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Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide
by
With over 50% new material, this category killer is sure to go the distance
When the previous edition of Hal Higdon's superb training guide appeared, Grete Waitz, 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon, cheered: "Higdon's years of marathoning experience come through in this practical book. Aspiring or veteran marathoners will benefit enormously from its proven guidance ...more
When the previous edition of Hal Higdon's superb training guide appeared, Grete Waitz, 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon, cheered: "Higdon's years of marathoning experience come through in this practical book. Aspiring or veteran marathoners will benefit enormously from its proven guidance ...more
Paperback, 356 pages
Published
September 3rd 2005
by Rodale Books
(first published October 15th 1999)
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
Oct 16, 2011
Bill
added it
So I used Hal Higdon's training guide on the interwebs to train for my first marathon on October 9th this year, the Chicago Marathon. At the expo the day before the race, my younger sister (who ran the race with me - well, as much as anyone who finished an hour ahead of me "ran with" me) excitedly spotted Hal and got him to sign her a brand new copy of his book. I sat by with a camera ready, but she was too timid to ask him for a picture, and I was too timid to demand that she pose with him. We
...more
It still holds up as one of the top marathon books/training guides after all these years. I was completely out of shape, and I hadn't ran a step in five or six years. I read this book, followed the training guide, and ran a 4 hour marathon less than three months later. I also lost 25 pounds during the training process.
Hal's book is still the best marathon running book around, a must read for anyone wanting to run a marathon, but not wanting to urinate blood & spinal fluid afterward.
Hal's book is still the best marathon running book around, a must read for anyone wanting to run a marathon, but not wanting to urinate blood & spinal fluid afterward.
I have read 8 books on running. Everything from running for weight loss to the ultimate beginners guide and from inspirational fiction on running to marathon training. I have to say that Hal Higdon's Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, Advice, Plans and Programs for Your 1st Marathon or 50th was a favorite.
You have to wonder how many books on running can you read? Don't they all start to sound the same? Yes and no. The basic information like how to stay hydrated, warnings on things not to do ...more
You have to wonder how many books on running can you read? Don't they all start to sound the same? Yes and no. The basic information like how to stay hydrated, warnings on things not to do ...more
Jun 11, 2017
Jamie
added it
I'm going to run a marathon
I’ve made it my business to check out every marathon ebook available at my local library. I have universally disliked them all up until now. This one is fantastic.
Just about every new runner training for any event has, at least, perused one of Hal Higdon’s plans. They are free, readily available, easy to understand, and geared to beginners. I’m familiar with them, but I’ve never used them. I have always used Pfitzinger’s Road Racing and Fitzgerald’s Brain Training for Running. Since I’m taking o ...more
Just about every new runner training for any event has, at least, perused one of Hal Higdon’s plans. They are free, readily available, easy to understand, and geared to beginners. I’m familiar with them, but I’ve never used them. I have always used Pfitzinger’s Road Racing and Fitzgerald’s Brain Training for Running. Since I’m taking o ...more
This book will either inspire you to run a marathon or scare you to death. Though it breaks down the act of running 26.2 miles into manageable chapters, the feat may seem more daunting as you turn the last page. Fortunately, Higdon has populated his informative book with many testimonials from runners, from the confident elite to the skeptical newcomers.
As a veteran marathon runner with 111 marathons under his belt, he knows what he's talking about. His experience, his mistakes, his discoveries ...more
As a veteran marathon runner with 111 marathons under his belt, he knows what he's talking about. His experience, his mistakes, his discoveries ...more
I read this book as I was training for my first (and so far only) marathon. It was heartfelt, funny, and sincere. One quote that I will forever remember is that you should never sign up for your next marathon until you have forgotten the pain of the last one.
Ok so this book wasn't BAD I just was annoyed by a few things....this book felt very repetative. The author revistied the importance of carb-loading and the spagehtti dinner like 10 times, once or twice would be fine but after awhile I wanted to scream, "We get the point!" Also, maybe I'm not a serious enough runner but I found the chapter on women training during menstruation just un-necessary. I also got a little tired of the ten million examples the author used of olympic athletes training se
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Anytime I get a new hobby, I like to learn as much about it as I can. I'm a knowledge collector of sorts. A really bad jack-of-all-trades. I like to learn and if something catches my attention and interests me, I want to learn as much as I can about it until I'm over it. Running is my newest obsession.
So I got this book from the library actually just read this straight through, not picking and choosing parts that sounded interesting.
I found it helpful and insightful and slightly overwhelming an ...more
So I got this book from the library actually just read this straight through, not picking and choosing parts that sounded interesting.
I found it helpful and insightful and slightly overwhelming an ...more
Everything that I need to know and more. The only downside was they were ABSOLUTELY adamant that first time marathoners should NEVER have a goal beyond finishing the race. But my opinion is that I want to beat the race, I don't want the race to beat me. I don't want to feel like I barely finished by the skin of my teeth. I want to achieve the status of marathoner without nearly killing myself to cross the finish line.
One of the best marathon manuals that I have read. Unfortunately for me I ran out of time and had to finish it after my 1st marathon thus not requiring the training schedule at the end. However, this had some great advice which I will defo use on my next marathon. Yes, I'm going to do another one. I loved it, every minute. Wish I'd done one earlier than my 40th year!
Read again a year later before doing my second marathon. Still the best book in my opinion to read on marathons.
Read again a year later before doing my second marathon. Still the best book in my opinion to read on marathons.
This book was a great asset in training for my first marathon. I finished with a respectable time-for me. It answered a lot of questions I didn't even know I had, being a newbie and a solitary runner. I'm using it again to train for my second marathon.
I'm keeping this book close at hand! Will read and re-read. Currently following the intermediate training plan for my 5th half marathon, will then roll into the novice training plan for my 1st full marathon.
I loved this book. Signed up for my first marathon and this book got me so excited to start training. He makes it sound so doable. Can't wait!!!
That's a real great piece for anyone who's preparing for a marathon or just began running :-) I recommend it highly
May 13, 2008
Sue
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
new runners/marathoners
Shelves:
non-fiction
A really good overview of marathon training. Especially helpful if you're running your first and don't quite know what to expect from running 26 miles 385 yards.
There’s a reason that Hal Higdon, veteran marathoner and contributor to Runner’s World magazine, is an institution in the running community and there’s a reason his “Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide” (now in its fourth edition) is the gold standard of running books: it’s doesn’t get any better than Hal and his enthusiastic, comprehensive approach to tackling 26.2 miles. Covering pre-race training to post-race recovery and everything in between - nutrition, race logistics, charity involvemen
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A friend of mine has registered for the Berlin Marathon 2018 and this inspired me to check what it takes to run such a long distance. I don't plan to do it myself but as a novice runner I am more attracted to the longer distances than the short ones (<5k).
Also, every true Science Fiction buff needs to know how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world without cars and horses. Walking and running might become the only option to move from one place to another. :)
The Marathon guide contains the ac ...more
Also, every true Science Fiction buff needs to know how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world without cars and horses. Walking and running might become the only option to move from one place to another. :)
The Marathon guide contains the ac ...more
This might make you feel a bit better. Guess what? Hal Higdon updated his Marathon book with an all new 3rd edition! YAY!
Have you ran a marathon before? Have you ever tried to follow one of Hal Higdon's marathon training programs?
You may not care, but let me tell you a little bit about myself before you start your judgements, on me and on Hal. I am a 25 year old female who started running 3 years ago. Since becoming obsessed with the sport of running I have run close to 20 races including 2 ful ...more
Have you ran a marathon before? Have you ever tried to follow one of Hal Higdon's marathon training programs?
You may not care, but let me tell you a little bit about myself before you start your judgements, on me and on Hal. I am a 25 year old female who started running 3 years ago. Since becoming obsessed with the sport of running I have run close to 20 races including 2 ful ...more
Great resource for anyone planning (or even thinking about!) running a marathon. Currently I'm using his training plans to work towards a half to build my mileage before starting to train for a full marathon. I got a lot out of this book even though I'm not currently training for a marathon (though it is on the horizon).
Hal Higdon has run over 100 marathons (sheesh!), has coached several (hundred?) runners to run 26 miles and 385 yards, and has written a few training plans available for free on ...more
Hal Higdon has run over 100 marathons (sheesh!), has coached several (hundred?) runners to run 26 miles and 385 yards, and has written a few training plans available for free on ...more
Welp, I signed up for a marathon, trained for a marathon and ended up with a nagging ACL strain. So I deferred my race till next year. I did learn a lot and this guide was helpful. Longest long run during training was 19.5 miles, and I did a few 50 mile or so weeks. I can salvage my embarrassment of still not having run a marathon as a sort of familiar runner's lesson about overtraining and moderately poor luck. Motivating myself to do that epic training is still some kind of lesson in initiativ
...more
I really, really wanted to enjoy this book, but I just found it really underwhelming.
Having run half marathons and marathons prior to reading this book, I found a lot of the information to be basic things that you pick up on the internet and from running groups. There wasn't anything in this book that I hadn't already heard.
I also thought he relied heavily on anecdotes from Olympic runners and people from his online training program. There were so many stories that once you got midway into the ...more
Having run half marathons and marathons prior to reading this book, I found a lot of the information to be basic things that you pick up on the internet and from running groups. There wasn't anything in this book that I hadn't already heard.
I also thought he relied heavily on anecdotes from Olympic runners and people from his online training program. There were so many stories that once you got midway into the ...more
I've tried various marathon training plans over the years, but none has seemed as reasonable, pleasant, and simple as the ones in this book. I've just started training for my ninth marathon (in 8 years), and I have decided to follow the intermediate 2 plan, which will increase my weekly mileage 10 miles more than what I've ever done as marathon preparation, plus I'll be doing three 20 mile runs instead of my usual one or two. I think these two steps up in my training will increase my stamina and
...more
Jun 18, 2017
Carianne Carleo-Evangelist
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
2017-purchase,
runners,
running,
marathon,
health,
fitness,
ebookreadingchallenge,
backlistreader
He's a good story teller and I'd like him as my coach - I think I'd succeed with his plans. I appreciate that he does both a high level view and then takes a step back and breaks it down should you need it. I also thought the chapter layout made sense with respect to race training.
I don't feel this was as good as his half marathon book, and some of his tables just don't translate well to the Kindle format. Although updated, too much of the info dates to when the internet is new and explanations ...more
I don't feel this was as good as his half marathon book, and some of his tables just don't translate well to the Kindle format. Although updated, too much of the info dates to when the internet is new and explanations ...more
Hal is one of the most renowned marathon training experts. This book is definitely a "couch to marathon" type of book. I think that all of the information in the book is also found on the website. The training plans are likely the most useful parts. While Hal's sense of humor kept me entertained, the style of the book felt like a string of articles that had been pieced together just to make a book. There was a ton of repetition and little flow from section to section.
Informative and interesting. Higdon too falls victim to what I’m now assuming is the prerogative of every coach/trainer turned author - singing his own praises enough that it becomes slightly obnoxious - but not as much as, say, Bret Contreras.
Even though I read the latest revised addition, some of the language still makes it seem dated. But I feel more knowledgeable and prepared for having read it, and really enjoyed all the anecdotes and advice.
Even though I read the latest revised addition, some of the language still makes it seem dated. But I feel more knowledgeable and prepared for having read it, and really enjoyed all the anecdotes and advice.
Read this book prior to running my first marathon. Followed the novice training plan religiously and finished the marathon in less than 4 hours with some personal bests along the way. It is a bit basic at times but I found it a good thing to go over the basics. All in all, loved the book and will recommend it to anyone into running.
Learned a lot about how marathon running affects the body and what you can do to optimize performance. A bit of an arrogant tone to the book, and a lot of it was more aimed at elite or Boston-level runners, but I feel a little less anxious about my first marathon now.
It was informative and a great first step to marathon preparation, but a lot of the content was anecdotal: what this person does, what that person says, what I like to do, etc. It gave me a great starting point to do more in depth research but my knowledge seeking did NOT stop with this book.
Very informative. Was very glad to read it and looking forward to trying some of the things I learned while training for my next race.
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Hal Higdon is an American writer and runner. He has contributed to Runner's World magazine longer than any other writer. He is the author of 34 books, including the best-selling Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide. He has worked as a freelance writer since 1959, and has written a variety of subjects including a children's book that was made into an animated feature. He ran eight times in the Uni
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“I’d rather die smiling. And running makes me smile.”
—
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“Steve Langley, a forecast manager from Beloit, Wisconsin, recalls running 15 miles with friends on a January morning when the temperature was 5°F. Running through a park with a small lake, they passed several people sitting on buckets, ice fishing. “Look at those idiots,” said one of the fishermen. “They’re going to freeze to death!” Langley admits thinking the same about them.”
—
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