Low-Mileage Running: A Short Guide to Running Faster, Injury Free

by Aaron Olson

Low-Mileage Running is a short guide to running faster, injury free. It focuses on avoiding injury while optimizing your training. The book provides practical training advice, workouts, and sample training plans for the 5k to Marathon. Throughout this book, I share how you can maximize your training and reduce injuries while running fewer miles. By listening to your body and focusing on quality workouts tailored to your event, you can improve your performance and avoid injury. This isn’t a magic formula; it’s just one runner sharing his experience with others. I can’t guarantee success; I can only tell you what I’ve done and how it might work for you as well. If you value your time and are willing to try an unconventional approach, you have picked the right book. While using a low-mileage approach to training, I have been able to remain injury free, set PRs, and have more fun in the process. I realize that this way of training isn’t for everyone, but it may work for you. If you have been struggling with injuries or are just looking for a way to gain speed with less time spent running, experiment with your training, and determine the least amount of running you can get away with. Focus on the quality of your runs rather than the weekly volume. Allow yourself more recovery between workouts so that your legs feel fresh each time you go out for another quality workout. Low-mileage running is a conservative approach to training that starts small and adds more as needed. Run as little as possible to meet your goals. You can always increase the mileage later. By holding back, you’ll reduce injuries, have more time, and enjoy your running more!

43 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2015

Reviews

[James McGinness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, wanted more

Interesting training approach... would have preferred more details and scientific validation. I love the idea of letting yourself really get after it in workouts and prioritizing that above all else.

I just wish there could have been more rationalization of the approach and more consideration for how to put this together for the long term and not just to prepare for a race in. 12 weeks

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fast but very informative. I agree with this perspective of training for the "right" kind of runner. It was perfect for me. I generally train this way so having confirmation that I was doing something good for myself was a perk!! Excellent, would recommend.

[Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple concise primer

This short read has all the information of longer books on the subject, but in a much more accessible package. Plus the advice works. What's not to like?

[Adolfo Neto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relatively good and very short book about running less.

I agree with the running less part.
I do not agree that it has to be based on mileage. For me, running has (almost) always to be based on time.

And I think he (Aaron, the author) recommends that we run too intensely.

I, instead, recommend Phil Maffetone's books.

[Cortney · Rating 2 out of 5]

No great advice that I didn't know in this book.