Athletics Books

Daniels does a good job explaining all of his different ideas: the 4 (sometimes 5) phases in a training cycle, his different intensities (easy, moderate/marathon pace, interval, rep, f pace), and includes some very detailed training programs. He has general training programs, as well as programs for the 800, 800/1500, 1500/3000, cross, 5k-15k, and three marathon programs. Throughout the book he does a good job explaining everything and though at some points it can be "scientific", nothing is over the top and can be understood by probably just about anyone. He also includes helpful sections on topics such as overtraining, supplemental training, what to do during unplanned and planned breaks from running, and race preparation. Overall this is a very thoughtful, well laid out book. However, as Daniels himself says, this is just one approach to training and while he does include detailed programs, it is best to pull ideas out of the book that work for you- you cant just superimpose all of his training ideas onto your own running plan.

As a multi events coach in "the old days", I have more or less had distance coaching thrust upon me by some new athletes. Jack's book was suggested by a coaching collegue and I am not disappointed. It has lots of information that I imperfectly understood. Most impressed with the idea of working EASIER/SMARTER when running too fast is actually harmful to your training goals. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Scott Glaspey, Powell River, BC Canada

I think Dr. Daniels does a fine job of explaining the purpose of each of the exercises. His explanations of the physiological and metabolic changes that each specific run and intensity is trying to accomplish is helpful for people without a medical backround. However, he definitely slants the book towards collegiate and elite level athletes. As a novice runner, I found a lot of this irrelevant. I won't be running 6-7 days a week with a wife, two small children, and a busy career. I think for the bulk of Americans who run, we run for health and fun rather than to win titles and prizes. I think there are probably 300-500 people in the USA who can really follow his top training plan. For a book with less science explanation and a more realistic training schedule, try Run Less, Run Faster by Pierce , Murr and Moss. It does touch on some of the science but nearly as in depth but I found that it was more applicable to the average American's schedule.

I'm an old, but fairly serious competitive runner. Book was great set of routines to get faster without getting injured. Not as encyclopedic as Noakes', Lore of Running, but this is the book I will use to set my training schedule.

Every now and again I get back in the running habit. And what with it being so long since I've done any formal training and not being able to afford an actual coach, I usually call on my Brooklyn Road Runners Club buddies to recommend a decent training book.

Turns out Jack Daniels, the author of the book they recommended, lives less than an hour from where I spent my summer in 2006, in upstate New York. Not that it did me any good, as he's almost 80 years old and not taking in new athletes. Too busy taking in new wives, I guess - the newest one is as young as I am and has borne him a child that probably can't remember when her father wasn't farting dust.

But I digress. Geriatric standing aside, he's written the running book I've always wanted to find - very little of the confessional, running-as-spiritual-quest crap or Runner's World-style product mongering of the newest insoles or energy gels - just distance-specific training plans, time conversation tables, and scientific (as far as I know) reasoning for all of his advice.

There is some padding throughout - the "Training Essentials" unit is kind of general and not very useful, he puts runner's profiles at the end of each section that are uniformly dry and uninspiring ("Sara's ability to graciously accept both success and disappointment, her resolve to take one day at a time, and the faith we both share make me a fan of hers," "It's amazing how favorably his lab tests results compare to those of Jim Ryun"), and the "Training for Fitness" seems to have been added after the rest of the book was written just to get people who've never run before started. Come to think of it, some people may get something out of that section; I didn't even read it.

Overall though, a great textbook - easy to read, what's useful is easy to pick out, and the inevitable padding is easy to page through. So, like all good textbooks, the key word is "easy."

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I think this may work for some people, but I am suspicious of any book that tells you that you only have to work out for half an hour a week to get good results. I tried the method detailed in the book (extremely slow and intense lifting without a break for half an hour) and didn't find it to be as effective for me as stated. However, that said, I am sure it does work for some. For me, the main benefit of this book is the detailed instructions he provides on how to use various weight lifting machines.

I was recommended this book by a guy from my church who lost something like 50 lbs on the program. I checked it out and was impressed that the program was both simple and yet also up to date with contemporary fitness research. It takes much of what I've read in books on fitness and nutrition and what my trainer has told me and puts it into a program that is simple to follow and easy to remember. It is probably not for the intense athletes or serious body-builders, but for those who want to stay or get into shape and stay there while still living a relatively normal and busy 21st century lifestyle, it is quite good.

I am not sure this is the correct style for everyone. I am trying to get strong which is typically done using heavy weight and low reps. And this training is not designed for that. I think you can only get so strong with this style because you will burn out before you build up.

If you're interested in the idea of lifting weight slowly, there are 3 books, that I am aware of, to consider:

1) Super Slow: The Ultimate Exercise Protocol, by Hutchins
2) The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution, by Hahn
3) Power of 10, by Zickerman

To sum up 1-3: lift weights slowly to help lessen momentum so you are lifting the weight using as much muscle as possible, which will lead to muscle failure, and can help reduce the possibility of injury. Also be wary of the stress caused by aerobics. Work out less per week so you have time for a real life, and follow a sensible diet.

Note that 1-3 all are preachy about weights being superior to health over aerobic exercise, although 3) is much less so. Also note that they don't seem to say 'get rid of' cardio, but that weightlifting provides some cardiovascular benefits itself, and to do aerobics as a supplement never as a substitute.

Some miscellaneous comments:

1) reads like a dissertation or a scientific manual, while 2) and 3) are popular reading, 3) moreso.

I like the comparison to taijiquan (t'ai chi ch'uan) that 1) makes.

Dislike the endless "this worked for me!" anecdotes in 1-3.

3) seems to have zero references.

2) and 3) take a lot of material from 1).

3) doesn't seem to be against stretching, but rather says stretching is built into the slow moving full range of motion system.

Final verdict? Get 3) because it is less preachy, costs less, and presents the main ideas from 1) in a more accessible form.

This program has helped me lose the "last 10 pounds." My muscle tone has improved by leaps and bounds as has my balance and flexibility. As an added incentive, I lost 10 pounds! I recommend this program because it is well blanced, fun, and challenging. As an "over 50" R.N., I can see the benefits even for disabled patients I work with. The only weakness is compiling all the exercises into a book for use in the gym. I tore apart a book and copied each page, enlarging at the same time, and then arranged in a notebook according to the daily plan. A benefit is the web site where you can actually see the exercises demonstrated as well as the CD that is available (info in the back of the book)

This book is great for beginning fitness levels and experts alike. It is very detailed and thorough. I recommend it to coaches, trainers, and athlete

I was very excited about the workout routine and really think the concept makes sense.He was good at getting your attention and reminding you that it's not all about looks but about health for years to come.
What I didn't like was that it was very confusing to me. The way it was laid out and the terms used were kinda of tricky for me to remember.
I felt like I had to plan out what I was going to do for 15 minutes before doing a single exercise.
I also didn't see any mention about how to customize exercises for those that have knee problems or other issues someone may have. I know he cannot address everyone's problems but there doesn't seem to be any advice in that area.
I think I would have rather borrowed the book from a friend/library but now that I have it I will continue with the program.

Like alot of the excersices but some are a bit to advanced. Lost a few pounds tho. :-)

I originally checked this book out at the library thinking it would just be another repeat of other core books I have read, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have been a certified personal trainer for 4 years and some material can get pretty redundant, so I'm always looking for fresh new ideas on fitness. This book was very informative on not only exercises for strengthening the core, but also proper nutrition and recovery tips. I share a lot of the author's ideas and beliefs regarding all of these issues, so I decided to buy this book from my favorite online store- Amazon. You will wear this book out, it's great.

An avid runner, I enjoyed the book immensely. Read it before you hit the roads.

i am always interested in reading about successful athletes. pre was a great read, simple easy read, some great insight on pre from some of his running partners. i enjoy the statistics and he had many.

Taken too young from us - will always be a hero to us.
Read this motivational book.

This is an excellent read for anyone. You don't have to know who Steve was to enjoy this book. The book has a lot of information and details that were not in the movies.

This is one of the few negative reviews I have ever given. But I bought this book because I think Pre is interesting and I love Track and Field.

This book is sooooo boring. I forced myself to finish after a few months of reading it on and off. This is basically a book just listing times from races and people talking about how much they loved Pre.

Do NOT buy this book!

If you enjoy running and reading. This is an awesome story. I didnt want to put the book down.

A very well written book on an extraordinary feat of running. I true page turner!

I'm not a track fan, but this book was recommended to me as being very well written, and I have to agree completely. Following the story of these three men from very different backgrounds as they all strive to be the first to break a previously considered unbreakable human feat, you get a sense that you were there watching it transpire. Even though it's a recounting of historical events, the narrative is so compelling that you find yourself mentally urging on the runners as the races are described. After reading this book, I immediately got myself a copy of "Chariots of Fire". :-)

3 atheltes; 3 continents; 3 training methods; 1 goal.

Roger Bannister - trained by Franz Stamfl (heavily influenced Mihaly Igloy and the LATC). Emphasis on intensity and speed endurance. A meticulous athlete who believed in measurement and gradual improvement.

John Landy - trained by Percey Cerutty (Herb Elliott's coach). Emphasis on longer intervals and higher volume. Ran most of his races solo; talented and agressive.

Wes Santee - trained by Bill Easton (coach of Billy Mills). Old school methods. Heavy racing schedule. Santee was a gritty competitor who liked to race, and had little patience for the patronizing AAU.

The book details these three atheltes attempts to break the "unbreakable" barrier. A number of close attempts are described in agonizing detail, in particular Santee's 4:00.2

If you have ever tried to break any running "barrier" - 5:00 mile, 4:00 marathon, etc. you will understand how this text captures the solitary focus that envelopes a runner as s/he pursues a goal.

The Perfect Mile takes the reader into the intimate worlds of three extraordinary men, all from diverse backgrounds and continents. Even though you're familiar that Roger Bannister eventually came out victorious as the first man to fun the mile in under four minutes, the drama and tension of the runners' race to become the first to break the barrier will keep you turning pages almost as fast as the men were running around the track.
Without divulging too much, I will say that near the book's end, when two of the three men are racing in the 1956 "Mile of the Century," the other runner, who because of military obligations is not able to participate, is masterfully woven into the race, almost as if he were actually racing--how he would have run that race, how he would have positioned himself among the two others, and how he possibly would have won the race.

This book was recommended to me by a relative, who at the time was a doctoral student just like myself. We both desperately needed to fight off the stress of graduate school and to combat the bodily effects of endless hours of sitting in front of a computer. He had found the way to do it. Soon, I also knew what it was thanks to him. This is an excellent book for beginning runners. It is absolutely worth your time and money. The most valuable part of this book is the amazing 13-week program. I have gone through this program a few times now and keep coming back to it. Its promise is to put the least amount of pressure on your body to prevent injury, allowing your bones, muscles, and cardio system to adjust to running gradually. You can start the program if you have never run before (as I did the first time), and it will get you running 60 minutes straight if you follow the 13-week program without undue pressure on your body. The typical training session lasts about 40 minutes and you do three sessions every week.

In my experience, the program holds up to this promise. I have felt that each training session gave me exactly the right amount of challenge. I wasn't intimidated, I wasn't in pain, I wasn't worried about failing to run for the recommended time or about hurting myself (and I worry quite a bit about sensations coming from my body) and I wasn't bored either. I felt great after completing each session, and as a result, my feelings of competence and my belief in my ability to discipline myself increased naturally.

Besides the program, the book has many useful tips and lots of information about running. You will find something useful for you. The 13-week program is also supplemented by other kinds of programs, such as programs for those who want to run faster or farther once they finish the basic program, or a program for those who want to just walk.

The only negative thing I will say about the book is that it doesn't really address what to do when there are disruptions in your following the program (e.g., you miss a few sessions during week 8, where to start again now?). However, you intuitively figure it out, so it's not a big deal.

I am very pleased with this purchase and I'm keeping it in my library. I keep coming back to this program every spring when the weather gets better and I can run in the park. Overall, I highly recommend this book for anybody who wants to make a solid exercise program a part of their routine, but don't know quite where to start.

I bought this book when I decided to get back into running after 5 years of not doing much of anything. I really do not enjoy running, but find it is the best way to get into shape and lose weight. This book made it enjoyable! The weekly sessions are very doable and make you feel like you are really accomplishing your goals. I started out barely able to run 30 seconds, and now feel totally comfortable running 5K's or more. Great buy for someone just starting out or looking to ease back into the "fitness" scene. Great buy!!

I've just completed this program and I can't say enough good things about it. Other reviewers have knocked this book citing changes in the program from previous editions. I question the motivation behind such reviews. I've never been a runner and this program has taken me from barely being able to run for 1 minute to running 5 straight miles. The program seems to do a good job of challanging you, then backing off a bit. The ONLY complaint I could lodge is enough attention isn't given to what pace you should run at. This book is not the end all be all running book, there's certainly better books out there once you get started, but this is a great place to begin.

Before I started reading this, I was a slug - never exercised and was 70 lbs. overweight. I started a weight loss program and was walking religiously, but found that I became used to the intensity so I needed something more. My daughter recommended this book as a way to "learn" running and I've been following it ever since. I've now lost 54 pounds and am about 25% through the program. My goal is to run a 5k on my 53rd birthday the end of March, and I am confident I will be able to do it with the help of this program. I'm amazed at how easy it is to follow. That doesn't mean it's not tough - obviously it requires exertion. However, I've never felt like it was anything I couldn't handle. The best part is that it's allowed me to get that "runner's high" that people talk about. I actually enjoy exercise now.

I would recommend figuring out how you like to run. Some people like to run outside (my daughter does this) - others prefer the convenience of a treadmill (that's my choice - I love watching DVDs while running). Some do a combination - outside in nice weather and inside during bad. Don't give up, though - keep trying and I guarantee that this book will make a runner out of you.

My wife and I (both non runners) picked up this book at the end of the summer based on the promise of getting into a regular running program without getting injured.

Prior to starting, neither of us could finish a mile without walking. At the conclusion of the program, we're both running 30-60 minutes at a time, 3-4 times per week. We've recommended this book to many others and they've achieved the same success.

If you're looking to "become" a runner, there are many programs to help you start, but none better than this simple, proven book.

Loved this book...offered inspiration and some practical advice. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to begin running!

"Whether we accept it or not, the bodies we have are the products of what we have required them to be." (pg. 45)

I really enjoyed reading The Courage to Start. I can relate to many aspects of life John talks about in the book. Every day, I am amazed by how running has changed my body in the last four months. I've lost 35 pounds and I feel better than ever!

I was moved by how John mentioned that running helped his relationship with his wife. I've experienced this in my own relationship and I'm so thankful for it.

A must-read for people thinking about giving running a shot!

This book is excellent! I used to run back in the '80s and '90s but had 3 different knee surgeries- I gave it up but never gave up the love of the sport. I turned 50 last year and got the idea to try to run one more time BUT, I wanted to do it the "right way" and remain injury free.
The Penguin is my coach! I started a walk/ run program in September and I'm still at it in February. My long run today was 7.0 miles! I run pain free and no longer have any guilt associated with missing a workout- I NEVER run two days in a row which is totally opposite of my old training regimen! I was fit from weight training and cardio workouts but NOTHING beats the satisfaction of completing a run! This is a great first book to read if you want to start running then continue on with John's other books.

Great way to get started on a new fitness project for an old body. Very motivating. Written in a way that is sooooo easy to read. I bought another book by this writer: No Need for Speed. It has good information in it.

I looked forward to reading this, because I too feel like a penguin. The book is very encouraging and enthusiastic, but tends to get repetitive very quickly. If you've read the first 3 chapters or so, you might as well stop, because there isn't much new after that. Having said that, I did enjoy it.

I cannot imagine being a successful beginning runner without a plan like those presented in this book. I have tried running before, but with this book, I have been much more successful. It was a great find!

The book has been a great guide for me on how to recover the fit condition I once had, step by step, and without the risk of injury. I have recently started the training program and already feel improvement. The motivation and anti-excuse propositions the book offers for beginner runners really get you to move. A good compilation of medical and technical information support the suggested programs, so it gives you a lot of confidence in what you are doing and what to expect from the exercise.

Probably the most comprehensive book on running that I have ever seen. Not to mention it was without any pressure, Bob and group were relaxed about how things should be done, I never felt like I was pressured to run in a certain way or speed. Helped me to get back into running again. Thanks everyone.

I'm an intermediate runner and bought this book looking for running tips, some serious advice on potential injuries, advice on pre and post stretching, etc... I cannot believe there are 726 pages (I thought amazon had sent me Das Kapital, from Karl Marx...) of obvious statements that you can find in any of the specialized magazines. There are no illustrations, (that would've been very helpful for the stretching exercises), only some data tables. The chapter about shoes could've been summarized with a "consult your local dealer" sentence, that is all about in that chapter, no mention whatsoever of any particular brand, model, etc... The chapter about food and nutrition repeats the old mistakes of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, so if you want to become obese just follow the pyramid choices, ...and the comment about cereal being the best you can get for breakfast is another insult, as anybody knows that in today's world it is almost imposible to get the full benefits of cereal as it is sold in such a refined way that it has lost already all its benefits and only gives you the carbohydrate boost with its correspondent consequence on weight.
The chapter about weight is all about calories, another theory that defies inteligence, ..., ok, go ahead, follow the low calorie diet, just to see months from now how your body charges you double for the mistake.
This book is outdated, sometimes you read something interesting here and there but my advice is dont buy it, spend your money in any of the specialized magazines.

I will not bother going on and on about the book, since there is already such an overwhelmingly positive collection of reviews.

Suffice it to say, this book really kick-started by love of running, and was filled with everything the beginner needs to know.

While it could use illustrations for good stretches, for example, it is still the classic keystone in any runners library, and strongly recommended!

Mr. Kriegel provides an insightful, interesting, serious study of the background to the life of Pete Maravich. I recommend the book, not only to sports' fans, but to anyone who enjoys well-written biography. For thoses readers who wish to understand Maravich's conversion to Christianity and the course of his post-conversion life, the book disappoints as Kriegel seems to understand the conversion as a retreat into religion rather than a confrontation with reality.

As others have stated, this is an extremely well-written book. But it is also the first book I ever remember reading that had a dark cloud hang over every page. The quotation by Magic Johnson to Pete's children at the All-Star game naming the Pistol as one of the top 50 in NBA history is memorable. "Your father was Showtime before there was a showtime." You always hope sports heroes have happy endings. I wish Pete could have experienced more of it.

It is a must read.

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK TO INCLUDE IN MY GRANDSON'S PACKAGE THAT WAS HEADED FOR IRAQ. HE LOVED THE BOOK BECAUSE HE GREW UP IN THE PITTSBURG AREA AND PLAYED SPORTS AT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE BOOK.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE ENJOYED IT FROM COVER TO COVER AND I AM A HAPPY GRANDMA. ACTUALLY, I'LL BE HAPPIER WHEN HE GETS BACK TO THE USA.

I read PISTOL during the last week when my brain was in gear, my emotions high and my persona not cracked. Good thing, too. If I had been depressed, I might have eaten more junk food than my diet allows.

Yes, PISTOL deserves five stars. The lives of Press Maravich and his son, Peter Press Maravich, are, however, Pittsburgh bleak, covered with soot and anchored by the angst of control and chaos.

Basketball should a fine, fun game, but this book proves it doesn't have to be any fun at all. It can merely be twisted.

The sun is shining now, and the temperature is crisp. I think I can forget all Pete's "showtime" moves, the suicide of his mom, the manic control of his dad and the up-all-night drinking bouts.

What I can't forget, yet, are all the tortures his sons went through when they tried to honor their dad by playing basketball, too. One coach in particular at LSU needs to be put down for his cruelty.

I admire the fact that Mark Kriegal had the guts to devote about a third of the book to Press Maravich, Pete's father. But it got tedious to hear the endless details about who scored what during which game, and so on. Perhaps that's common to most sports books, I don't know. I understand why the author wrote this book: Pete Maravich's life is a fascinating story. Unfortunately, I had mixed feelings about Pistol overall. Yes, I got bored with the first third of the book about Press Maravich, although it did give you a nice overview of the origins of pro basketball, if you can call it that. I also felt that the last 30 pages devoted to Pete's sons was overkill. Just my opinion. The middle part of the book about Pete was superb, though. There were so many touchstones that were handled exceptionally well----on race, the marketing and growing popularity of basketball (college and professional), the complexity of Pete's relationship to Press, Pete's various obsessions with UFOs, vegetarianism, martial arts, etc., plus his alcohol abuse. Pistol, for all its stylistic virtuosity, was a little too sentimental sometimes. Nonetheless, I'm glad I read it.

I really like this book. It is full of good stuff and the training is mapped out for fitness levels so well. This book proves that training for a triathlon doesn't require endless hours of strenous exercise or months of prep.

This book was more like a motivational speech rather than a how-to for training for a first triathlon. There are some helpful tips, such as a very general outline for weekly workouts, equipment you need to bring to the event, and an introduction to some triathlon training terminology. Other than that, it was mostly motivational fluff. A nice light read, this book is good for someone contemplating signing up for a race. However, if you've already signed up for, or completed, your first race, you're already beyond this book. I would look elsewhere to actually prepare for competition.

I used this for my first tri. Harr used a unique approach and asked about 40 questions to categorize your time availability and your current level of fitness. Then he had a program designed specifically to increase your stamina in each discipline. This book was great for learning the basics and understanding about building a 'base' and strengthening yourself. It was helpful for eating habits but should be supplemented with another source. It was recommended to me and I recommend it to my friends.

If you've recently started getting into triathlon then this is the book for you. It is simple, concise, and does an excellent job of bringing beginning triathlon into reach for the everyday joe.
It is broad enough in its content to cover most topics the amateur triathlete needs to know, yet specific in a number of training models to help you select the right program for your body and skill level. Great recommendation here.

unfortunately, the magical transformation of the author into a competitive athlete is a unique event, not one that readers will replicate easily (or ever!), especially following the plans inside.

the author ignores the base building necessary to race the events. athletes need to train their musculoskeletal structure to take the abuse of workouts as much as they need to get their hearts up to speed. this is best done slowly and incrementally. i think if you have been a regular athlete for at least a year before using the plan in this book, you may be fine.

if you are beginning in any of the three sports, i'd advise another book to show the real process of developing the appropriate base needed to compete without injury. Look up the titles by Joe Friel for more complete information on how to structure a training plan.