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Run Elite: Train and Think Like the Greatest Runners of All Time - By: Andrew Snow

My Score: 6/10 (remove the nutrition junk and maybe would get an extra point or two) 

Coverage: Training, mindset, nutrition

TLDR: Tries to be a jack of all but ends up being the master of none. 

It is really hard to review training books without going into too much detail on their plans etc. But I will do my best... (note I have the audiobook version)


I really enjoyed the opening part of this book, the sections on mindset had a lot of useful take aways and helped lead me towards more mental training with books like the confident mind and Beyond Grit. It covers in some detail base training, speed work, tapering and discusses the approach of many elite athletes, such as Emil Zátopek, Roger Bannister, Eliud Kipchoge, Jim Ryun, Steve Prefontaine, Joan Benoit, Usain Bolt and Haile Gerbrselassie.

Overall the book is well worth a read, especially if you can get it second hand. Honestly though if you want mindset stuff you are better off reading a confident mind or beyond grit, if you want science backed training methods wait for the new version of Lore of Running, if you want training plans get Jack Daniels or Advanced Marathoning / Faster Road Racing and for nutrition look up Tim Noakes on YouTube / wait for the new version of Lore of Running.

Summary: 

I liked the chapters on mental training and have incorporated some of his advice along with the use of short sharp hill reps. However I didn't find the training plans to be that inspiring nor the nutritional advice, in fact I was hoping for better after the earlier sections offered some training advice I hadn't heard before. So as I said at the start this tries to be a running manual but for me it at best offers an introduction to many different aspects of training but doesn't leave you satisfied. 

My Keys Take Aways: 

1) Taper less

2) Work more on mindset

3) Do well recovered 8 second hill reps 

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