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 : 7/10 Coverage : Training and schedules  Aspiring to shave minutes off your marathon time and reach peak performance? Look no further than "Advanced Marathoning" by Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas. This comprehensive guide, now in its third edition, equips serious runners with the knowledge and tools to train smarter, avoid injuries, and conquer their next marathon. This is not a book for beginners (advanced is in the title) nor is it for those that would follow the freedom and listen to your body approach I would suggest. What to Expect: Science-backed training:  The book delves into the latest sports science,  providing effective methods like marathon-pace runs and tempo workouts. Personalised plans:  Choose from various training schedules tailored to your weekly mileage (55+ miles) and desired race timeframe (12 or 18 weeks). Holistic approach:  It goes beyond running,  incorporating strength,  core,  flexibility,  ...

My Score : 8/10 Covered Stuff : Ethiopian training Jim Denison's "The Greatest: The Haile Gebrselassie Story" isn't just a biography of a legendary athlete, Gebrselassie being my favourite long distance athlete for a long time growing up ; it's a captivating portrait of resilience, triumph, and the transformative power of running. It delves deep into the life of Haile Gebrselassie, one of the most dominant distance runners the world has ever seen, taking readers on a journey from his humble beginnings in Ethiopia to his global athletic stardom. Strengths: Intimate access: Denison, with Gebrselassie's authorization, spent over two years working on the book, gaining unprecedented access to the athlete and his inner circle. This results in a deeply personal and insightful narrative, revealing not just the man who broke records but also the human being behind the legend. Vivid storytelling: Denison brings Gebrselassie's story to life with vibran...

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...