The Unconventional Running Coach

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 : 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 : 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 : 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 7/10 Categories Covered: General Running book This book, Run Britain, is an interesting tale that could be useful to inspire those looking to do Ultra's or multi day events or indeed just those looking to see what the human body can do.  Nick will take you on a tour of the country hitting the most Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western points of the mainland and coming out of it with a lot of tales and friends. Now is this book in any way a guide on how you should train and run? Certainly not. If anything he drives himself well past the limits of what the human body should do, essentially running on broken limbs and to the point of reaching an unhealthy level of body fat  What he achieves is remarkable and I would love to see how someone even better prepared could do. He mentions how badly he got through his shoes, would barefoot shoes / exercises in training have better prepared his feet, ankles, shins and body in general for what he was going to endure? He talks ab...

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 : Confidence and Race preparation TLDR : Cracking book on confidence and how to build it with lots of practical applications to lots of sports. Can be used by all abilities for a better mindset and to improve race day performance.  The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance by Dr. Nate Zinsser - A Review Pros: Actionable insights: Dr. Zinsser's background working with high-performance individuals in the military and sports world shines through. The book is packed with practical exercises, tools, and techniques that readers can readily apply to their own lives, regardless of their field or background. Easy to relisten / read to. I have the book on audio and paper and have been through it multiple times to pick up  extra info and actions to take.  Science-backed foundation: The book is grounded in research on psychology, neuroscience, and physiology, providing a credible and solid foundation for the prese...