What are the 10 most important books in running?

Daniels

Once a Runner

Again to Carthage (this inspires me to run)

Chasing Ghosts

I'm hung up on a 5th ...

speed trap - charlie francis

Lore of Running (first edition)

Bravey

Run,run,run Fred Wilt

Lore of Running. Dr Noakes has gone off the rails recently but this is still essential.

Daniels Running Formula.

The Jim Ryun story by Cordner Nelson

Endure. Alex Hutchindon

The various How they Train series. When I was in High School we would read the very detailed training of Ryun and be overwhelmed at his workouts.

The Four minute mile by Bannister. Wonderfully written.

The Perfect Mile. A great story about the quest for the four minute mile.

Good to Go. Christie Aschwanden.About the science of recovery and what works and what does not.

Running with Lydiard.

I'm a little too old to add Once a Runner. It's great for high schoolers but it's not for adults. I do still like the Bruce Denton chapter.

This has some interesting history, but very little that's actually useful, and quite a bit that's just downright wrong.

My list would by something like:

Endure by Hutchinson

Marathon Training: A Scientific Approach by Arcelli and Canova

Road to the Top by Vigil

The Science of Running by Magness

Better Training for Distance Runners by Coe and Martin

Anatomy for Runners by Dicharry

The Science of Speed: The Art of the Sprint by Tellez

Periodization by Bompa

The Silence of Great Distance by Murphy

Best Efforts by Moore

Tyler Hamilton’s book. Obviously it’s not directly running but shows what really goes on at the top level of endurance sports.

Daniels Running Formula

Personal Best, Running to Win, Running & Being. All by George Sheehan. These books are so great that you can almost flip to any page and read something profound and inspirational.

The Complete Guide to Running by Earl Fee (Essential read if you're a masters runner, especially at 200 to 1500m)

The Lore of Running. It was a seminal work in its day. Some parts might be dated now, but it's worth a read.

Training for Young Distance Runners

Total Heart Rate Training by Joel Friel (he has updated the LTHR method online, but the book changed how I trained. I think it's far superior to the traditional zone methods of HR training. If you train by HR Zones, this book and the updates online will make you a faster runner.)

Programmed to Run by Miller (how a short, stocky guy changed his form to run Boston) It changed how I run. I still use some of his cues for good form.

200 Tips Every Runner Should Know. You'll know most of these tips, but the ones you don't know can make a lasting change how you train, rehab, and race. I'm the author so I'm biased.

Brain Training For Runners. Your brain acts like a governor, limiting your performance. Matt Fitzgerald teaches you how to override it. It changed how I train for major races.

I'd add Advanced Marathoning by Pfitzinger and Douglas to the list.

What a great list 800 dude! Fortunately, I own a copy of each of those except the hard to find Canova book.

Today I will agree with that list but scratch Magness and replace with Ron Daws autobiography The Self Made Olympian.

Vigil should be required reading.

Duel in the Sun ( Boston Marathon Beardsley v, Salazar)

Marathon Man ( Bill Rodgers bio)

Two Hours by Ed Caesar - on the first sub 2 hour attempt

Kings of the Road ( about first running boom in late 70s, early 80s)

20x400 - by The Wizard J.S

Daniels Running Formula

Better Training for Distance Runners by Martin & Coe

Running to the Top by Lydiard

Road to the Top by Vigil

Running With the Buffalos

Train Hard Win Easy the Kenyan Way

Peak When it Counts: Periodization for American Track and Field

Winning Running: Successful 800 & 1500 Racing and Training by Coe

The Four Minute Mile by Bannister

Sub 4: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile

Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend

Thanks! Good for you having a copy of Best Efforts. Not an easy one to find these days.

I debated including Magness, but decided to ultimately because I think the science section of the book is probably the best comprehensive reference out there, notwithstanding that it could use a lot of editing. The practical coaching stuff is basically Canova with a few weird theories thrown in there. I don't read it for that.

Once A Runner

Lore of Running (2003 ed, 2nd I believe)

Running & Being (George Sheehan)

The Perfect Mile

Either Endure by Hutchinson or *Brain Training by Matt Fitzgerald

*Marathon by Tom Derderian (might have title wrong) (history of Marathon racing/Boston)

Duel In The Sun

*Men Of Oregon by Kenny Moore

Two of the Lydiard, Coe, or Canova books

* books that have not been mentioned.

For historical importance, I'd nominate Jim Fixx, Complete Book of Running (1977), but I'd consider another candidate that was more important to the first running boom.

SLOWinNORCAL,

Check back on this thread as Tom Derderian will occasionally be found posting on such threads. He will be able to confirm the various editions and updates of his history of the Boston Marathon. The earliest (and perhaps first) edition I own is Boston Marathon: The History of the World's Premier Running Event from 1993.

in no particular order:
Once a Runner
Running with the Buffaloes
Running for My Life
Running to the Edge
26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career
Again To Carthage
Shoe Dog
Daniels Running Formula
The Perfect Distance

honorable mention, but worth it:

"Racing the Antelope" by Bernd Heinrich (I think it was re-printed as Why We Run)