Mike Mobley wrote:
I don't care what you think, Once a Runner brings up the feels. It is like the Catcher in the Rye or Tropic of Cancer of distance running.
Seriously. It’s far from the best writing in the world and there’s really no reason for a non-runner to read it. But there are numerous passages that I can still read decades after reading it for the first time that still give me chills.
I would strongly suggest reading the Cassidy trilogy. It was interesting to not only learn the pre and post story to Once a Runner, but to see the difference in the much more mature writing style.
Ron Clarke THE UNFORGIVING MINUTE: A Running Classic
Once A Runner is great, for what it is. Everyone should check it out.
Again to Carthage may be one of the worst books I've ever read.
I will not read the third Cassidy book, simply based off how bad AtC is.
colder and wiser wrote:
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.
The running lifestyle bestseller that also made Bill Rodgers into a star. Bill was 5'9" tall, wore size 9.5 shoes, put mayonnaise on his cold pizza, drank pickle juice, was married to an understanding woman, owned a running shoe store, and trained on the streets of Boston.
colder and wiser wrote:
If we're going to bring up Salazar, then another book to mention is John Brant's Duel in the Sun. Stronger writing than Once a Runner and more informative about running boom-era marathoning than Marathon Man.
You want to read Duel in the Sun along with the books of Salazar, Beardsley, and Rono.
bekele boi wrote:
Once A Runner is great, for what it is. Everyone should check it out.
Again to Carthage may be one of the worst books I've ever read.
I will not read the third Cassidy book, simply based off how bad AtC is.
I enjoyed ATC but Racing the Rain was painful. Literally 75 percent of the book is about him playing basketball.
lmb wrote:
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.
Yes, it's exceptional.
Proverbs, Deuteronomy, Matthew, Luke, and John.
It wouldn't hurt to take in the book of Job, too. That one will definitely prepare you for the endless, sometimes hopeless, search for meaning while you're trying to hit your last interval time.
*What are the 10 most important books in running? Books Mentioned in thread:
200 Tips Every Runner Should Know
20x400 - by The Wizard J.S
26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career
A Cold Clear Day Buddy Edelen - Frank Murphy
A Scientific Approach to Distance Running - David Costill
Adharanand Finn's trilogy (Running with the Kenyans/The Way of the Runner/Rise of the Ultra Runners)
Advanced Marathoning by Pfitzinger and Douglas
Again To Carthage
Alberto Salazar - 14 minutes
Amazing runners, a book about the FM squads that dominated NXN for many years.
Anatomy for Runners by Dicharry
Athletics by Percy Cerutty
Barefoot Runner- Paul Rambali
Be Fit or Be Damned! Cerutty
Best Efforts Kenny Moore
Better Training for Distance Runners by Martin & Coe
Born to Run by Chris McDougall
Boston Marathon: The History of the World's Premier Running Event from 1993.
Brain Training by Matt Fitzgerald
Brain Training For Runners Matt Fitzgerald
Bravey
Brendan Foster's biography by Cliff Temple
Chasing Ghosts
Clean Pair of Heels
Competitive Runner's Handbook by Glover
Complete Book of Running (1977),
Computerized Running Training Programs - Gardner, Purdy
Daniels Running Formula
Deena Kastor - Let Your Mind Run (just a great story)
Duel in the Sun John Brant
Endure by Hutchinson
Faster 5k
Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith
Frank Shorter - My Marathon
From Last to First, Charlie Spedding
Golden Mile Herb Elliot
Good for a Girl and How She Did It
Good to Go Christie Aschwanden
Guide to Long Distance Running. Osler, Tom, and Edward Dodd. South Jersey Track Club, 1965.
How Bad Do You Want It? by Mark Fitzgerald
In Quest of Gold (Jim Ryun autobiography)
Jogging
John McDonnell: the most successful coach in NCAA history
Kings of the Road ( about first running boom in late 70s, early 80s)
kiwis can fly
Lore of Running (2003 ed, 2nd I believe)
Lore of Running (first edition)
Mafferone's big yellow book and big red book.
Marathon Man Bill Rodgers - Matthew Shepatin
Marathon Training: A Scientific Approach by Arcelli and Canova
Men Of Oregon by Kenny Moore
Moneghetti's and De Castella's bios
My LifeOn The Run- Yasso
My Marathon, Frank Shorter
Nearly to the Top
no bugles no drums Peter Snell - Gilmour
Olympic Gold Frank Shorter - Mark Bloom
Once a Runner
Out of Thin Air Michael Crawley
Pain
Peak When it Counts: Periodization for American Track and Field
Periodization by Bompa
Personal Best, George Sheehan
Pre by Tom Jordan.
Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend
Prefontaine
Programmed to Run by Miller
Racing the Antelope" by Bernd Heinrich (I think it was re-printed as Why We Run)
Racing Weight
Road Racing for Serious Runners (Pfitzinger/Douglas)
Road to the Top by Vigil
Run like a Prop Even if You're Slow
Run to The Top -Lydiard
Run,run,run Fred Wilt
Running and Being by Dr. George Sheehan
Running for My Life
Running Periodization by Jason Karp
Running Rewired Dicharry
Running to the Edge
Running to the Top by Lydiard
Running to the Top, Derek Clayton
Running to Win, George Sheehan
Running with Lydiard.
Running with the Buffaloes
Running with the Champions
Serious Runner's Handbook. Osler, Tom. World Publications, 1978.
Shoe Dog
Slinger Sanchez (Running Gun)
speed trap - charlie francis
steve Ovett: an autobiography
Sub 4: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile
Tales of the Times- Bob Hodge
The 4 minute mile
The Art of Running Faster Julian Goater
The Complete Book of Running, Jogging, Running to the Top (Lydiard), Daniels, and Once a Runner
The Complete Guide to Running by Earl Fee (Essential read if you're a masters runner, especially at 200 to 1500m)
The Conditioning of Distance Runners. Osler, Tom. Long Distance Log, 1967.
The Courage to Start John Bingham
The Four Minute Mile by Bannister
The Greatest (Haile G)
The Jim Ryun story by Cordner Nelson
The Last Word on Running" by Richard Karlgaard
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner?
The Men of Oregon
The Milers
The Olympian
The Perfect Distance
The Perfect Mile
The Science of Running by Magness
The Science of Speed: The Art of the Sprint by Tellez
The Secret Race Tyler Hamilton Obviously it’s not directly running but shows what really goes on at the top level of endurance sports.
The Silence of Great Distance by Murphy
The Sports Gene
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 Way of the Runner by Adarandan Finn
to the EDGE by Kirk Johnson
Today We Die a Little about Zatopek
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.)
Train Hard Win Easy the Kenyan Way
Training Distance Runners
Training for Young Distance Runners
Two Hours by Ed Caesar - on the first sub 2 hour attempt
Ultramarathon man by Dean Karnazes
Ultramarathoning: The Next Challenge. Osler, Tom, and Edward Dodd. World Publications, 1979.
Unforgiving Minute - Ron Clarke
Virgin Territory
Wannabe Distance God by Timothy Tays
Why Die? by Sims
Winning Running: Successful 800 & 1500 Racing and Training by Coe
JAinNE wrote:
Prefontaine
A Cold Clear Day
The Boston Marathon
Once a Runner
The Olympian
Running with the Champions
The Olympian! When I was in middle/high school our next door neighbor used to go to garage sales and buy stuff and resell them at her own garage sale.
She had a copy of this and gave it to me.
bekele boi wrote:
Once A Runner is great, for what it is. Everyone should check it out.
Again to Carthage may be one of the worst books I've ever read.
I will not read the third Cassidy book, simply based off how bad AtC is.
It's funny but I was just thinking Again to Carthage- I've read it and reread it many times.
The beginning where he's not running is boring and just goes on and on. I have a book mark at the point where I start. When he's training for the marathon I really like it.
There's a chapter, I think it's called, Days like this, something like that. I love it.
The actual marathon is a little over the top towards the end of the race.
Mystery Coach wrote:
*What are the 10 most important books in running? Books Mentioned in thread:
200 Tips Every Runner Should Know
20x400 - by The Wizard J.S
26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career
A Cold Clear Day Buddy Edelen - Frank Murphy
A Scientific Approach to Distance Running - David Costill
Adharanand Finn's trilogy (Running with the Kenyans/The Way of the Runner/Rise of the Ultra Runners)
Advanced Marathoning by Pfitzinger and Douglas
Again To Carthage
Alberto Salazar - 14 minutes
Amazing runners, a book about the FM squads that dominated NXN for many years.
Anatomy for Runners by Dicharry
Athletics by Percy Cerutty
Barefoot Runner- Paul Rambali
Be Fit or Be Damned! Cerutty
Best Efforts Kenny Moore
Better Training for Distance Runners by Martin & Coe
Born to Run by Chris McDougall
Boston Marathon: The History of the World's Premier Running Event from 1993.
Brain Training by Matt Fitzgerald
Brain Training For Runners Matt Fitzgerald
Bravey
Brendan Foster's biography by Cliff Temple
Chasing Ghosts
Clean Pair of Heels
Competitive Runner's Handbook by Glover
Complete Book of Running (1977),
Computerized Running Training Programs - Gardner, Purdy
Daniels Running Formula
Deena Kastor - Let Your Mind Run (just a great story)
Duel in the Sun John Brant
Endure by Hutchinson
Faster 5k
Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith
Frank Shorter - My Marathon
From Last to First, Charlie Spedding
Golden Mile Herb Elliot
Good for a Girl and How She Did It
Good to Go Christie Aschwanden
Guide to Long Distance Running. Osler, Tom, and Edward Dodd. South Jersey Track Club, 1965.
How Bad Do You Want It? by Mark Fitzgerald
In Quest of Gold (Jim Ryun autobiography)
Jogging
John McDonnell: the most successful coach in NCAA history
Kings of the Road ( about first running boom in late 70s, early 80s)
kiwis can fly
Lore of Running (2003 ed, 2nd I believe)
Lore of Running (first edition)
Mafferone's big yellow book and big red book.
Marathon Man Bill Rodgers - Matthew Shepatin
Marathon Training: A Scientific Approach by Arcelli and Canova
Men Of Oregon by Kenny Moore
Moneghetti's and De Castella's bios
My LifeOn The Run- Yasso
My Marathon, Frank Shorter
Nearly to the Top
no bugles no drums Peter Snell - Gilmour
Olympic Gold Frank Shorter - Mark Bloom
Once a Runner
Out of Thin Air Michael Crawley
Pain
Peak When it Counts: Periodization for American Track and Field
Periodization by Bompa
Personal Best, George Sheehan
Pre by Tom Jordan.
Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend
Prefontaine
Programmed to Run by Miller
Racing the Antelope" by Bernd Heinrich (I think it was re-printed as Why We Run)
Racing Weight
Road Racing for Serious Runners (Pfitzinger/Douglas)
Road to the Top by Vigil
Run like a Prop Even if You're Slow
Run to The Top -Lydiard
Run,run,run Fred Wilt
Running and Being by Dr. George Sheehan
Running for My Life
Running Periodization by Jason Karp
Running Rewired Dicharry
Running to the Edge
Running to the Top by Lydiard
Running to the Top, Derek Clayton
Running to Win, George Sheehan
Running with Lydiard.
Running with the Buffaloes
Running with the Champions
Serious Runner's Handbook. Osler, Tom. World Publications, 1978.
Shoe Dog
Slinger Sanchez (Running Gun)
speed trap - charlie francis
steve Ovett: an autobiography
Sub 4: Alan Webb and the Quest for the Fastest Mile
Tales of the Times- Bob Hodge
The 4 minute mile
The Art of Running Faster Julian Goater
The Complete Book of Running, Jogging, Running to the Top (Lydiard), Daniels, and Once a Runner
The Complete Guide to Running by Earl Fee (Essential read if you're a masters runner, especially at 200 to 1500m)
The Conditioning of Distance Runners. Osler, Tom. Long Distance Log, 1967.
The Courage to Start John Bingham
The Four Minute Mile by Bannister
The Greatest (Haile G)
The Jim Ryun story by Cordner Nelson
The Last Word on Running" by Richard Karlgaard
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner?
The Men of Oregon
The Milers
The Olympian
The Perfect Distance
The Perfect Mile
The Science of Running by Magness
The Science of Speed: The Art of the Sprint by Tellez
The Secret Race Tyler Hamilton Obviously it’s not directly running but shows what really goes on at the top level of endurance sports.
The Silence of Great Distance by Murphy
The Sports Gene
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 Way of the Runner by Adarandan Finn
to the EDGE by Kirk Johnson
Today We Die a Little about Zatopek
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.)
Train Hard Win Easy the Kenyan Way
Training Distance Runners
Training for Young Distance Runners
Two Hours by Ed Caesar - on the first sub 2 hour attempt
Ultramarathon man by Dean Karnazes
Ultramarathoning: The Next Challenge. Osler, Tom, and Edward Dodd. World Publications, 1979.
Unforgiving Minute - Ron Clarke
Virgin Territory
Wannabe Distance God by Timothy Tays
Why Die? by Sims
Winning Running: Successful 800 & 1500 Racing and Training by Coe
Wow, thanks for this reply. I've only 7 books from this list, and the most I liked The Perfect Mile