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Inside a Marathon: An All-Access Pass to a Top-10 Finish at NYC, Featuring a new Boston Marathon Chapter
Inside a Marathon gives readers an all-access pass into the mind of a coach and an athlete as they work together to prepare for one of the world's most prestigious races, the New York City Marathon. Follow along from two different perspectives as Scott Fauble and Ben Rosario share all of the highs and lows over the course of the 18 weeks leading into NYC. Fauble and Rosario take an unprecedented dive into what exactly goes into professional marathon training, and they tell a compelling story along the way. This edition includes a chapter on the 2019 Boston Marathon where Fauble ran 2:09:09 and finished in seventh place.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 18, 2019
I run, but I'm not a marathoner. This book—part training log, part two-person journal—took me inside a world I'll never inhabit. In this world, professional runner Scott Fauble and Coach Ben Rosario are preparing and executing a plan that, if successful, will place them at the very highest levels of their sport. It's a world where a sub-5-minute mile is a training pace, 100-mile weeks are normal, and time spent lifting weights or foam rolling is tracked as carefully as time spent pounding the road. And every week, Fauble and Rosario write about what they've done, how it feels, and how they think it's going ... without reading each other's thoughts until after Fauble toes the starting line at the 2018 New York City Marathon.
I skimmed the training logs, which include the week's workout plan and how Fauble feels at the end of every day. They're both impressively detailed and often lighthearted, as when Fauble reacts to a tough workout with a sarcastic haiku. I read the journal-style weekly wrapups more carefully. Has the relationship between a coach and athlete ever been explored in this level of first-person detail, week by week? It's like listening in on an extended conversation between colleagues who work in a field I'll never be qualified to enter (Fauble often calls running his "job"). But it's not all technical talk, unintelligible to the non-marathoner; it's two people who are preparing for a very big event and worrying, together and separately, about how it will shake out. We've all been there, no matter where we work. By week 3 I was completely invested in caring about how things went.
More than 150 excellent photos document Fauble's journey, but what really surprised me about this book is the humor. Fauble makes running funny. Typical entry: "Ran too fast with Scott Smith. We also debated the similarities and differences as well as the pros and cons of bear attacks vs. shark attacks." Anyone who has ever been on a long run with a buddy has had a conversation like that. His silly footnotes alone are worth the cover price.
If you're a runner or just someone who wants to understand elite athletes and their training, this unique book offers meaningful insights along with healthy doses of humor ... there's nothing else quite like it on your shelf, I guarantee!
I skimmed the training logs, which include the week's workout plan and how Fauble feels at the end of every day. They're both impressively detailed and often lighthearted, as when Fauble reacts to a tough workout with a sarcastic haiku. I read the journal-style weekly wrapups more carefully. Has the relationship between a coach and athlete ever been explored in this level of first-person detail, week by week? It's like listening in on an extended conversation between colleagues who work in a field I'll never be qualified to enter (Fauble often calls running his "job"). But it's not all technical talk, unintelligible to the non-marathoner; it's two people who are preparing for a very big event and worrying, together and separately, about how it will shake out. We've all been there, no matter where we work. By week 3 I was completely invested in caring about how things went.
More than 150 excellent photos document Fauble's journey, but what really surprised me about this book is the humor. Fauble makes running funny. Typical entry: "Ran too fast with Scott Smith. We also debated the similarities and differences as well as the pros and cons of bear attacks vs. shark attacks." Anyone who has ever been on a long run with a buddy has had a conversation like that. His silly footnotes alone are worth the cover price.
If you're a runner or just someone who wants to understand elite athletes and their training, this unique book offers meaningful insights along with healthy doses of humor ... there's nothing else quite like it on your shelf, I guarantee!
February 25, 2020
This probably feels like a pretty random review from me, but I have two reasons for wanting to post it. 1) I'm trying to get in a habit of reviewing every book that I read. 2) I really loved it so I want to put some thoughts out into the world.
I think the best way to explain what this book is about is to pull this paragraph from the chapter 1:
"That brings us to what this book is—in the simplest terms, this book is a training log. It’s a record of the training that is going to happen between this moment, as I sit in a coffee shop after absolutely inhaling a burrito, to November 4, when I cross the finish line of the New York City Marathon. While “training log” may be an accurate description of this book, my hope is that it is not sufficient to describe what follows. My hope is that the word, “journal,” better describes the contents of the following pages. So with the goal of sharing the most complete record of this season possible, I have decided to partner with my coach/friend/designer of the semi-regular suffering that informs my life, Ben Rosario. We’re going to be sharing this journey with you as authentically, completely, and accurately as possible."
Each chapter of the book is broken in half with one half being a journal from coach Ben Rosario and the other half being a journal from Scott Fauble. I have to admit to completely geeking out over both the idea of this book and the execution. I imagine this book was a ton of work (at over 450 pages), but I would kill for them to do it again through the Olympic Trials this year (and dare we say Olympic Games).
I'm not sure how wide of an audience this book is meant for, but if you are interested or geeking out in any way, I highly recommend it.
I think the best way to explain what this book is about is to pull this paragraph from the chapter 1:
"That brings us to what this book is—in the simplest terms, this book is a training log. It’s a record of the training that is going to happen between this moment, as I sit in a coffee shop after absolutely inhaling a burrito, to November 4, when I cross the finish line of the New York City Marathon. While “training log” may be an accurate description of this book, my hope is that it is not sufficient to describe what follows. My hope is that the word, “journal,” better describes the contents of the following pages. So with the goal of sharing the most complete record of this season possible, I have decided to partner with my coach/friend/designer of the semi-regular suffering that informs my life, Ben Rosario. We’re going to be sharing this journey with you as authentically, completely, and accurately as possible."
Each chapter of the book is broken in half with one half being a journal from coach Ben Rosario and the other half being a journal from Scott Fauble. I have to admit to completely geeking out over both the idea of this book and the execution. I imagine this book was a ton of work (at over 450 pages), but I would kill for them to do it again through the Olympic Trials this year (and dare we say Olympic Games).
I'm not sure how wide of an audience this book is meant for, but if you are interested or geeking out in any way, I highly recommend it.
March 7, 2019
If you care about running at all, you'll read this book. Amazing insight to the highest level of athletic achievement. I especially enjoyed the side-by-side commentary of coach and athlete. This book got me fired up to start marathon training again.
September 3, 2020
Scott Fauble has become one of my favorite runners over the last few years. Whether it be for his burrito loving posts or his opinion on movies. Fauble has easily become a runner I love to hear from.
So when the opportunity to get a detailed look inside the life of Scott Fauble the athlete presented itself. It was always going to be on my to read list.
Anyone that has prepared for a marathon knows that if you commit to it. The journey can be a roller coaster. What I loved about this book was the open, honest and access all areas vibe that Scott and coach Ben Rosario give you into their training and their philosophy on the sport of marathon racing.
Anyone that knows of Scott knows that hes always been one to share training data and be open and honest about his training, but the book goes a step further giving you an open and honest account inside the mental toughness and challenges that face elite level runners.
If you enjoyed "Running with the Buffaloes" or if you ever wanted to get a real look inside the preparation that goes into a race like New York for an elite runner. Then I believe you will enjoy Inside a Marathon.
So when the opportunity to get a detailed look inside the life of Scott Fauble the athlete presented itself. It was always going to be on my to read list.
Anyone that has prepared for a marathon knows that if you commit to it. The journey can be a roller coaster. What I loved about this book was the open, honest and access all areas vibe that Scott and coach Ben Rosario give you into their training and their philosophy on the sport of marathon racing.
Anyone that knows of Scott knows that hes always been one to share training data and be open and honest about his training, but the book goes a step further giving you an open and honest account inside the mental toughness and challenges that face elite level runners.
If you enjoyed "Running with the Buffaloes" or if you ever wanted to get a real look inside the preparation that goes into a race like New York for an elite runner. Then I believe you will enjoy Inside a Marathon.
July 25, 2022
This book is by far the best running training “log” out there. Scott Fauble, HOKA NAZ Elite athlete, and his coach, Ben Rosario (whose Big River Running camps I did in high school) take you through Scott’s entire training segment leading up to the 2018 NYC Marathon. The commentary they offer after each week’s training is really great and an awesome insight into what an elite/pro marathoner really goes through in a build.
August 12, 2021
Very interesting to read about the thought processes behind a marathon, but it exclusively focused on the training and each week. This was very fun for a runner to read about, but others might not appreciate the beauty behind training.
May 31, 2020
I did not know this book existed until it showed up on an Amazon recommendation feed because I read "Running the Dream" by Matt Fitzgerald. While I somewhat enjoyed "Running the Dream," I learned much more from "Inside a Marathon".
"Inside a Marathon" is a detailed exploration of an elite marathoner's 18 week preparation for the New York City Marathon. It is one thing to see a training log, it is another thing to read the real-time experience of grinding out those 100-110 mile weeks. If that wasn't enough, Fauble describes what it's like to race Falmouth, the Great Northern Half Marathon, the New York Marathon, and as a bonus, Boston Marathon. For me, this is much more instructive than 99% of the running training books out there.
"Inside a Marathon" is a detailed exploration of an elite marathoner's 18 week preparation for the New York City Marathon. It is one thing to see a training log, it is another thing to read the real-time experience of grinding out those 100-110 mile weeks. If that wasn't enough, Fauble describes what it's like to race Falmouth, the Great Northern Half Marathon, the New York Marathon, and as a bonus, Boston Marathon. For me, this is much more instructive than 99% of the running training books out there.
February 11, 2019
Great insight from both an athlete and coach perspective of a build up to a marathon. Really enjoyed seeing the process at work
January 4, 2020
This was definitely my first book about a marathon after running NYC, and probably my first book about running. I just needed a break. This book was the perfect re-entry. Fauble and Ben Rosario detail the 18 week journey to Fauble, Scott Smith ("The Scotts") and Steph Bruce's running of the 2018 NYC Marathon. While the focus is on Fauble, Smith, Bruce, Kellyn Taylor and other NAZ runners make appearance is Fauble's training log.
Fauble came on Ben Rosario's radar as a college senior - both through the athlete's own outreach as well as Steve Edwards reaching out on his behalf. The journey picks back up in the summer of 2018. What I liked was how normal and down to earth Fauble seemed - yes he's an elite runner regularly running more than 100 miles a week, but he also does the same workouts as John Q. Runner, which was amazing. He eats burritos, pizza, has muscle cramps and is just a (very fast) one of us.
In the course of his training, he also raced Falmouth, the Great North Half and he & Scott Smith paced Aaron Braun, another NAZ runner for 18 miles in Chicago.The layout of each chapter was great as he shared his workouts in a table and then he & Rosario would take turns adding their insight to the week's workouts. What made this more enjoyable was I didn't actually know how he finished in NYC (or the Bosto postscript).
A solid read, whether or not you're interested in the marathon.
Fauble came on Ben Rosario's radar as a college senior - both through the athlete's own outreach as well as Steve Edwards reaching out on his behalf. The journey picks back up in the summer of 2018. What I liked was how normal and down to earth Fauble seemed - yes he's an elite runner regularly running more than 100 miles a week, but he also does the same workouts as John Q. Runner, which was amazing. He eats burritos, pizza, has muscle cramps and is just a (very fast) one of us.
In the course of his training, he also raced Falmouth, the Great North Half and he & Scott Smith paced Aaron Braun, another NAZ runner for 18 miles in Chicago.The layout of each chapter was great as he shared his workouts in a table and then he & Rosario would take turns adding their insight to the week's workouts. What made this more enjoyable was I didn't actually know how he finished in NYC (or the Bosto postscript).
A solid read, whether or not you're interested in the marathon.
January 19, 2020
If you run marathons (or even if you don't), and you want to know an honest and authentic account of how an elite runner and his coach run/train for a marathon, read this book. Spoiler (well not really): They have the same success and failures, challenges and setbacks, and hopes and dreams that you and I do--they just have them while running way faster and way more miles than you or I do. :P
Plus, Scott's account of his actual NYC race was some of the best storytelling I've read in a while. I was hanging on every word to see what would happen next. It felt so real, and I can remember feeling some of those emotions and thinking some of those thoughts as I neared the end of some of my really great races. Albeit I was running much slower than Scott was. ;)
Plus, Scott's account of his actual NYC race was some of the best storytelling I've read in a while. I was hanging on every word to see what would happen next. It felt so real, and I can remember feeling some of those emotions and thinking some of those thoughts as I neared the end of some of my really great races. Albeit I was running much slower than Scott was. ;)
February 22, 2022
I run marathons and plan to run NY Marathon this fall. This book is like catnip for a runner nerd like me. I had to limit myself to one chapter/training week a day, just so I could soak it in and also feel like I was on the journey with them (marathon, not sprint!). I loved the honesty - both the pride in the good days and the amazing descriptions of the hardest days. Both Scott and Ben are engaging writers. I’m not sure how many ways you can compare your legs to overstuffed sausages, but Scott is on track for a record there.
I commend their editing team too. I’ve read a lot in this genre, and it can get pretty sloppy, especially with parallel accounts, but that was not the case with this book. I’ll probably read it again closer to the race, the ultimate sign that this book is a stoker.
I commend their editing team too. I’ve read a lot in this genre, and it can get pretty sloppy, especially with parallel accounts, but that was not the case with this book. I’ll probably read it again closer to the race, the ultimate sign that this book is a stoker.
March 6, 2020
I got this book on the day of the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials. Sadly and surprisingly, Fauble didn't have the day most people expected. Still, I was eager to take a glimpse into his training and approach to racing.
I've never been more than an age grouper and my best runs are well behind me, but that didn't stop me from feeling inspired by these intense workouts and paces. I loved the chance to see "behind the curtain" and get a glimpse into the personalities of Scott and his coach. I'll definitely be watching their group and cheering them on more closely!
I've never been more than an age grouper and my best runs are well behind me, but that didn't stop me from feeling inspired by these intense workouts and paces. I loved the chance to see "behind the curtain" and get a glimpse into the personalities of Scott and his coach. I'll definitely be watching their group and cheering them on more closely!
May 29, 2020
Fascinating and often witty insight into marathon training at the highest level
A training diary sharing the lead up to a marathon and the race itself; an in-depth view of the training and lifestyle of a professional athlete and his coach. Honest, often witty (a few times my husband asked what I was laughing at) and gripping (even if you knew the outcome!) One for fans of the sport and coaches, highly recommended!
A training diary sharing the lead up to a marathon and the race itself; an in-depth view of the training and lifestyle of a professional athlete and his coach. Honest, often witty (a few times my husband asked what I was laughing at) and gripping (even if you knew the outcome!) One for fans of the sport and coaches, highly recommended!
April 5, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this snapshot into Fauble's run-up and performance at the 2018 NYC marathon. It was an excellent insight into his training, and the rapport between and his coach Ben Rosario/ the HOKA NAZ Elite team more broadly.
The candor of the book made for a 'personable' read, but I found the many footnotes and abstract metaphors to be distracting at times. All in all great, fun book, that served to be motivational, too.
The candor of the book made for a 'personable' read, but I found the many footnotes and abstract metaphors to be distracting at times. All in all great, fun book, that served to be motivational, too.
May 15, 2022
I found the mental side of running from the perspective of a professional marathoner to be super interesting. Fauble talks openly about his anxiety and how meditation and therapy have given him the tools to handle his anxiety when it arises. I found Fauble to be hilarious (I laughed out loud at a lot of his candid journal entires and footnotes). Overall, a quick and enjoyable read and insight of the mindset and dedication it takes to be one of the best.
November 5, 2022
Interesting look into the training program of an elite runner. Still has the same doubts and niggles like the rest of us only with more streamlined support and at a way higher level. The attempts at jokes were more miss than hit for me, so I didn't mind them dying out a bit once the training got tough.
January 11, 2020
This is a real account of running and marathon training. No bullshit, not a whole lot of romanticism at all. Scott Fauble is a witty and honest writer, his coach is great as well. Worth reading for anybody who is a fan of the sport.
January 19, 2020
Fantastic read for running nerds
This book was excellent. It gave an in depth look at the training methods and relationship of a proracer and coach and was highly entertaining. A must read for anyone into the nitty gritty of marathon training.
This book was excellent. It gave an in depth look at the training methods and relationship of a proracer and coach and was highly entertaining. A must read for anyone into the nitty gritty of marathon training.
March 21, 2020
Great look at Scott Fauble and the Marathon
This book lays out what it takes to be great in the marathon. If you are looking for insights into training as well as motivation towards your next race I highly recommend this book. It was fun to read and I’m sad it’s over. Go Scott!
This book lays out what it takes to be great in the marathon. If you are looking for insights into training as well as motivation towards your next race I highly recommend this book. It was fun to read and I’m sad it’s over. Go Scott!
June 10, 2022
Absolutely incredible book for someone looking for actually substantive running inspiration that goes further than just motivational platitudes. Getting to see inside the minds of Scott and Ben throughout the entire training block gives such a interesting perspective on the ups and downs of top-level athletic performance and training. It was quite clever that they made sure to keep all commentary private until publishing, there were so many instances where Ben and Scott saw the exact same events in wildly different ways
January 6, 2023
I couldn’t put this down! I loved all the details and showing exactly what went into the buildup for the New York City marathon. It gives great detail in the mind of the athlete and shows what a coach is thinking. I would highly recommend this
January 11, 2020
Recommended!!
I strongly recommend to read especially to all who are running. Fantastic insight into the sports training of a top athlete. very beneficial book.
I strongly recommend to read especially to all who are running. Fantastic insight into the sports training of a top athlete. very beneficial book.
February 9, 2020
Humorous, insightful and absolutely beautiful. In awe of Ben Rosario and Scott Fauble and their amazing buildup leading up to NYC marathon 2018.
April 8, 2020
An unexpected joy - entertaining, inspiring and practical.
July 25, 2020
I absolutely loved the honesty of this book! Scott Fauble is an absolute beast!
March 21, 2021
Proper insight into elite marathoning
August 30, 2021
Great insights on elite marathon training. Especially fun with all the unnecessary and funny footnotes from Scott. Loved it!
April 20, 2022
Good book heading into a marathon. Will definitely read again.
July 1, 2022
Amazing!!!!! I couldn’t put it down. Loved reading what it is like to prepare for the NYC marathon from the perspective of a pro runner.
July 2, 2022
Super compelling and fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews