Product Description

Athlete. Runner. Marathoner. Are these words you wouldn't exactly use to describe yourself? Do you consider yourself too old or too out of shape to run a marathon? But somewhere deep inside have you always admired the people who could reach down and come up with the mental and physical strength to complete such a daunting and rewarding accomplishment? It doesn't have to be somebody else crossing the finish line. You can be a marathoner. The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer is based on the highly successful marathon class offered by the University of Northern Iowa, which was featured in a Runner's World article titled "Marathoning 101." The class has been offered five times over 10 years, and all but one student finished the marathon. That is approximately 200 students -- all first time marathoners and many with absolutely no running background. This book follows the same 16-week, four-day-a-week workout plan. What makes the success rate of this program so much higher than any other? The special emphasis on the psychological aspects of endurance activities. You don't have to love to run -- you don't even have to like it -- but you have to realize that you are capable of more than you have ever thought possible. One participant in the program explained it like this: "I'm doing this for me -- not for others or the time clock. I just feel better when I run, plus it helps me to cope with things in general. The skills we've learned in this class don't apply just to marathoning -- they apply to life! Just like you never know what the next step in a marathon will bring, so too, you never know what will happen next in life. But if you don't keep going, you're never going to find out. By staying relaxed, centered, and positive you handle just about anything that comes your way." This is marathon running for real people, people with jobs and families and obligations outside of running. The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer has proven successful for men and women of all ages. Now let it work for you.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2464 in Books
• Published on: 1998-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

Got 16 Weeks?
Originally published in 1998, this book has been around awhile and stood the test of time. Who's it for? NORMAL people who have the desire to run and complete a marathon BUT also have other commitments that take up their time such as a family, job, etc. Don't have tons of time to train? This is your book. Need to get together a plan of attack? Keep reading.

The promise of the book is to that you'll be able to run 26.2 miles training just 4 days a week with no runs over 18 miles. It is based on a marathon class offered over the years at the University of Northern Iowa that touts a high success rate for 1st time marathoners. The book accomplishes this goal in sixteen chapters, one for every week of training.

Each chapter is cleanly divided up into 3 parts. Part one deals with the mental aspects of marathon training (which in my opinion is just as important as physical preparation when it comes to marathons), part two lays out the actual training program for the week, and the third part of each chapter contains advice and suggestions from people who have done the course and the program.

The book has a final 17th chapter which gives advice such as what to do after the marathon to make sure you recover well. Finally, the book ends with three appendices- one is a list of marathons to help you pick from, another on research that has been done on the program, and the last one a list of references and resources (always good to have those at hand).

All-in-all its a very COMPLETE book covering everything you can imagine about training for a marathon such as stretches, weight training exercises, nutritional advice, how to dress, and what shoes to wear.

Some practical bits: the 16 week training program does start you out running three miles, so in reality, you can tack on about another month or so of training to the 16 weeks in order to build up to the 3-mile starting point of the program. Along the same lines, pick a marathon that will be held no less than five months from the time you expect to start getting ready. And finally, runners suffering from plantar fasciitis might also want to check out The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution. Good luck :)

Excellent training companion
This really is an excellent book. I kept this by my bedside as I was training for the Edinburgh Marathon 2006 and dipped in and out of it every night for six months. It is written in a really warm, supportive and positive way and from the off, you will really believe that you can do this thing. The case studies of the people who were following the training in the book, who were at all different levels of ability, although all completely new to marathon running, were very heartening and helpful too.

The book contains a lot of Americanized self-help style language and mental exercises, as other reviewers have stated. The essence of this is all very useful and true, but I have to confess to not following their instructions in full. However, there were times on my long cold training runs when I WOULD have to tell myself 'I feel good, I'm relaxed, I'm going to be fine' in order to convince myself I would make it. The authors are definitely right in that the mental side of running a marathon is every bit equal to the physical if not more so. It's not possible to skip over this aspect entirely, I don't think, even if you're not into the whole self-affirmation thing.

As far as the training programme itself is concerned (and there is a whole ton of stuff in here in addition to the actual programme), I followed it in conjunction with another programme, the Hal Higdon novice programme. (www.halhigdon.com). I juggled the two around to suit me. They both consist of four runs per week. The reason I did this is because this programme is a 16 week programme which ends on an 18 mile run, and the Hal Higdon is an 18 wk programme which ends on a 20 mile run. They both have a similar tapering period before the race itself. For me personally, I felt that I pyschologically needed to have a 20 miler under my belt before attempting the full 26. It just gave me that extra bit of confidence. I just felt that 18 miles as my longest run wasn't enough. But obviously it was fine for all the other happy reviewers here.

The last 200 metres of my marathon and crossing the finishing line itself was worth every single ache, pain and blister I suffered during the training. On the day itself, I had no pain at all, and I didn't hit the wall. I did all my training entirely alone, other than this book.

In summary then, I highly recommend this book, especially for those who, like me felt/feel nervous, unsure, unconfident and doubtful of their abilities as they begin the slow and torturous journey towards the ultimate challenge! This book will be your friend. And you will do it. I couldn't run more than three miles when I bought this book. Now, a year later, I have completed my first marathon, run 5ks, 10ks and a couple of halfs and lost 4 stone along the way. Even if you're only at the thinking stage, it is still worth buying as once you read the first few chapters you will soon be putting your entry fees in the post.

The only marathon training guide you'll need
Just turned 50 and wanted a new challenge and in a drunken moment announced to family and friends that I was going to run the London marathon - well, it was either that or swim the channel.....

Thankfully a friend recommended this book and it made all the difference. I started the 16 week course on Boxing Day 04 (!) and soon settled into the weekly pattern of training runs. If you can run for 30 minutes this book will guide you to the next level, and then the next, and so on and before long you will be running 18 miles!

As other reviewers have noted there is also much discussion of the mental side of running a marathon. This may seem incidental when you are starting out but, believe me, when you hit those last five miles on the marathon it is all about how mentally strong you are and this book gives you the drills and tips.

For anyone contemplating running a marathon for the first time my advice is to go for it, it is an unforgettable experience, and this book can help you make it happen.

Good luck!