Athletics Books

Years ago, running has become something like an old brand of car in a new model year; everything has to be "updated" to keep a person at the forefront of the emerging technology.

Equally, some years ago, Don Kardong - a U.S. Olympic marathoner - was asked how he runs the 26.2-milers. He replied, "One foot in front of the other."

Running is a very simple sport to get involved in and enjoy for a lifetime. And there is not a better book published to get a person sensibly into the activity than Jog, Run, Race.

Joe Henderson leads the reader through gauging initial fitness and into workout routines that set an excellent foundation. The chapters are separated according to initial ability and emerging fitness.

By following the workouts, the reader will be poised to reach goals that may include running for fun, fitness or to challenge oneself at local races.

If you want to try running and want guidance in how to take those initial steps, you cannot go wrong in seeking out this book on Amazon or in second-hand book stores.

Johnny Miles set a new Boston course record in 1926 in his first ever marathon. Now, at the age of 93 he is by far the oldest living winner of the Beantown classic.

I visited with Johnny Miles in October 1998, at his home in Hamilton, Ontario and took photographs of him wearing his prized possession-the jacket he received at the 100th running of the Boston in 1996. He has slowed down a bit but is still sharp enough to sign his autograph for the Johnny Miles Foundation in the few remaining copies of his biography: Johnny Miles, Nova Scotia's Marathon King. The Foundation is in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada, c/o Dr. John Miles Williston/902-752-7470).

For many Canadian runners, in particular those from Atlantic Canada, the Johnny Miles book continues to serve as an inspiration. As the author, I frequently receive phone calls and e-mail (footless@escape.ca) from those who've been inspired by the story of Johnny Miles. Recently copies of it were taken to South Korea by a Winnipeg, Manitoba runner to be presented to the two Korean runners who won the Boston.

This year is the 70th anniversary of Johnny Miles' second Boston record breaking victory and more than one runner from Canada, and perhaps even Bill Rodgers himself, was wearing a T-shirt in the 1999 Boston, from the Johnny Miles 10K classic in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.

Will Cloney of Boston who was BAA race director for more than 40 years said:"There hasn't been a Johnny Miles in Boston since Johnny Miles. He was really the first and the last surprise winner."

You can still find this book in your library as well as in used bookstores. Ask Amazon to find it for you.

I was always mystified why my body would refuse to work properly after running 20 miles. At first I thought that I was not made for Marathon running. Then I read 'Keep on Running' and it all became clear. Without this book, I would have given up Marathon running. But now I know how to manipulate my metabolism correctly in order to be a well conditioned endurance runner, I no longer fear anything over 20 miles.

Take it from a UK fanatic - this book gives you the inside scoop from players, coaches, and others close to the program. He obviously loves his subject, and it comes through in his writing. His other books are really good as well - we have all of them.

When I first started climbing one year ago, I expected to find an extensive body of literature related to the science of climbing; instead, I found a surprising lack of such material, perhaps because the sport itself is relatively young.

The most notable exceptions were Eric's publications; namely, the excellent books "Training for Climbing" and "How to climb 5.12", both of which are mainly targeted towards relatively experienced climbers.

This new book brings the same rigorous scientific approach and wealth of information to the hands of beginners, and represents an invaluable learning tool for anybody approaching a climbing gym for the first time.
In a readily understandable way, Eric explains everything one needs to know in order to become proficient, making no assumptions as to age, fitness level or prior climbing experience.
In addition to describing climbing equipment, moves, techniques and strategies, Eric covers such aspects as nutrition, mental and physical training, safety, and even includes tips on how to build a custom home climbing wall.

Other useful learning tools are the brilliant visual representations of how vectors of force act in each particular climbing move (superimposed on pictures of climbers in action), and the inclusion of a large number of drills, which I haven't found in any other book on this subject.

If you are considering exploring this wonderful sport and joining a climbing gym, this is definitely the book to start with and read again and again as you progress to more advanced levels. Once you become more comfortable on the wall, the above mentioned "Training for Climbing" and "How to climb 5.12" will then give you the more advanced tools you need to progress towards the highest levels of climbing performance.

As an elementary classroom teacher I believe this book is the best example I've seen yet for a PE Curriculum. It does a wonderful job showing a non PE person like me what to do in order to make sure I teach my class what they need to know in the PE discipline.

For anyone who followed University of Michigan football in the 1970s-1980s, Tom Hemingway was THE voice of the game. This is a great insider's POV on what it was like to be in the thick of things during the great Bo Schembechler's tenure.

I tried to refrain from the star category but it is a required field, so of course I gave it five!
Although I am the author, I am compelled to write a review for The Map of Your Future because so many young student-athletes who have used it have been helped by it and you don't get the whole scoop when it comes up on the web.
I am the Women's Head Basketball Coach at the University of California Santa Cruz and have been a college outreach counselor and high school coah so I know what I'm talking about.

A couple of highlights you'll find inside the Map of Your Future:

*year by year checklist for athletics AND academics for 8th through 12th grade

*10 tips to get noticed by college coaches

*keys to marketing yourself to prospective college coaches

*it will be worth every penny if you really want the inside scoop on playing college sports

In short any student-athlete no matter how young or what skill level they possess will benefit from reading the Map of Your Future.

Sincerely,

Coach Mitchell

This is a must have book for all ASU sports fans. The depth of information and attention to detail are exceptional. Bob Eger has a great style and clearly did a ton of research for the book. There are so many little known, but very interesting, facts in this book that you will want to read through it again and again! This is a great book to leave out on the coffee table for everyone to flip through!

I read 'mental discipline' years ago while racing as an amateur cyclist in my 20's and found it to be the most insightful,logical and practical book to guide someone seeking maximal athletic capacity. Michael Livingstone writes the book in three styles.The first is a very practical approach to training that is comprehensive, although aimed at the athletic layman.The second is focused around tying his broad philosophical experiences to what would seem to be the mutually exclusive world of peak athletic performance.The third is an indepth look at the physiology and anatomy of human movement. While training , I had a voracious appetite for literature concerning training principles, maximising efficiency and return on the effort put in , and this book sticks in my mind as the one that eclipsed all others in terms of accuracy of information and clearly explaining fundamental principles of improving a desired activity. The scope of this book is broad.The principles apply equally well to academic studies as they do to athletics. Michael Livingstone has groundtruth in his book, having rowed at a national level for many years in the U.S. . This sport is an ideal example of an activity in which not only a peak physiological state is required, but also the mental discipline to perfectly co-ordinate your activities with 3 or 7 other athletes to effect a winning outcome.He is now a highly successful businessman. It is NOT light reading but if you are lost in a world of training confusion and mixed advice, I highly recommend you to chew your way through it. I guarantee if you put the principles to practice you will give yourself the best chance of achieving your potential. Summarised in three words: Specificity Intensity Duration