't, tempo Qs sometimes have rests, other times, recovery intervals). With Hansons and Pfitzinger you were ...more
The 2Q method is wonderful and roughly follows the 80% easy 20% hard rule of thumb (which in my opinion is a far more sustainable way to train). I love how each Q is unique (some have a long warmup, others short, some marathon pace Qs have a break roughly halfway, others don't, tempo Qs sometimes have rests, other times, recovery intervals). With Hansons and Pfitzinger you were ...more
Daniels is a genius. At times almost a little too smart. I do not recommend this book to anyone who's never run at least a 50 mile week at one point or another. Most of his techniques don't apply to people not hoping to qualify for the Olympics.
His methods are cutting edge (especially 30 years ago) and this book is a must read for anyone who spends a great deal of their life in their running shoes.
His methods are cutting edge (especially 30 years ago) and this book is a must read for anyone who spends a great deal of their life in their running shoes.
This book is the standard bearer for the long distance community. It suffers from the same problems many running books do: it treats the programs (which work) and the foundations of these programs as settled science.
The science is not settled. We know that these programs work, but the incredible complexity of adaptation to training stimulus is boiled down to principles that too many runners hold as dogma: "lactate threshold" "Vo2max" "tempo runs" "running economy" "anaerobic/aerobic energy use"
...more
The science is not settled. We know that these programs work, but the incredible complexity of adaptation to training stimulus is boiled down to principles that too many runners hold as dogma: "lactate threshold" "Vo2max" "tempo runs" "running economy" "anaerobic/aerobic energy use"
...more
Some good tips but I had higher hopes. I appreciate the scientific approach, but sometimes felt the discussion was in place just to talk about the science, rather than enhance the author's premise. A nice structural change would be a bullet point "need to know" at the end of each chapter to reinforce the important points or lessons in that chapter.
The way the book is written is very easy to follow and use. I think it's a great helper for anyone who is serious about his training. Now it's time to apply the VDOT values in the road and see if the training programs of the book do make a difference in marathon!
This book changed my entire view on what running training should look like - and it flies in the face of my preconceptions that I've held ever since I started running. The first and most important thing I learned is that I've been running entirely too fast for the majority of my runs - when in fact, you obtain the greatest benefit for the lowest risk when you run pretty slowly (easy pace) for the majority of your runs. The second is that I should be running much more than twice a week - ideally
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Back in college I had my two roommates Jake and Joey relay me the sparknotes version of this book as I was preparing to run a marathon January later that year. I had been building a base of aerobic endurance the previous 6 months and was looking for some direction in my leftover training. Both gave me the basic idea, and referred me to an 18-week training plan I could jump into.
Fast forward to post-marathon, post Joey and Jake roommates (*dab*), and post-unplanned break from running (laziness), ...more
Fast forward to post-marathon, post Joey and Jake roommates (*dab*), and post-unplanned break from running (laziness), ...more
Exactly what I was looking for!
The perfect manual for every mildly self-conscious and motivated runner who wants to improve their times and an overall awesome introduction to fitness in general.
There's just so much misleading information being exposed every day on blog posts, while this gem has been lying around for 20 years with everything you need to know, written not by a journalist or some sort of fad-creator, but from an actual scientist that has been researching about this for years.
An eye ...more
The perfect manual for every mildly self-conscious and motivated runner who wants to improve their times and an overall awesome introduction to fitness in general.
There's just so much misleading information being exposed every day on blog posts, while this gem has been lying around for 20 years with everything you need to know, written not by a journalist or some sort of fad-creator, but from an actual scientist that has been researching about this for years.
An eye ...more
Kinda cheating to include this in my 50 books in 2019 challenge, but fuck it. Daniels writes in a clear, comprehensive style, making his ideas accessible to both elite athletes and complete beginners. I'm much closer to the latter than the former, which meant I skipped a few sections aimed at 100 miles/week runners, but I like the scientific approach and the amount of information he provides you with, and will use his plans in training for my first marathon in April. Depending on how that goes,
...more
If you want to learn how to coach running, set up training plans or just better your running, this book is a must read. It is so dense and full of information about running and training. Seriously, you should read this book if you care about running. If not ... skip it.
With that said, this book is so full of science, science data, science jargon and other heavy, research-based sections that it can be a bear to read and get through sections.
With that said, this book is so full of science, science data, science jargon and other heavy, research-based sections that it can be a bear to read and get through sections.
Actually more like 3.5 stars
Good recommendations and general framework for running, but it seems to be more suitable for professional and/or people who are really into long distances on their weekly training than people like me who really like running but can't put in all that much mileage. I used it for marathon training and his lightest program was up to 40 miles per week while my aspiration was more like up to 20 or 30 miles per week
Good recommendations and general framework for running, but it seems to be more suitable for professional and/or people who are really into long distances on their weekly training than people like me who really like running but can't put in all that much mileage. I used it for marathon training and his lightest program was up to 40 miles per week while my aspiration was more like up to 20 or 30 miles per week
Worthwhile reading and interesting but training plans are overly complex
I enjoyed reading this and I have taken away some useful tips that I will put into practice. It’s unfortunate that the training plans are overly complex which makes me reluctant to use them although I think the principles can be followed
I enjoyed reading this and I have taken away some useful tips that I will put into practice. It’s unfortunate that the training plans are overly complex which makes me reluctant to use them although I think the principles can be followed
Now that I have the proper knowledge from the coach, I am better prepared for a better training plan ahead. Before reading this book, I was thinking about tackling Marathon at the end of this year. After reading this book, I thought I'd be better off to target at half Marathon before the end of the year with carefully executed plan. Thank you coach!
Definitely a very good book about running.
It contains plenty of useful information about breathing, HR, VO2max, different types of running, training for races and general running tips. He also gives complete running programs for almost all distances from 800m to a marathon.
On the negative side, the book is more for coaches than for runners and sometimes the MATH gets quite complex.
It contains plenty of useful information about breathing, HR, VO2max, different types of running, training for races and general running tips. He also gives complete running programs for almost all distances from 800m to a marathon.
On the negative side, the book is more for coaches than for runners and sometimes the MATH gets quite complex.
I can only judge a book like this based on the results I get from its prescriptions. I'm still in the process of trying out his running plans, and I cannot yet speak for the results but I feel that the theory makes sense and the workouts are highly reasonable. If nothing else, I'm enjoying the runs.
Really useful view on performance training and how different types of training affect performance. Good to have really detailed breakdowns and tables for speed, VoMax etc. The VDOT concept is really useful. Now you just have to, actually, ... train!
My marathon planning goes on.
This authoritative book helped although it was clearly written for those fitter and younger than me. Contains enough general tips to help casual runners who are motivated by personal achievement rather than winning medals.
This authoritative book helped although it was clearly written for those fitter and younger than me. Contains enough general tips to help casual runners who are motivated by personal achievement rather than winning medals.
Good for the intermediate to advance runner
Plenty of science and training plans for more experienced runners. New runners should slowly build up to at least 30 miles per week before tackling Mr Daniels' formulas. S great resource.
Plenty of science and training plans for more experienced runners. New runners should slowly build up to at least 30 miles per week before tackling Mr Daniels' formulas. S great resource.
It helps me to understand the training program. I must admit, the number and charts are not my fave but they are necessary. This is reference book, that means I like to quick read the whole book and go deeper to section related to my objective at that time.
The methods Daniels uses to develop athletes is very scientific and easy to follow. In this book Jack provides outlined plans for all types of running activity, from a 100M to cross country, to marathons. Very methodical and comprehensive. Outstanding work. Not easy to do tho, running is hard but my favorite fitness activity.
One of the classics in the field. It's pretty authoritative but definitely not for beginners. Daniels expects you to do a reasonable amount of maths, and if you're looking for a plan which tells you exactly what to do and when to do it, this probably isn't it.
This is the back bone of so many coaches' running programs. The incredibly practical advice laid out by Jack Daniels is so helpful, and he does a good job discussing the science behind his theory as well. Well worth the read of you're a distance coach or amateur runner.
The best book on running I’ve found! Highly recommend.
I'm just a recreational half marathon runner.
The training plans and concepts in this book seem more helpful to semi-pro or pro runners.
I'll stick with simpler run training books.
The training plans and concepts in this book seem more helpful to semi-pro or pro runners.
I'll stick with simpler run training books.
Clear on its points, mostly seemed like common sense though. Be purposeful in every component of training.
Useful collection of training plans as well.
Useful collection of training plans as well.
Uuuu.
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