Marathoning for Mortals

June 15, 2003
Most people, athletic or not, think that running 26.2 miles at once is a feat left to the genetically gifted or the fanatically devoted. But Bingham, a Runner's World columnist, and Hadfield, a professional running coach, believe that anyone can run a marathon, and they spend a lot of time reassuring the reader that, yes, you can, too. They also spend a lot of time dispelling the commonly held notion that pain should be ignored and worked through, instead preaching a steady regimen of manageable practice, rest, and avoidance of injuries. All of this advice is sensible, but it seems that too much of the book is given over to hand holding. Furthermore, once you get past the mantra of slow, gradual workouts and injury avoidance, the book is a little thin. The section on selecting and buying gear is devoid of advice on brands or specific products. Also absent is information on proper form and body mechanics, even though the authors say these are key to good running and preventing injury. Thus, this book would serve primarily as a supplement to an already strong collection on distance-running training.-James Miller, Springfield Coll., MA

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.