I'm willing to spend up to $25 on training books on Amazon- recommendations?

"Advanced marathoning" by Scott Douglas and Pete Pfitzinger.

"Build your running body" - Magill, Schwartz (Tinman), Breyer

I've read Daniels' Running Formula (v2), Healthy Intelligent Training (Lydiard discipleship), Better Training for Distance Runners (Peter Coe), and Advanced Marathoning (Douglas/Pfitzinger).

If I had to pick 2 for the purposes you describe: Daniels and Advanced Marathoning.

There are nuggets to glean from any of them. Daniels will cover you up to the half marathon, and Pfitz will teach you how to tweak your training specifically for the marathon. Both do a great job of explaining general principles of training.

I've read a share of them, and you won't find a bigger Tinman fan than me, but Daniels Running Formula 2E is my all time favorite. It's hard to appreciate the wisdom woven into that book.

Science of Running by Steve Magness- way cheaper as a kindle version

The Complete Book of Running by Jim Fix

I've read every book that has been listed on this thread and would add Hanson's Marathon Method.

I like Daniels' book for general info but there's no way I would do the plans in them (although they might work fine for someone else).

For the books by Pfitzinger, Faster Road Racing is a good book and might be a better choice than his marathon book if a marathon isn't in your immediate future. You, Only Faster by Greg McMillan is good, as well as Brad Hudson's book.

Jeremy R wrote:

Science of Running by Steve Magness- way cheaper as a kindle version

I found Magness' book to be helpful. It's largely based on the Canova model and steers away from the rigid structure of Daniels. So I suggest both Magness and Daniels, take what you want from each.

Go to your local library.

slow twitcher wrote:

I like Daniels' book for general info but there's no way I would do the plans in them (although they might work fine for someone else).

Why is that?

Where are you located? I'm sure we could help find you a good coach.

Kindle version of Run Strong.

Yup, and I have both as well.

axe cook on wrote:

slow twitcher wrote:

I like Daniels' book for general info but there's no way I would do the plans in them (although they might work fine for someone else).

Why is that?

I was looking at the 5K/10K plan (3rd Ed.) recently, considering it for this fall. In Phase II the volume of reps would be than I could handle at that point of the program at age 51. In Phase III, workout days are back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday which I wouldn't attempt. I'd have to tailor both of these phases enough that I wouldn't really be doing Daniels any more, so I didn't consider it to be a good fit for me,

slow twitcher wrote:

axe cook on wrote:

Why is that?

I was looking at the 5K/10K plan (3rd Ed.) recently, considering it for this fall. In Phase II the volume of reps would be than I could handle at that point of the program at age 51. In Phase III, workout days are back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday which I wouldn't attempt. I'd have to tailor both of these phases enough that I wouldn't really be doing Daniels any more, so I didn't consider it to be a good fit for me,

I've never used Daniels' training plans. I use the information he presents on training principles and apply it on my own. It's worked wonders.

I couldn't do his training plans and come out healthy on the other end.

I have read about 20 Running books, coaches HS and college runners for 25 years and Daniels is by far the best. The only concern is that it will under train most elite men. Most of Daniels success came with women.

If you want to really look at some fun training go with Bob Schul training. He has some books out there on what he did.

Consider "5K and 10K Training" by Brian Clarke.

First thing buy them used so you should be able to spend about 4-8 bucks on each book.

Run Faster by Brad Hudson (Canova for Americans)

Faster Road Runner By Pete Pfitzinger (it's his newest book)

My third recommendation would be to find a book from a professional runner you look up to. I read Bill Roders book last summer and found it immensely inspiring/motivating to hear the life experiences of a professional runner.