A passionate and inspiring case for runners to get back to nature Richard Askwith wanted more. Not convinced running had to be all about pounding pavements, buying fancy gear, and racking up extreme challenges, he looked for ways to liberate himself. His solution: running through muddy fields and up rocky fells, running with his dog at dawn, running because he's being (voluntarily) chased by a pack of bloodhounds, running to get hopelessly, enjoyably lost, running fast for the sheer thrill of it. Running as nature intended. Part diary of a year running through the Northamptonshire countryside, part exploration of why we love to run without limits, Running Free is an eloquent and inspiring account of running in a forgotten, rural way, observing wildlife and celebrating the joys of nature. An opponent of the commercialisation of running, Askwith offers a welcome alternative, with practical tips (learned the hard way) on how to both start and keep running naturally--from thawing frozen toes to avoiding a stampede when crossing a field of cows. Running Free is about getting back to the basics of why we love to run.

The revised edition of the bestselling ChiRunning, a groundbreaking program from ultra-marathoner and nationally-known coach Danny Dreyer, that teaches you how to run faster and farther with less effort, and to prevent and heal injuries for runners of any age or fitness level. In ChiRunning, Danny and Katherine Dreyer, well-known walking and running coaches, provide powerful insight that transforms running from a high-injury sport to a body-friendly, injury-free fitness phenomenon. ChiRunning employs the deep power reserves in the core muscles, an approach found in disciplines such as yoga, Pilates, and T’ai Chi. ChiRunning enables you to develop a personalized exercise program by blending running with the powerful mind-body principles of T’ai Chi: -Get aligned: Develop great posture and reduce your potential for injury while running, and make knee pain and shin splints a thing of the past. -Engage your core: Shift the workload from your leg muscles to your core muscles, for efficiency and speed. -Add relaxation to your running: Learn to focus your mind and relax your body to increase speed and distance. -Make it a Mindful Practice: Maintain high performance and make running a mindful, enjoyable life-long practice. It’s easy to learn. Transform your running with the ten-step ChiRunning training program.

In a direct answer to the modern runner’s needs, Dr. Kelly Starrett, author of the bestseller Becoming a Supple Leopard: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance, has focused his revolutionary movement and mobility philosophy on the injury-plagued world of running. Despite the promises of the growing minimalist-shoe industry and a rush of new ideas on how to transform running technique, more than three out of four runners suffer at least one injury per year. Although we may indeed be “Born to Run,” life in the modern world has trashed and undercut dedicated runners wishing to transform their running. The harsh effects of too much sitting and too much time wearing the wrong shoes has left us shackled to lower back problems, chronic knee injuries, and debilitating foot pain. In this book, you will learn the 12 standards that will prepare your body for a lifetime of top-performance running. You won’t just be prepared to run in a minimalist shoe–you’ll be Ready to Run, period. In Ready to Run, you will learn: The 12 performance standards you must work toward and develop on an ongoing basis How to tap into all of your running potential and access a fountain of youth for lifelong running How to turn your weaknesses into strengths How to prevent chronic overuse injuries by building powerful injury-prevention habits into your day How to prepare your body for the demands of changing your running shoes and running technique How to treat pain and swelling with cutting-edge modalities and accelerate your recovery How to equip your home mobility gym A set of mobility exercises for restoring optimal function and range of motion to your joints and tissues How to run faster, run farther, and run better

Where ordinary people see walls and railings, some athletes see a challenge. Readers will discover who those athletes are—free runners. Using a mix of gymnastics and running, these daring few will guide you through the history of this high-flying world. Full-color photographs show the gravity-defying feats of free running, while educating readers on the science the sport. Each book also provides interactive challenges to encourage the exercise of both body and mind.

Running can help you lose weight, create a healthy body image, and boost your self-esteem. No matter your fitness level, you too can enjoy the benefits of this sport! With this book, you'll gain the knowledge and tools you need to run a 10K, a marathon, or just a lap around the block! The new edition includes: Cutting-edge information on hugely influential trends in natural running, including ChiRunning, barefoot running, and cross-training with yoga and meditation Information on how to select the right gear and manage your nutrition, including details on new diets favored by endurance athletes A dedicated section on running for women, including specific nutritional and physical concerns Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned veteran, this book has everything you need to maximize your running potential--from start to finish!

This no-nonsense guide shows you how an understanding of anatomy and biomechanics, coupled with the latest strengthening exercises and rehab protocols, can keep you running injury-free for a long time to come. Each time your foot hits the ground while running, an impact force averaging three times your weight travels through your body at more than 200 miles per hour, causing your bones to vibrate and tendons to stretch. When you consider that the average runner strikes the ground more than 10,000 times per hour, this translates into a remarkable amount of force that needs to be absorbed, and explains why nearly 50% of recreational runners are injured each year. The purpose of this book is to show you that impact forces are not necessarily harmful. By modifying your running form and doing specific exercises to improve tendon resiliency, not only can you effectively absorb these forces, but you can also store and return a significant percentage of them in the form of elastic recoil. Besides reducing your risk of injury, efficiently storing and returning energy can allow you to run faster with less effort. With more than 200 illustrations and 300 references, this book reviews how to: Perform an at-home gait analysis to make specific changes in your running form that can reduce impact forces and improve performance. Decrease your risk of injury by identifying problems with strength, flexibility, and/or neuromotor coordination using specific functional tests. Incorporate new exercises to enhance the storage and return of energy in your tendons. Select the running shoe that is right for you. Treat 25 of the most common running-related injuries with the most up-to-date, scientifically justified treatment protocols available.

Explains why running injuries are so common, examining running form, running shoe design, and training, and includes insights on such topics as the evolution of running, stress-related injuries, and the advantages of barefoot running.