What are the 10 most important books in running?

Also print out the complete lrc message board with full threads. Perfect for the coffee table.

I realized I answered this with my personal top 10, but if the question is asking which 10 books have been most important to the sport, then my answer is different. I think The Complete Book of Running, Jogging, Running to the Top (Lydiard), Daniels, and Once a Runner all have to be on the list for the influence they've had.

Can't believe no one has mentioned

Golden Mile (Herb Elliott story)

In Quest of Gold (Jim Ryun autobiography)

I have a first printing of both of these books. Jim even autographed his!

Running Periodization by Jason Karp is pretty good. Karp also did a study on 2004 Olympic Trials marathon runners.

I agree with most of the others mentioned, and Daniels is probably the most important training book.

One that hasn't been mentioned is Brendan Foster's biography by Cliff Temple. I believe it was one of the first of its kind (if not the first); part biography - part detailed account of training and racing at the highest level.

As an Australian, Moneghetti's and De Castella's bios are considered classics. Their training created the template for Aussie distance running. And though marathoners have since switched to a more Canova-esque approach, a lot of the weekly structure can still be credited to these two.

Mafferone's big yellow book and big red book. They keep me healthy and from overtraining. I don't care about fast, I care about durable.

Shocked that nobody included Athletics by Percy Cerutty! The only books that come close are Daniels, Vigil, Martin/Coe and Lydiard.

Speaking of Cerutty, how about Why Die? by Sims

The name of the book is The Secret Race.

It’s a fantastic book. It’s such a page-turner that I read it in a day. I ride and run but even people that have no interest in cycling should read it. I told my brother about it and he doesn’t have an athletic bone in his body and he loved it.

Many great books listed. Lydiard's and Jack Daniels are the best. Running to the top is my personal favorite. One that no one else will mention will be John Bingham's "The courage to start". As someone who did not start running until my 30's, his book is great inspiration for those who start running later in life.

Out of Thin Air by Michael Crawley is a great one too if it hasn’t already been mentioned.

Anatomy for Runners is great. Dicharry also has a more recent one called Running Rewired which is excellent too.

"Running and Being" by Dr. George Sheehan. Released in 1978 it is the ultimate hobby jogger book.

Great book. Remember, hobby joggers back then broke three hours for the marathon. Four hour marathoners were unheard of, let alone being in the top fifty percent.

Competitive Runner's Handbook by Glover

For an old guy getting back into running after a long layoff post college, I'd recommend Racing Weight, and Run like a Prop Even if You're Slow (basically the successor of 80/20 Running). They're not seminal like Lore of Running, Lydiard, or Daniels' Running Formula, but they can really help get a middle aged out of shape runner back on track.

After an extended break from running, I struggled to lose weight, and to comprehend why I was struggling to bang out miles like I did when younger. The above books really helped me go from skinny fat injury prone wreck to enjoying training and racing again at a healthy weight.

Running to the Top, Derek Clayton

From Last to First, Charlie Spedding

My Marathon, Frank Shorter

I’d add Born to Run. great storyline only downside is it made me get plantar fasciitis from trying to run barefoot.

You can't find a copy, but Peter Snell's book, No Bugles, No Drums is one of the best I have ever read.

Also, many people have read and loved Pre by Tom Jordan. I have several original copies that I have collected over the years and give to young runners who are falling in love with the grind of being a runner.

Not 100% specific to running, but I think The Sports Gene is one of the most important books about the science of sport that I have ever read. It is by David Epstein.

I also recently read Kings of the Road about the running boom and specifically about Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar launched the running craze in America. It was a very good book (if you like the history of our sport).