Athletics Books

Very helpful book... gives a great overview of the basics, as well as some more specific stuff. Could use some updating, but on the whole a great resource.

This is an excellent book for new and experienced coaches alike. The technical knowledge is great and very understandable.

There are wonderful gems of wisdom in this coaching manual. I adapted the information in it to start up a grammar school track and field program and we were highly successful in our first season! Coach Wallace gives you the benefits of his 30+ years coaching and it greatly reduced the learning curve for me. This is especially useful for coaches starting up programs on a "shoestring" budget with less-than-optimal facilities. I would highly recommend it to any track and field coach.

Although this book has some helpful information, overall I do not feel that it is ideal for a typical high school track program (in Iowa). There is only information on 300m hurdles, not run in Iowa; we run the 400m hurdles in high school. Also the majority of high schools here do not begin track until February or March, and the training schedule in the book is for a much longer season and seems to be geared more for the college level.

I found this book to be a valuable resource. I don't like that coach Wallace offers for you to email him for additional info - and when you do, he doesn't reply. Take the offer out of the book then.

I found the book to be a good reference, but I wish I had a later revision.

This was a very useful book when I bought it in 1999 to pick a marathon for 2000. Now, given how many marathons have changed their routes, increased their support, cancelled, etc., it's become outdated. I don't think there's a new edition out yet--I wish there was.

...now it is seriously out-of-date. It reviews the 1998 and 1999 calendar years. Without an update by the authors it is, for all intents and purposes, useless.

I really do hope the authors get someone to publish an update, because it was (as the authors rightfully state) the ultimate guide back in 1997 - 1999. A shame.

This book provides useful information to those new to the marathon game. While it is not a training guide, it does provide a comparative listing of the most popular marathons in the U.S. and Canada, including course descriptions, logistics, local hotels, and area attractions. Particularly useful is the 1 - 10+ rating system which includes Course Beauty, Difficulty, Race Organization, Crowd Support, and Appropriateness for First Timers. While this system is purely an objective one based on the opinions of the authors, I have found them to be "dead on". My only complaint is that while this book claims the be the "Ultimate Guide", it omits most of the smaller marathons, concentrating on the bigger and more popular races. Overall, this guide is well worth the price.

"The Ultimate Guide to Marathons" is an excellent marathon resource for runners. This second edition was published in 1998 with information current up through 2000. A runner using this book as a guide needs to know that in five years a lot can change for a given marathon. A good example of this is the poorly managed Lakeshore Marathon in Chicago which recently had an issue of the course being measured incorrectly and being a mile too long. Information like this would be critical in any new edition of "The Ultimate Guide to Marathons". However, if you are able to accept this potential shortcoming of slightly out of date information and use this book as exactly what the title says, a "guide", then any runner can find a lot of value in this book.

This book ranks 110 marathons from across the United States and bases the rankings on such categories as fan support, race organization, course beauty, course difficulty, and how appropriate the race is for a first time marathon runner. The description of each of the 110 marathons includes sections on the history of the race, the race course itself, what sort of awards and accommodations there are, and other details about the race. This is excellent information. While every major marathon in the country is included in these rankings (as of 1998), there are also quite a few small marathons that make the list. As a Minnesotan I was pleased to see that all four Minnesota Marathons were included (Twin Cities, Grandma's, Med City, Walker North Country) and was surprised by Med City and Walker North Country because these are small marathons. W.N.C. in particular is a trail marathon and trail races are included and ranked right along with the big ones like Boston and New York City.

There is also a listing of approximately another 50 marathons that are typically smaller than the ones included in the ranking, and are "destination marathons", but as one that I recognized (Marathon to Marathon in Iowa) is not really a destination most people would want to go to, my guess is that these are just marathons that the authors were not able to fit into their ranking and that they ran out of time to get them included. I may be wrong about that, though. Either way, it is nice to see such a listing of marathons. I am aware of other regional marathons that were not included, but I do not know when these marathons were founded.

While the information provided in this book is several years out of date, the rankings and descriptions can be used as a guide to see if this is a marathon you are interested in running. If so, I would then recommend looking online at the race's website or perhaps finding another online marathon guide to see if there are any changes or significant drops in runner participation. But this book can be used as an excellent guide to get marathon ideas and if most major marathons are not changing their course or management you can expect that the rankings would stay fairly consistent overall. That makes me happy because Minnesota had the number 2 (Twin Cities, behind only Big Sur) and the number 13 (Grandma's) marathons according to these rankings.

-Joe Sherry

Excellent book! He takes Triathlete coach Joe Friel's training principles, plus those of running coach legend Jack Daniels, combines them beautifully, and takes them even a little deeper. Very helpful/informative on many levels.

I have one question for Fitzgerald and those who rave about this book and the author's mixture of triathlete training and the proven philosophies of coach Jack Daniels: Do the great African runners (Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco) do a lot of cross training or triathlons? I think you all know the answer to that is a resounding no. They run. They run multiple times daily. They run in groups that push each other in each run. They have fun. They live and eat together. They run on dirt all the time and avoid injury. They wear light minimalistic training shoes that allow the foot to actually move and spread out properly. They run constantly on hilly or mountainous terrain. But they don't cycle, and they don't spend any time in swimming pools or the weight room at Gold's Gym. They improve their running by focusing on their running and enjoying the spirit of community competition. It is part of their culture. Americans and Europeans can't compete in the distance events because they will not train in this manner. Americans run on asphalt, generally avoid mountainous terrain, wear thick clunky shoes advertisers have convinced them are necessary to protect their heels, strike with their heels with each footstrike, and then wonder why they get hurt and aren't as fast as their international competitors.

To combine the principles of a great triathlete's training with the running philosophy of Jack Daniels may be "revolutionary" in the sense that no one has put such a combination forward promising improvement for runners, but that may be because it is a combination that overlooks the fact that the worlds best runners don't use any such training ideas. Cross-training may give a brief mental break from the demands of running, but many people run because it is the simplest and least expensive way to exercise: No gym membership needed, no bicycle equipment (big $), no need for a pool or the danger of open water swim areas, you just put on a good pair of shoes and head out the door. If cross training were the answer for major running improvement, everyone in the world would have been cross-training for decades. However, the world's best runners do very little, if any, cross training.

Days later now, and I will modify this review to say that the sections in this book about the psychology of running and how to train the brain to push through fatigue are well done, and the portions that focus on specific exercises to develop core strength are also quite useful and easily incorporated into even the least experienced runner's training. There are good sections on racing and how to prepare for competition, whether your goal is first place or a PR. These are the book's strength. I stand by my evaluation that cross training is emphasized a bit too heavily in some sections, but don't throw out the baby with the bath water, as they say, and miss the useful parts of the book because of the cross-training "revolutionary" revelations.

I read a lot of running books but for me, this is the best. It's an easy read with a lot of useful training tips. His exercises have really helped me. I've been suffering for 2 years with groin/hip pain and have spent a small fortune on doctors to no avail. The exercises and training plans in this book have got me back running, pain-free. I run by myself so having a good training plan and "virtual coach" has been great. I think you'll find something helpful for your running in this book.

I do love this book. It articulates a lot of advice that I thought about in training with facts to back it up. It makes sense! I have been running for 20 years & felt somewhat stagnant in my progress to improve & this technique has moved me into a different realm of running. I feel great & attribute that to training differently by incorporating Matt Fitzgerald's "Brain Training for Runners" into my daily routine. I would definitely recommend this book for all runners from beginners to elites!

Reet

This book is thick and looks meaty, but half of it is comprised of training programs.

The author cites numerous "studies" but rarely, if ever, tells the reader what the names of the studies are, where they were conducted, or where the results were originally published. Simply saying "Studies show that..." or "A study done is (insert place name) revealed..." wears thin after a while. The book lacks a proper bibliography or list of references.

This author clearly has a lot of experience and wants to share evidence to support his claims. Most of the evidence is based on his personal experience or anecdotes, rather than science.

I found the book easy to read and follow, but I would have liked more evidence to support his claims.

I would say that this book can truly motivate those to get started on their first Triatholon with realistic goals in mind. The author gives realistic goals for those who are about to embark on a unfamilur journey into Triatholoning! Everywhere from Training to Technique to stoping for a Hamburger in the middle of a Triatholon. The author is so easy to relate to, and very entertaining! Can't wait to start my first Triatholon!

A month ago I watched the cyclists competing in the biking segment of the Chicago Mrs. T's Triathlon zoom by a block away from my home. I found myself cheering enthusiastically --I knew it was time I thought about competing in the triathlon next year.

Steve Jonas' book is a wonderful source for people who know little about the triathlon but are drawn to the possibility of ever competing in one. It is written in a witty and light way, constantly reinforcing the message that "yes you can" complete a triathlon -- and that it can even be FUN! Steve provides training schedules for all levels of athletes, from casual walkers to aerobically-fit exercisers. Most importanly, he provides answers to the questions most beginners would be embarassed to ask (can you do the "Coney Crawl" during the swimming segment?).

On the other hand, "The Complete Triathlete" is short and sweet - and it leaves the reader curious to know more. When exactly do I bike? What about technique? How do I supplement my schedule with weight training? For these answers, you'll have to look elsewhere.

All in all, though, I highly recommend this book if you're even dreaming about doing a triathlon one day. By the time you finish Steve's book, you'll be on your way to realistically making your dream come true.

I read this book before competing in my first triathlon and found it extremely helpful and supportive. I recommend it to anyone who is considering training for a triathlon. Jonas is great at making you feel like you can accomplish anything. His advice is simple and solid. My only criticism is that he focuses too little on female triathletes. Most of his clothing and equipment advice is male-oriented.

I found this book to be too basic. The book would be perfect for those who are wondering if they can finish a triathlon, not for those who are trying to improve thier performance. Lot's of basic information. No specific advanced info!!

Steven Jonas does a very good job motivating 1st timers for a triathlon, but if you've ever participated in ANY sport competitively, this book is just too basic. It's more of a primer for healthy living with basic stretching, basic swim,bike & run skills included. Fantastic for anyone starting an excerise program for the 1st time, but definitely not for anyone remotely athletic.

McGillivray has led an amazing life, of that there is no doubt. His book chronicles some of his most incredibly adventures. I like it because there is a great mix of his motivation for success and his dealings with the occasional failure. Some of his ideas for inspiration seem specifically-tailored, I question whether pure stubborness will work for everyone, but it certainly did wonders for David.

The flow of the book is a little odd. The undisputed highlight is the coverage of his 3,200 mile run across the country in 80 days. While reading that section, his tone felt very natural, much like he had come to hang out with me and was telling me a great story. His recollections more or less followed his route, but sometimes he would jump around topics.

The rest of the book felt like anticlimax, despite the awe-inspiring accomplishments, because they were a little disjointed, there didn't seem to be a central story. I know with biography, you can't just invent a driving plot, but Last Pick felt more like a collection of short stories out of his life.

Still, it's a good, entertaining read, and if you're a runner it'll reignite your enthusiasm for the sport.

I was very surprised at how much McGillivray accomplished in his life. I picked up his book expecting to read about a marathoner and his experience as the race director of the Boston Marathon and got so much more. McGillivray's cross country run, 24hr run, bike and swim and so on are just amazing in and of themselves.

Sometimes his motivation and drive does seem very obsessive compulsive, but it works for him. I was very inspired by everything he's done and the attitude he takes in life.

I must say that at times it did seem like McGillivray was tooting his own horn. I was also annoyed by the small excerpts and quotes that were literally on every other page. Some were legitimate quotes from a newspaper or contemporary runner/athlete, but many were just his family and friends and didn't really add any credence to his biography. The only thing that was useful was to see the words from the horse's mouth, so to speak, just before McGillivray went into a time in his life where that person was.

All in all a very inspiring book. I would definitely recommend.

4 stars.

This is the most annoying, self-aggrandizing narrative ever written. He brags about everything he's ever done, inserts useless "quotes" from his friends and siblings - mostly quotes that brag about what a special guy he is, and acts as if he's the greatest and most selfless ultrarunner who has graced this green earth. He even has his "resume" of accomplishments at the end, to ensure that the reader has a full complement of information on what a swell guy Dave is.

Starts a bit slowly - just like a good long run - but certainly worth the time and effort as it hits its stride. This man "Dave" is motivational and exceptional in his physical achievements; and he's made most of them up while following his own template. AKA "Don't give Time anything... rather force Time to take from you" and this book follows that philosophy.

Great read Dave!
Inspiration from someone who has done some inspiring things. Dave's the real deal. Unlike many of our contemporary self-help prophets Dave's got the resume to back it up. He's unpretentious in his accounts and proves the value of setting goals, pursuing them like mad and then setting new goals until life becomes a happy whirl of accomplishment.
The most outstanding thing I learned, and Dave epitomizes, is the power of giving. If you sow so shall you reap - and look at what is possible! Helping people makes his world and ours a better place and that's his success.
I'll be running your (our) big race again this year - thank you and keep it coming...
Read this book and then buy a copy for someone you love.
Chris Russell

Although the author clearly thinks they have discovered something new and insightful, they offer minimal advice that any father doesn't already know. The fact that the author is a tennis pro and has the ability and personal skill to make it easy for his kids to take up the game makes this book irrelevant to most parents with normal jobs living in the suburbs. The author is clearly impressed with himself, which is annoying, especially because the good points he makes, could have been spelled out more succinctly and effectively in a couple pages. I would not waste your time with this one.

Reading this book was probably one of the best things that I did. In fact, I did eventually by another one as a gift to my friend. I could see lot of things which I have been doing wrong with my son. I learned to put less pressure on him to perform on the tennis court and get him to enjoy the sport more. In fact, it has improved his love for the sport and improve his mental strength as well. It is a must read for all parents.

I didn't read the whole book as I started to gag on the second paragraph (where the author states how he is against pushing children to fulfill their parent's dreams). I've known Mr. Bryan most of my life. He's a tennis teacher and plays in a band. His boys had tennis rachets and guitars in their hands before they could walk. He has about as much expertise about raising children as my pet goldfish. He has succeeded in life because he was blessed with talented, intelligent boys and a wonderful grounded wife.

This is a very good book, and I have been recommending it to other parents, especially with children in competitive tennis. We tennis parents are rather all alone, and we need help. This books is comforting and is a great source of help. However, a reader should take care not take the book too seriously. For example, it is impossible to be positive and praise your child all the time w/o criticizing... there is a limit. Also, I wish Wayne gave more examples of "side door" to inspire. No book is perfect, but this is a great book for parents who want their children to be successful in life and become a champion!

I just have to comment on the review written by R.D.H. It is obvious that this person is envious and jealous of Wayne Bryan's success with raising his sons to be great champions. I also personally know Wayne Bryan and he practices what he preaches. He and his wife Kathy, have raised two incredible sons to be great people and gracious champions! As a tennis parent and tennis enthusiest this book has helped me to be a positive force in my kids lives. I would recommend this book to ALL parents and coaches so they could be a positive force in their kids lives.

Back when I was in high school, Florence Griffith-Joyner was a huge inspiration for me. Since I was also a sprinter on the track team, that makes sense. After high school, I fell out of the habits I had followed and eventually abandoned them. Now I am older, and wiser, and I would like to get back into the walking/jogging routine. This is an EXCELLENT book to use as a refresher or as a starter. Flo-Jo has really wonderful tips and leads you every step of the way. No matter what fitness level you are at, this is a must if you are considering walking/jogging and/or running.

At first I bought this book for my research project for my English class. I chose running as my topic and eventually this book helped me much.
I am personally a noob at running but just think to start it. After reading this book, I know many things i didn't.
I also read many other running book. They are somewhat not easy to be understood, unlike this book. Though running for dummies gives just general explanation, it's simple and easy to understand, especially for the amateur runners.

I found this book extremely helpful when I first started exercising. If you have never run before, I believe you will find it helpful. It is a novice book, but we all have to start somewhere!

This is a great buy if you are a Flo Jo fan.

For everybody else, this is a typical dummies book, it covers all the major areas of a subject, but it by no means comprehensive or in-depth. As with most dummies book, I recommend them for those looking for a quick introduction/reference to a topic.

I feel that this book is full of useful information. Once I picked up the book i didn't set it down. It easy easy to understand and it reminds us intermediate runners about form, nutrition, and staying excited running. This book also has spots for new vocabulary, tips, warnings, and Flo-Jo's encouragement for new runners. This is an excellent book especially for the novice runner.

I bought this book recently for something to do and being from Indiana, im always interested in high school basketball. This book jumped around and gave me infomation about the NBA and different aspects of the game that you can not began to compare to the high school game in Indiana. Yes the high school game in Indiana has changed but no where near the NBA game. I recommend this book for you are an out-of-state person wanting a good basketball book but as far as an in state person wanting to know more about the game we love in our backyard this is not it.

Wetheim's book is told in a series of vignettes, alternating chapters that detail the final season of an Indiana high school coach with chapters that address individual issues that effect the way basketball is played today around the country. Some of the areas covered include: agents, women's basketball, the globalization of the sport, college basketball, professional basketball, violence, and racism. We meet some of the players on the high school team, and see where they come from and why they play. Not all of the chapters are entertaining, but most of them are.

I recommend this for any fan of basketball, whether it be high school, college, or pro hoops you prefer.

I bought this as a gift for my dad. I'm always looking for a good sports book for him for his birthday and I've read Wertheim's articles and his tennis mailbag in Sports Illustrated. But when this book came in the mail I picked it up and I couldn't put it down. I'm not even a basketball fan! I loved the writing- Wertheim is witty and perceptive, and I never realized how fascinating Indiana basketball is from a sociological point of view. When my dad finally got to read his gift (after I finished) he loved it and sent a copy to my uncle in Boston, a big basketball fan. Highly recommend this book!

Sports Illustrated tennis/basketball writer Jon Wertheim spent a winter back in his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana tending to his ailing father. During that time, he re-connected with his high school's basketball program. He was agog at how things had changed in the 10+ years since he graduated. In comparison to the "Hoosiers" he left behind, Wertheim finds that Streetball-fueled athleticism is permeating every aspect of basketball, in every Indiana town.

Wertheim's book juxtaposes this new reality vs. the iconic image of the lone Indiana youth practicing his free throws in a driveway in small town. It's a theme he develops well in this book, but perhaps not as extensively as the eye-rolling sub-title of the book ("How Hoosiers Went Hip-Hop") implies. I imagine Wertheim blanched a bit when he saw that. Rather then deep-diving into hip-hop culture, "Transition Game" takes the reader on a 360-degree view of Indiana basketball - small high schools, big high schools, IU, Purdue's women's team, the legend of Damon Bailey, and the so-called "Crime Against Culture" (Indiana's universally despised move away to four-class basketball in 1998). It's a well-reported travelogue that gives the reader a flavor of how basketball culture is changing in even the most traditional of settings.

No, no, no, this is a great book. Contrary to the opinion of one in San Antonio, Jon Wertheim's book isn't a commentary book so much as it discusses the issues of Indiana's basketball history with more of a backdrop of all the issues that effect life: race, class, gender and political issues. I can't say that Wertheim picks a side in terms of why things are the way they are -- which is great! This book is more of an analogy of the state of affairs of Indiana basketball. He does a great job of putting certain items of discussion on the table, but pretty much lets the reader choose which manner of explanation(s) support the reality that is an ever-changing basketball landscape in the nation's No. 1 basketball state (despite this year's NCAA woes--LOL). Cop this book!

This book has been so helpful to me in beginning my training to walk my first 5k. I had "walked" before, and thought it funny that people would have to read books on how to do it. However, this book is packed full of information such as clothing, nutrition, developing a program, defining goals, and how to avoid injuries. It even tells you the correct posture to maintain while walking - and yes, I had the wrong posture!

I really think if one is an 'Absolute Beginner' there is something of value they can pull from this book. A great reference source!

This is a great book that was easy to read, with ideas and workouts that were easy to incorporate into my training, racing and nutrition. Before I had this book, I was frequently injured and I had run a half-marathon in two hours. In the nine months since I got the book, I have run a 1:37:51, and then a 1:24:48 and I believe I'll go faster in the future. If you want to run faster and healthier, you should get this book.

Being new to the whole fitness area, this book is a god-send. I have been quite pleased...it's helping me to train for the 10k portion of a local marathon that my relay team is participating in. I know that by following the guidelines and training schedule, I will be prepared and will not push myself too far and risk injury.

I bought this book to help me train for my first half-marathon. I found it very useful with lots of information. It is very simple and easy to read while still providing good techinical information. I feel that I will be very well prepared for my half marathon in the spring!

I purchased this book to help me train for my first half marathon. There were many tips I'd not thought of, things that really truly helped me. I've done many 5K's - but even that section helped as well for me to do even better for the short races. I recommend this book if you are a beginning marathoner - - even if you have some experience as I had -- to sort of boost that confidence level a bit!

I bought this for my boyfriend since he was carrying around a ratty old bag to the gym. He loves this one, it's huge and has lots of compartments for all of his stuff, with room left over, plus it's pretty light and the straps have shoulder guards. It's a pretty durable bag.

Great bag! It fits all of my martial arts gear!! Which on any given day could include my ju-jitsu gi, shin guards, gloves, sparring partner(just joking on the last one)and mouthpiece. And it is not too bulky to carry with the shoulder strap! Get the bag and get training!!

its a good bag, light and spacious. I like it. The only thing that stoped me from giving a 5 star rating is the straps have plastic clips at the end to connect to bag, i would rather like good quality metal ones. Also shipping should be as high as it is.adidas Elite Medium Duffel

I purchased the Navy bag and it is a lot better than other duffel bags I have owned. The shoe compartment holds my cleats and flip flops with ease. The inside of the bag is lined to keep out moisture. The center compartment holds a mini ball, size 5 soccer ball, shin guards, water bottles, and all of my spring season clothes, which can be a lot depending on Colorado weather. This bag is great.

purchased this bag for my husband to use for his adult soccer league which meets once weekly. After using it for one season, the pockets ripped, leaving the bag useable, but all one compartment. disappointed in the quality of this bag. opt for a different Adidas bag.