Best training book ever?

I just bought a copy of Liquri's book last year. It is indeed an excellent book. No bull, just the facts.

I like Ron Daws (Self Made Olympian) book for much the same reason. Just get out and run. Also Daws explains Lydiard a lot better than Lydiard does.

Galloway's Book on Running, 2nd edition.

Waddle on!

Marty Liquori and John L. Parker Jr. wrote the first book I ever bought. It presentation inspired me to learn more about exercise physiology. It practical elements were amazing. In retrospect, had I followed all that was in that book, I would have performed far better than I ever did. A trualy great read from two people who lived the dream! Tinman

yikes -- the daws book must be a good one -- at least if one believes in the merits of capitalism. there are 3 copies for sale through amazon -- the lowest priced copy is $65. the market has spoken.

thanks for the tip.

The most beneficial training books I ever found where the "How They Train" ones. Fred Wilt had the classics, Joe Henderson, Greg Welch, and Greg Brock (hope I got those last two names right) also wrote them.

I just don't think there's anything like seeing what someone has actually done to give you an idea of how you might want to approach things.

I just picked up Self Made Olympian yesterday for $1. Aloung with many other numerous olddies. Got a Jim Fixx book with his Signature for $1.!

Yes this is a great book book and I'm glad you reminded me of it . I think I'll dig it out again. It will probably be quite refreshing to check out the basics again after all of the "splitting hairs" that I've been doing lately about my running.

Harry Wilson's "Running My Way" is quite useful: loads of elite and club level schedules, covering a full year from 800 up to 26.2, but he's sharpest at middle distances.

I agree the Liquori's book is the best book ever written on training. I have some minor problems with it, but if you could only read one book, this would be the one to read.

"running my way" is great. harry wilson was the best.

any "how they train" should be very helpful.

the "conditioning of distance runners" by thomas osler is the most helpful booklet i have ever seen. he followed that with "serious runner's handbook" which answers many questions for the would be serious runner.

"focus on middle distance" running by brits john humphreys and ron holman taught me a lot about 800-3000 training i know.

"the competive runner's training book" by bill dellinger and bill freeman is very good.

ron daws wrote "running your best" (1985, the stephen greene press, lexington mass.) as well as "the self made olympian". i spoke to daws at the falmouth road race, it was 1980, and he told me runner's world edited the book well beyond his wishes. "running your best" is complete and simply written. excellent to the lydiard follower as is the liquori-parker book.

while i'm at it, i might as well add this book to my favorites list -- it's not a training book, but it's a great read for young runners (jr. high age). oh, what the heck, it's a good read for old folks too.

"it's a Mile From Here to Glory" by Robert C. Lee (1982)

my vote has to go to Lore of Running by Tim Noakes

Running to the Top. Made me realize what I was doing was completely backwards, and it has made me a 10x's better runner than I could have imagined.

As far as print books go, Better Training For Distance runners is the best book I have read, however I have found stuff on the internet that is just as good or even better- partularly the information on mariusbakken.com and anything written by Frank Horwill

John Molvar,

Could you please post the link to your site with the Lydiard interpretation you have.

Thanks.

My buddy Bob Hodge has it on his site here:

http://www.bunnhill.com/BobHodge/Special/Lydiard.htm

By the way, spend some time looking at all of Hodgie-Sans site. There is a lot to learn and a lot of interesting stuff.

Here are the list of books that I based my Lydiard thesis on in order with the best at the top:

1) Mary Liquori's Guide for the Elite Runner

(Liquori/Parker) 1980

2) Running the Lydiard Way (Lydiard) 1974

3) Run to the the Top (Lydiard) 1962

4) Running with the Buffalos (Lear) 2000

5) Run with the Best (Benson) 1998

6) Coaching Cross Country Successfully (Newton) 1998

7) The Self Made Olympian (Daws) 1977

8) Running with Lydiard (Lydiard) 1984

9) No Bugules, No Drums (Snell) 1965

10) Running to the Top (Lydiard) 1995

11) A clean Pair of Heels (Halberg) 1963

All of there books are tremendous. Several of these books including those by Lear, Snell, Halberg and Daws were not intended to be written as training manuals, but there is much to be learned from them about the Lydiard system. I took the summation of all 11 books and created my thesis. The reason I did the thesis is that I did not feel any one of them on their own completely and clearly explained Lydiard, hence the thesis.

I could tell you the strengths and weaknesses of each of them with respect to explaining Lydiard, but you would quickly be bored (laugh).

Note, as I said, 4 of those books were not even written with the goal of explaining Lydiard but they are valuable and entertaining.

One final note, Once a Runner is the best running book ever written. It was written by John Parker who also co-wrote Liquori's book which is the best training book ever. Once a Runner is not a training manual, but it captures the essence of running better than any ever book and is a must read by any serious runner.

I've always thought that Horwill's stuff was interesting, but almost suicidal in the amount of quality.

In particular his marathon program advocates low mileage ( 60 to 70 mpw) totally hammering yourself every other day.

I've found it damn near impossible to get a copy of Snell's book and the book "Kiwis Can Fly". Does anyone here know where I can find a copy? I've tried alibiris, addall, ebay and other sources but have had no luck.

that should help with the fitness, call it cross training