The Unconventional Running Coach

I have recently finished this audiobook and it was a good listen. I won't go into my usual level of detail as I didn't learn much from this to share on a running coaching site. Was it a good listen? Yes, Was it about running? Mostly. Was there any coaching tips? Not really. Advice from it? Have a good time, listen to your body and preserver. 

My Score : 8/10 Coverage : Evolution, exercise In "Exercised, " Harvard professor and renowned barefoot running advocate Daniel Lieberman takes a fresh look at our relationship with physical activity. He challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that we weren't designed for intense exercise routines but for moderate, daily movement. This premise fuels a thought-provoking and informative exploration of why and how we should move our bodies. Strengths: Evolutionary perspective:  Lieberman's unique approach sheds light on our bodies' historical adaptation to movement,  making exercise more understandable and relatable. Myth-busting:  He debunks common misconceptions about exercise,  like the "no pain,  no gain" mentality and the need for strenuous workouts. Focus on joy and sustainability:  The book advocates for finding activities you enjoy,  making exercise more likely to become a natural part of your life. Science-backed:  Lieberman seamlessly w...

My Score : 9/10 Coverage : Running, barefoot running (I have both the book and audiobook) Born to Run is a captivating and inspiring book that explores the secrets of arguably the world's best distance runners, the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico. McDougall, a journalist and a runner himself, takes us on a journey from the labs of Harvard to the remote Copper Canyons, where he meets a colourful cast of characters and learns about the ancient art of running. Along the way, he challenges some of the common myths and misconceptions about running, such as the need for expensive shoes, the benefits of stretching, and the limits of human endurance. He also shares his own personal transformation as he trains for a gruelling  50-mile race with the Tarahumara and a group of eccentric mostly American ultra-runners. Born to Run is not just a book about running, but a book about life. It is a book that celebrates the joy of movement, the power of nature, and the potential of the human s...

 My Score 10/10 What is covered ? Diet, biomechanics, slow training, training plans  I don't give many books full marks but there is so little I don't like about this book I was annoyed I had forgot about it until now. In fact it is another book I own in both paperback and audiobook and as a result of seeing it am going to give it another listen to. Things I like / use in my own training that are talked about in this book:  Walking before you can run, it is even the title of chapter 3.  Standing more than sitting e.g. standing desks (chapter 2) Barefoot / Minimalist Running (mentioned in a few places)  Maffetone / Low Heart Rate training  Diet - Low carb which would be sufficient for most runners.  Running Drills to improve technique  Recovery is where you improve and should be prioritised.  Health and happiness before performance but also often leads to it.  Strength training The book opens up with how humans evolved and the function o...

My Score : 8/10 Key things covered : Ethiopian Running culture  TLDR : A great look at one of the most successful long distance running nations, I prefer this to running with the Kenyans as I feel it has less bias towards any type of training or nutrition before the research starts.  Book Review :  This is a really interesting book that highlights the training methods used by Ethiopian runners. It makes a great read, you learn a lot about their culture as well as the training. Obviously there are many factors that make great runners, many of which Ethiopians share with Kenyans, some include and that are covered in the book:  Training at Altitude : Ethiopia's unique geography, with its vast highlands averaging 2,000 meters above sea level, plays a crucial role. The thin air forces runners to develop incredible lung capacity and red blood cell count, boosting their endurance and oxygen efficiency. B arefoot or Minimalist Running : Many Ethiopian runners train, c...

My Score - 9/10 Key Area's covered: Running by Feel, MAF, Strength, Barefoot Key Positives: Great blueprint for getting started. "Primal Endurance" is aimed to be a ground-breaking guide that revolutionizes the way we approach endurance training, offering a refreshing and effective alternative to conventional methods. This book was the original inspiration for changing my training methodology after a few years of constant injuries. Authored by Mark Sisson and Brad Kearns, the book presents a comprehensive blueprint for achieving peak performance while embracing the primal principles of ancestral health. As is my guiding principle, health leads to performance (it might just take a little longer!). Sisson and Kearns skilfully marry their expertise in endurance training with the ancestral wisdom of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. The result is a holistic approach that prioritizes intuitive training, emphasizing the importance of aerobic development through MAF training and me...