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Recommended Reads
This section contains a list of books and websites which I have read and find to be enjoyable or helpful.  As time goes on, I will add comments and ratings on how much they influenced or helped me.


In everyone of these books there are things I agree with and disagree with, but something can be taken away from every book, no matter how good or bad.  It is extremely important to analyze as many different training ideas as possible.

  1. Biographies
    1. A_Cold_Clear_Day
    2. The_Perfect_Mile
    3. Paul_Tergat:_Running_to_the_Limit
  2. Training Books
    1. Better_Training_for_Distance_Runners
    2. Running_to_the_Top
    3. Training_Profiles:_High_School_Distance
    4. Lore_of_Running
    5. Run_Run_Run
    6. Jack_Daniels_Running_Formula
    7. Run_Strong
    8. Food_for_Fitness
  3. Fiction Books
    1. Once_A_Runner
  4. Websites
Books
Biographies
A Cold Clear Day by Frank Murphy
    This book is the story of American marathoner Buddy Edelen.  Edelen is probably one of the most forgoten best US runners in history considering he set a World Record in the marathon.  It is a great read that keeps your attention throughout and even gives some of his training.  It's really amazing the training that he did while working as a school teacher in England.

The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb
    The stories of three athletes, John Landy, Roger Bannister, and Wes Santee, all after the same goal of breaking the 4 minute mile barrier, are intertwined in this book.  It's a very entertaining and informative read as all three athletes have distinct differences that really come across in this book.  It makes you appreciate the effort of all three athletes.
   
    Paul Tergat: Running to the Limit
    A short book on Paul Tergat's carear. It's sort of a combination short biography/ short training advice book.  A lot of the advice is geared towards beginners and the biography portion doesn't really go in depth very much.  The real benefit of this book is the brief section on Dr. Gabriel Rosa and his training, Paul Tergat's opinions on training and other subjects, and the training schedules.  There are two schedules of Paul Tergat's training, one 4 week schedule leading up to one of his World Cross victories, and one thirteen week schedule leading up to his marathon world record.  Also there's a two week sample training schedule of what young kenyans who attend a training camp do to prepare for cross-country.  In addition there is a little section on the Kenyan staple foods.  The training schedules are the real beuty of this book.  Also the pictures in the book are superb.

Training
Better Training for Distance Runners by Martin and Coe 
    THE textbook on running.  I don't agree with everything in here, but the Physiology chapters are great.  You learn what happens in your body during the different types of exercise and get basic understanding  of the different energy systems, muscle fibers, etc. that make the body work.  The training chapters are also very good.  There is probably too much intensity for most athletes to handle in the training section, but it does show you the importance of working on each system of training, and clearly defines how to work each system effectively.  The book has more information than just about any other running book out there.  I use it constantly as a resource and look back on different sections whenever I have a question about a training topic.

Running to the Top by Arthur Lydiard
    A great book that describes Lydiard's training beliefs which he came about through the best science known to man (trial and error) and his ideas have been later backed up by science.  Also, this book keeps the scientific explanations relatively simple so it can be read by all.  Highly recommended for those getting started on coming up with a training program.

Training Profiles: High School Distance
By John Nepolitan
    A comprehensive book which is in the form of the classic "How they train" model.  It gives insight into how 70 star distance runners trained in HS, including there general philosophy and sample weeks of indoor, outdoor, and base period training.  It is a great resource for HS coaches and athletes alike who can learn a lot by comparision of how elite HSers and elite athletes trained in HS.  After all, as I say, trial and error is one of the best scientific ways to determine training.  You can look at what worked for all sorts of different HSers.  In addition, my training profile's in it as are the profiles of Lukezic, Jefferson twins, Solinsky, Willis, Brannen, Mcdougal, and many more.

Lore of Running By Time Noakes
    This book is very in depth.  It covers an enormous amount of information regarding everything running. It has a very good physiology section, along with training, nutrition, etc.  This book comes the closest of any to fit anything you wanted to know about running into it.  Also, the scientific minded runner will like this as an incredible amount of studies are references in this book.

Run, Run, Run By Fred Wilt
    This is an older book from the 1960's so the training methods are dated.  However it is still a fascinating read.  It has numerous authors who give explain all the different training methods of the days.  It really is remarkable that they have info from greats such as Lydiard, Lawrence, Igloi, Gerschler, etc.  It's a shame no one writes a book like this today.  Any way, reading the schedules of older runners is pretty interesting and you'll probably learn a lot more things from them, even if they are dated, then you would have thought.

Jack Daniels Running Formula by Jack Daniels
    A solid training book for a runner who needs a training program with very little heavy physiology information.  I recommend this book for the beginner runner or those who don't have a scientific background.  It explains the keys of different workouts and what they do so that all can understand.  I don't agree with some aspects of his training plan, such as when he puts emphasis on different systems (such as thresholds, VO2max, reps, etc.) during the season.

Run Strong edited by Kevin Beck, various Authors
    This book has good advice on a wide range of topics from training to nutrition and recovery.  Overall there is a good collection of authors and article topics.  This book doesn't stand alone by itself as a training guide, but is a good complement book.  The range of articles that I found interesting and beneficial varied greatly as some were in depth and informative and others just had the same old stuff that's repeated in most other training books.

Food for Fitness by Chris Carmichael
    One of the best books I've found on nutrition for more athletic people.  Although the book doesn't go into as much science as I would have liked it does contain a good amount of information.  It's very easy to understand and helps to tell what each nutrient and fuel source that your eating does to an endurance athlete.  The best part about this book is it's focused on highly active people, which is almost non existant in the vast majority of nutrition books.  The emphasis is on food as a fuel source and not as a demon that causes you to gain weight, as many books portray food.

Fiction
Once A Runner by John L. Parker
    This is by far the best book I've ever read, period!  It perfectly captures the essence of being a runner down to our crazy little quirks.  It's the best explanation of what makes runner tick.  I found myself constantly thinking that I do that, when reading about Quentin Cassidy's life as a runner and the ups and downs he grows through as he trains to be a world class miler.

Websites
Letsrun.com
    This is where all the runners go.  The front page is where you can get all the up to date news and meet results for the sport of track and field.  The message boards have a ton of very useful information, but the key is finding it.  The boards are littered with a bunch of useless crap, but finding thoses quality posts are well worth it as you can learn from some of the best coaches in the world.  (tips: search for threads that such users as: Renato Canova, Antonio Cabral, Tinman, Joe Rubio, Jtupper (Jack Daniels), and others I'll mention later, have posted on.  Also the John Kellogg information on the site is a must for anyone looking into training.

dyestat.com
    This is the top website for news and info on High School track and Cross-Country.  It has a ton of meet results, performance lists, and even a new training section.  The message boards contain some good information, but it's geared more to the novice runner, and doesn't go as in depth as some letsrun.com posts do.  However it's a good place for HSers to go to learn the basics.

nutrition.gov
    A good site that lists all the RDA and other such info for all vitamins, minterals, and foods.