A comprehensive guide to get you ready for race day. According to the rule books, a marathon is 26.2 grueling yet exhilarating miles. Millions of people run marathons around the world. Many more millions dream of doing it. But novice or veteran runners, marathons require training and plenty of it. Certified marathon coach David Levine and dedicated marathoner Paula Petrella know how to get anyone in shape for the race and share the entire procedure in clear, jargon free language. • Includes dozens of instructional photos. • Practical advice that addresses the needs of men and women of all ages.

Turning twenty-nine was not catastrophic for me. I had heard about people having midlife crises, even known some people who were either having one or just using it as an excuse for their behavior. But for me, I had only one concern: a good set of orders. Graduating from the Coast Guard Academy had obligated me to serve five years in the Coast Guard. My first four years were served in vessels: Two on a high-endurance cutter mostly in a "training or learning" mode and two as commanding officer of a small patrol vessel stationed on North Carolina's southern coast. Despite being prone to seasickness, I loved "the lure of the sea." While I did miss my wife (and now two children), getting under way has always been a wonderful experience, where anything could happen and often did. Following those four years afloat, I was assigned to be chief of recruitment for Northern California, Nevada, and Utah and was now nearing the end of a three-year assignment ashore. Three years ashore was about three years too many, and I was eager to get back to sea. It had been a good and challenging three years, living in fairly typical urban style: carpooling into the big city during the week and catching up on home duties during the weekend. Somehow, riding a desk, even a nice desk, did not compare to life on a ship. The Coast Guard did provide us some input to the assignment process, so after some thought, I decided to be bold on my assignment request and ask for a buoy tender in Hawaii as executive officer. I had no buoy tender or overseas experience, but our assignment card was commonly referred to as a "wish sheet," so I figured I'd wish. Executive officers were "second in command" on the ship, generally managing all the administrative aspects and running the day-to-day routine of the ship. Once under way, the commanding officer became the "man," often referred to as the "Old Man." On a small patrol vessel such as I had previously commanded, there was only one officer, so I had handled all the administrative aspects as well as the operational aspects. I would only need to learn the art of tending buoys if I was fortunate enough to get the assignment. I don't think it influenced my choice, but one of my long-distance childhood memories was a postcard my father received one day from a friend. I was only about eight or nine, but I remember the words and the picture, which is what really caught my attention: palm trees, white-sand beaches, and crystal-blue water. Keep in mind that there were no high-definition big-screen TVs in that day and few color TVs (none in our house), so a color postcard made quite an impression. The words also made an impression and burned themselves into my memory: "Sell the boat! Sell the house! Quit your job! Move to paradise, Hawaii!" If it had mentioned leaving the eight kids behind, my father might have jumped at the idea, but he was afraid to fly, so we were not moving to Hawaii at least not then. Lo and behold, twenty years later, I receive my first choice, and I was going to Hawaii! I didn't need to sell anything and was perfectly happy to bring my wife and young children. For some reason, the Coast Guard thought that after three years ashore, I might have forgotten all those semesters of navigation plus the subsequent four years I spent on ships practicing. So they sent me to a refresher course for two weeks in San Diego. Turns out I hadn't forgotten, and even if I had, it didn't matter. The only two things an executive officer needed to know in that era were how to balance the budget and how to catch the young seamen smoking pot. They didn't have courses for those things, and I didn't need them anyway; I was pretty good at both. But who can complain about two weeks in San Diego? Most of my classmates were naval officers of various ranks and levels of experience. As a "Coastie," I was never much impressed but enjoyed listening to the break discussions. One particular discussion during t

In Hansons Marathon Method, the coaches of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project reveal the methods they've used to turn their runners into race winners, national champions, and Olympians. Hansons Marathon Method offers a radical overhaul of marathon training that promises to turn any runner into a true marathoner and help experienced marathoners set new personal bests. Hansons Marathon Method does away with mega-long runs and high-mileage weekends--two outdated traditions that make most runners miserable. Instead, runners using the Hansons method will gradually build up to the moderate-high mileage required for marathon success, spreading those miles more sensibly throughout the week. Running easy days mixed with precisely paced speed, strength, and tempo workouts, runners will steel their bodies and minds to run the hardest miles of the marathon. Both Beginner and Advanced training programs feature the unique Hansons 16-mile long run which, as part of the Hansons program, is ideal for preparing the body for the marathon. Humphrey explains how runners should set their goal race pace and shows how to customize the Hansons method to their own needs, like adding extra racing, running more miles, and handling training interruptions. Detailed nutrition and hydration chapters help runners pinpoint their personal energy and hydration needs so they know precisely how much to eat and drink during workouts, race week, race day, and for recovery. The Hansons approach to pacing and nutrition means marathoners will never hit the wall. Hansons Marathon Method lays out the smartest marathon training program available from one of the most accomplished running groups in the nation. Using this innovative approach, runners will mold real marathon muscles, train their body to never hit the wall, and prepare to run their fastest marathon.

A valuable coaching on gearing up for and finishing a marathon. From a national class marathoner who qualified for the Olympic Trials—valuable coaching on gearing up for and finishing a marathon. Bloch explains the benefits of cross-training for marathon runners, offers winning strategies specific to individual race courses, and more.

Older Yet Faster (English and French editions with illustrations and photos, and online lesson and exercise videos) is a manual for teaching runners how to transition to efficient running and to help them to avoid incurring almost all of the common running injuries as they do so. It is ideal for beginners to learn how to run well and for experienced runners to changeover to good technique. Coaches can also use this book as a reference on how to implement technique change for their clients, and we expect it to become the go-to manual for medical professionals, to help them deal with running related injuries caused by bad technique and footwear. After learning how injuries are caused and then gaining a good understanding of running technique in the early chapters you will be prepared to read about our technique-change system which we call "OYF Running". This consists of "Keith's Lessons" used in combination with "Heidi's Strengthening Exercises" and forms the main body of the book." Keith shows you how to run efficiently in a simple, step-by-step guide both in the book and with videos. Each Lesson provides exercises set out in a format which is both easy to understand and implement. The first three lessons teach you the basics of running correctly and the last three help you put these into practice and help you to refine your technique over the period of your transition. This program is set up so that runners can teach themselves in conjunction with the online videos and forum.Heidi's Strengthening Exercises consists of a well-ordered series of exercises which will help your body safely adjust to the redistribution of the workload and are essential to rebuild parts of the body which have been neglected due to poor technique. It should be started as soon as possible, in order to build strength and to deal with the resultant muscle and tendon soreness that you will start to experience. We identify specific injuries and how they are caused and we show how by improving running technique, and re-strengthening these injuries are quickly cured. Podiatrists will find Heidi's experiences and advice particularly interesting, especially as they will almost certainly, be in conflict with what is still taught in universities. Chapters Twelve and Thirteen, 'Managing the changes' and 'Rehabilitation', explain what should happen during the transition and what to do should you get injured, or if you are currently injured. Chapter Fourteen is very important as you must have suitable footwear to run with good technique. There is then a chapter on how your body shape will change as you adopt your new technique and a chapter on general tips and traps a list of commonly used terms, a glossary and an index.Finally, we have included three appendices: For Coaches, For Podiatrists and a detailed look at Heidi's strengthening program. In Appendix A, Keith discusses how to implement his Lessons from a coach's point of view, in Appendix B, Heidi explains how she treats her patients who are suffering with specific injuries and in Appendix C she explains her Strengthening program in greater detail for medical professionals and interested runners.

A straightforward, easy-to-follow look at the anatomy, biomechanics, and nutrition of running. Dr. Cucuzzella "aims to improve the fitness and well-being of all, from the uninitiated to beginners to veterans who still have new tricks to learn" (Amby Burfoot, Boston Marathon winner, writer at large for Runner’s World magazine, and author of The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life). Despite our natural ability and our human need to run, each year more than half of all runners suffer injuries. Pain and discouragement inevitably follow. Cucuzzella's book outlines the proven, practical techniques to avoid injury and reach the goal of personal fitness and overall health. With clear drawings and black-and-white photographs, the book provides illustrated exercises designed to teach healthy running, along with simple progressions and a running schedule that shows the reader how to tailor their training regimen to their individual needs and abilities.

At 26.2 miles, the marathon distance seems vastly out of reach for even the most avid runners. In this book, Joe Donovan prepares you mentally and physically for the challenge and helps you condition and train for your first marathon.