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Marathon and Half-Marathon: The Beginner's Guide
Over 20 million Americans run recreationally, but doing it right is more than a matter of buying an expensive pair of shoes and heading for the track. Building on the popularity of The Beginning Runner’s Handbook, this practical, easy-to-use guide provides a step-by-step program for running a half or full marathon for the first time. It shows readers how to get motivated and set realistic goals, choose the proper shoes, eat right, build strength and endurance, and avoid sore muscles and injury. The book includes tips from elite runners on such subjects as staying motivated when the weather is extreme, running technique, running with a dog, and running partners. Finally, the book describes strategies for the race, what to expect on race day, and the psychological effects of finishing a half or full marathon. Most importantly, it includes a full training program designed to ensure that that crucial first race is a winner.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 10, 2013
not a bad book, just was too much a beginners book for me. I'm no pro but I've run a few half's already and just started training for a full. I did find some of the info on race day eating and in race eenergy good but other than that nothing much new.
also the author supports and provides a run/walk plan so if that what you're looking for then this is a good option. it is a quick read so read it anyway if you're intereted.
also the author supports and provides a run/walk plan so if that what you're looking for then this is a good option. it is a quick read so read it anyway if you're intereted.
July 16, 2014
This is the best instrument to get you from couch to running the race of your life. It covers all the aspects of a run (psychology, diet, schedule, family life) and it offers an easy to follow plan. Highly recommended to those just discovering the world of running.
April 12, 2020
As someone brand-new to running, committed to running a marathon in October (Chicago!), and a little daunted, this 26 week program fits best out of those that I’ve found thus far. Skipping C25K and heading straight into this plan feels like a better path towards running a long-distance event.
Other sources might’ve also had the same concepts, but this program emphasized to me that I’d been running far too quickly in my early walk/runs, and that there’s no need to try to maintain a “running” pace. Go as fast as you can while keeping your breathing steady and conversational. Again, not saying this is revolutionary thinking, but it convinced me that I wasn’t jogging at the right pace.
The diet sections of the book are delightfully opaque to an unerring Imperial unit user, but the advice seems sound.
Overall, a great reference guide and plan for a totally beginner runner - at least from this beginner’s perspective!
Other sources might’ve also had the same concepts, but this program emphasized to me that I’d been running far too quickly in my early walk/runs, and that there’s no need to try to maintain a “running” pace. Go as fast as you can while keeping your breathing steady and conversational. Again, not saying this is revolutionary thinking, but it convinced me that I wasn’t jogging at the right pace.
The diet sections of the book are delightfully opaque to an unerring Imperial unit user, but the advice seems sound.
Overall, a great reference guide and plan for a totally beginner runner - at least from this beginner’s perspective!
February 3, 2019
A very good book with a clear program on preparation of a marathon/half marathon. It contains guidelines and stories of real people on how they did it. I have already done a half marathon but will use this guide to reduce the time in the next one.
May 23, 2022
Gives a great beginning to how to train for a marathon and half marathon in a short amount of time.
April 12, 2012
This is definitely for the beginning marathoner or half-marathoner, i.e. the person who may not even be a runner yet at all. The program presented here is intended to take you from couch potato to being able to complete a half or full marathon in 26 weeks. It is recommended, however, that people start by aiming for a half-marathon, and if that goes successfully and without injury, they can progress to the full as their second race.
If you have read "The Beginning Runner's Handbook" by the same group of authors (SportMed BC), then you already know a lot of information presented in this book, because it also applies to learning to run a 10K, which is the focus of the Beginning Runner's Handbook. But because the longer distance races require so much more mentally and physically than a 10K requires, the information is elaborated upon in this book. For example, the hydration and nutrition needs of long-distance running are more acute than with a 10K race, so the information in this book about those particular subjects goes into a lot more specificity and depth.
If you find yourself deciding to take on the challenge of a marathon or half-marathon (which is becoming an increasingly popular way for charities to raise funds, for instance), this is a highly recommended book, and in fact an essential book if you are fairly new to the sport of running. It will give you tips on how to choose running shoes and running attire, what/when to eat or drink while training, how to find races to enter and running groups to join, how to run with dogs or baby strollers, how to stay motivated even when you don't feel like doing your workout, how to stay injury-free, how to determine whether the head cold you feel coming on should preempt your workout, how to cross-train on your non-running days, and most importantly, the detailed 26-week program of workouts that you follow like a script.
The program presented here is a walk/run program. You start out with more walking than running (actually, jogging), but gradually the ratio of running to walking increases as your stamina increases. In the end, the plan for the actual race (be it half or full marathon) is to continue your walk/run cycles in a ratio that feels most comfortable for you. For one person, it might be running 30 minutes, then walking 1 minute, then running another 30 and so on. For another person, it might be running 10 minutes, walking 1.5 minutes, and repeating that cycle over the course of the race. Another person might plan to walk through each water station and run in between them. The goal is simply to complete the race comfortably, without killing yourself. This plan is NOT geared toward people who have a particular finish-time goal in mind. That would something in an advanced book.
If you have read "The Beginning Runner's Handbook" by the same group of authors (SportMed BC), then you already know a lot of information presented in this book, because it also applies to learning to run a 10K, which is the focus of the Beginning Runner's Handbook. But because the longer distance races require so much more mentally and physically than a 10K requires, the information is elaborated upon in this book. For example, the hydration and nutrition needs of long-distance running are more acute than with a 10K race, so the information in this book about those particular subjects goes into a lot more specificity and depth.
If you find yourself deciding to take on the challenge of a marathon or half-marathon (which is becoming an increasingly popular way for charities to raise funds, for instance), this is a highly recommended book, and in fact an essential book if you are fairly new to the sport of running. It will give you tips on how to choose running shoes and running attire, what/when to eat or drink while training, how to find races to enter and running groups to join, how to run with dogs or baby strollers, how to stay motivated even when you don't feel like doing your workout, how to stay injury-free, how to determine whether the head cold you feel coming on should preempt your workout, how to cross-train on your non-running days, and most importantly, the detailed 26-week program of workouts that you follow like a script.
The program presented here is a walk/run program. You start out with more walking than running (actually, jogging), but gradually the ratio of running to walking increases as your stamina increases. In the end, the plan for the actual race (be it half or full marathon) is to continue your walk/run cycles in a ratio that feels most comfortable for you. For one person, it might be running 30 minutes, then walking 1 minute, then running another 30 and so on. For another person, it might be running 10 minutes, walking 1.5 minutes, and repeating that cycle over the course of the race. Another person might plan to walk through each water station and run in between them. The goal is simply to complete the race comfortably, without killing yourself. This plan is NOT geared toward people who have a particular finish-time goal in mind. That would something in an advanced book.
January 5, 2010
This has been very useful in terms of pointers and tips and things to remember. I already have a half training program some in not using the actual training plan. But the book also discusses a lot about the mental side of distance running and dealing with nerves and worry and confidence, which is something Ive been looking for. My main criticism is the author (justifiably) talks a lot about possible injury, and avoiding injury, and being prepared on a safe timeline and such which actually make me worry Ive jumped into half training too fast and hurt that mental preparedness Im supposed to be working on.This is, however, making me take rest and recovery more seriously. (Oh, one more point of note: the author says to lean into a hill on an uphill run which Ive been told not to do, so i dunno about that.) But overall hugely motivational book for the beginning distance runner.
February 23, 2016
This is a perfect book for anyone who doesn't think they can run a half or full marathon. Unfortunately I am not that person. While I am training for my first full I am not new to running in general. So only about a fourth or so of the info in the book was helpful to me. I only grabbed it because it was the only marathon book at my local library. I'll probably look for another one. But this is a good starter book for anyone who hasn't run much or doesn't think they are a runner.
January 30, 2008
Of all of the marathoning books I read or skimmed before my first 26.2, this one was by far the most useful, accessible, and recommendable to other first timers. Other books I read on the subject would dwell on the technical or personal aspects while this one addressed both and much more. Walk/Run plans included and nice layout with useful tips were also bonus.
March 3, 2009
Although I didn't read this book in time to complete the 26-week training program, I found this book very informative and helpful in my training. It contains a day by day (week by week) guide on how long you should walk/jog/run to build up your muscles and get your body in shape to become a runner.
October 29, 2016
the book delivers what the title suggests: it is a beginner's guide. It is probably very good for the people, who are truly and utterly beginners to the physical activity (haven't done any sports and/or overweight etc). But if you can comfortably run 10k (or even 5k), training program suggested in the book would potentially be too slow for you.
April 28, 2008
One of 3 different books I was reading at the same time. I like this book for it's helpful advice. And for it's charts.I really liked the charts best of the 3 books. It set up a program for both types of races. Very Helpful!
March 4, 2009
A good overall book with information on running and racing longer distances. Lots of overlap with basic running books, but good info on race day and recovery. The training plan takes you from zero to race in 26 weeks - a very easy and doable plan.
November 12, 2007
For people who have never run a step in their life; useless for me
Read
February 21, 2008Read this to start my training for the 2008 St. George Marathon! Hopefully, the lottery system will go my way...
September 8, 2009
This has been my workout bible for the past 9 months--afterall, I want to travel the world with my running shoes on! :)
August 23, 2010
This was an excellent book for training for the marathon. The training regimen fit my level of running perfectly. I would recommend it.
January 4, 2013
After Higdon's book, this one seemed a little lack-luster, but it was still useful, especially in the areas of positive self-talk and motivation. Glad I read it.
December 23, 2024
Good information, but some of the material is dated as it was written almost 20 years ago.
April 16, 2010
now let's see if i can get my bum up and running....
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews