Product Description

Signed up for a half-marathon and not sure what you've gotten yourself into? Absolute Beginner's Guide to Half-Marathon Training: Get Ready to Run or Walk a 5K, 8K, 10K or Half-Marathon Race is an easy-to-understand introduction to the world of running half-marathon, or shorter, race. Endorsed by the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, this book is packed with illustrations, notes on how to stay motivated and tips on how to train without pain. It will guide you through your marathon-training program and show you how to find the appropriate clothing and shoes, prevent and treat injuries and warm-up before running. Even if you are walking a shorter distance, this is a beneficial training manual. So run, or walk, to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of ABG to Half-Marathon Training today!

Customer Reviews (11)

Motivation and Information
I have recommended this book to everyone who has even hinted that they want to run a half-marathon.I am in my 7th week of the 15 week training program and feel confident I will make it after studying this book!

Surprisingly helpful for BOTH runners AND fast walkers who race.
I bought this book some years ago but did not end up reading any of it until just before my twelfth half marathon, the Critz Tybee Run, on 8 February 2010. I had just planned on reading the section preparing a participant in the week prior to the race. After I read that particular section--Chapter 12 Racing Strategies--I was hooked. I ended up reading the whole book and really benefiting from it.

What is commendable about the book is that it not only makes worthwhile recommendations for runners but it ALSO is very helpful for those of us, over 50's, who perhaps cannot quite run like we used to but still can walk very fast as fitness walkers perhaps even participate in racewalking. I have been racing since the mid 1990s but have never been able to run a whole race, yet I have been able to achieve racewalking speeds and have often placed in my age group. Chapter 6 Proper Walking and Running Form details not only proper running form and technique but also explains what is racewalking, what is proper racewalking form and technique and how racewalking drills can improve your form. For those who are even slower but STILL want to participate the author even has a section on proper fitness walking form and technique.

Unlike a previous reviewer I think that this book contains a LOT more information then what you could get out of just a reading a RUNNERS WORLD or WALKING magazine. That is NOT giving this book the proper credit it deserves. For instance, in addition to Chapter 6, particularly useful information was contained in Chapter 7 Warm-Up/Cool-Down and Flexibility Exercises, Chapter 8 Strength Training and Chapter 10 Training and Competition Nutrition for Runners and Walkers. I also particularly like Table 4.1 Dressing for Success:How to be Comfortable Whatever the Weather (recommending clothing choices for actual temperatures ranges) and Table 5.1 Commonly Diagnosed Injuries for Runners and Walkers (listing not only potential injuries with symptoms but recommendations for their prevention and treatment if they occur).

I was really impressed that the book was written by a registered dietitian with a Masters of Science in Kinesiology certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health/Fitness instructor and ALSO an accomplished triathlete, duathlete and master runner. In part due to her suggetions, I was able to shave off two minutes in my last half-marathon. Although she primarily writesfor newcomers to racing I think her suggestions can potentially be helpful to runners and walkers at ALL levels.

A Good Beginner;s Guide
This is a good beginner's guide as it give you options for your level of experience.

Not Just For Runners
This book has been so helpful to me in beginning my training to walk my first 5k. I had "walked" before, and thought it funny that people would have to read books on how to do it. However, this book is packed full of information such as clothing, nutrition, developing a program, defining goals, and how to avoid injuries. It even tells you the correct posture to maintain while walking - and yes, I had the wrong posture!

I really think if one is an 'Absolute Beginner' there is something of value they can pull from this book. A great reference source!

Quite pleased
Being new to the whole fitness area, this book is a god-send.I have been quite pleased...it's helping me to train for the 10k portion of a local marathon that my relay team is participating in.I know that by following the guidelines and training schedule, I will be prepared and will not push myself too far and risk injury. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Great history of a great race!
The author did a superb job in recreating the race across the United States.I commend him on all of the long hours of research that went into producing this book.As a long distance athlete, I can well relate to the athlete's triumphs and defeats.I do wish their was more personal accounts from the runners themselves, but I am certain that the author would have included more if they were available.

A good run for your money
Not much of a review, but my son-in-law knows the author of this book so i thought I would buy it and read it.
I am glad I did. It is a very interesting book in that it gives you a look at our country in the early 20's, a look at some dedicated and not so dedicated runners, and what could be one of the biggest shysters to ever promote a sporting event.

I wantedto keep reading to see how each of the runners faired , how they would be treated, what new concept C.C Pyle could concoct and to see how the citizens would treat these athletes.
You really can't go wrong reading this book.


The only con I would have is that some of the stories about the runners were too short but not enough to hurt the reading of this book.

Just Incredible
If this didn't really happen, I would never believe this story.People running marathon (or two) races - 25 to 50 miles - every day for months in horrible weather and terrain?It could only happen in the wild days of The Roaring Twenties in which people were obsessed with setting records.

Today, the conditions under which this incredible event took place, would never happen....for humane reasons, alone.Race organizer/director C.C. Pyle would be vilified and probably arrested!

Anyway, if you want to read a fascinating account of the capabilities of thehuman body and will to endure, this book will keep you riveted to your seat.I still can't believe this race actually happened!

The ORIGINAL "Survivor" tale
Everything old really IS new again.The "reality series" of today have nothing on the bizarre endurance contests of the 1920s and early 1930s, which frequently provoked massive media coverage.This book describes one of the unjustly forgotten peaks of this esoteric genre: the International Transcontinental Foot Race of 1928, popularly known as the "Bunion Derby."199 runners started from California with the goal of reaching Yankee Stadium (later, Madison Square Garden) in New York.Only 50 or so ultimately got there.The event, somewhat haphazardly organized by sports promoter C.C. Pyle, best known as Red Grange's manager, attracted plenty of flakes but also featured some seriously committed long-distance runners.Williams' narrative lays the whole story out for you in gory, blistered, benumbed detail.I could have asked for slightly better writing in a technical sense, but the tale is quite fascinating and will keep your attention till the end.

Great Diet Tips
In addition to being a fantastic story,it should also be recognized as a great diet book.Imagine, you tub-of-lard, how svelte you would be if you ran from L.A. to New York averaging more than the distance of a marathon every day.

Seriously, if you want to understand what it was like to accomplish such a feat, this is THE book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (61)

I never thought I could...
I never thought I could run.I group up overweight, chunky, wearing size husky pants most of my life and one day I was just sick of it and was already in my early 30s.I decided then that I would try running but knew that I couldn't just start cold turkey.I saw this book and planned in a week to start.I followed it to a tee and ran my first 10K, about 14 weeks later.I did that first 10K in just about an hour.

NOw- 7 years later, I am still running and hitting Personal Records every day.I hit my own personal best 10K in under 43 minutes and recently ran the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in just under 1 hour and 42 minutes.

If anyone had ever told that big kid years ago that I'd be running and loving it, and doing it with the pace that I'm doing it in, I would've laughed and when people ask what is my secret...I tell them that it all started with a book.

Thank you Dr. Ian MacNeill... when I was pushing 200 lbs, in just 13 weeks - I renewed my confidence, my spirit, and regained the rest of my life back!Over the years I've yo-yod in weight, but now I'm a healthy 144 and all because of running and eating right!

Good book for beginners
I bought this book because I had become out of shape in recent months and needed a push to get back on track.I have been an avid gym rat for about the last 10 years, so I sort of know what I'm doing when it comes to getting in shape.This book gives great tips on what to eat when aspiring to be a runner.It also gives advice on stretches, injury prevention, running shoes, and different terrain to run on.I felt this is a good book for beginner runners because of the basic tips and advice given.It helped me gather the initiative to get back on track.

Highly recommended especially for those without motivation
This book was given to me by a friend who has watched me struggle with exercise and weight.I always made fun of runners and about the arthritis they must have.
Then I read the book and started running.I am in my 12 week of the 13 week program.I have lost 5 pounds, although my friends say it looks like more.I even turned down an opportunity to eat out at lunch so as not to undo what I have done to my body.The book kept me motivated and thus far injury free.The program is easy, portable and has great tips.It will be on my Christmas gift list for family members that have used all the excuses I used to use.

Listen to your body
I bought this book to get me started running. I have not been doing much in the way of any exercise for about two years. I did start walking a couple weeks before I started this program.

I started at week one with the 1 min of jogging and 2 min of walking. I was getting some soreness and stiffness in my knees and shins. It sure does give you a wakeup call on how unfit you really are when you can barely run 1 minute without huffing and puffing. I got through week 1 then started week 2 with the 2 minutes of running.I got through the first day's training.My knees (mostly at the back of the leg) got very stiff and sore and had to quit the training for now.This partly may be due to not wearing proper shoes.

It has now been one week of rest. I am still a little stiff and sore, but much better. Yesterday I tried a 30 min walk (with new shoes). Had pain the whole time, but walked through it. Came home, stretched,and took some ibuprofen. Today I cannot believe the difference. I am feeling no pain at all just some minor aching.

What I am saying here is that EVERYONE is different. If you are getting pain after week one, I would rest, then cut the program in half for the running time and more gradually build up. You have to realize that in total for the first day you are running for 12 minutes.This may be too much for some people.

I am going to do a 60 minute walk on one day - pain free, then start another with a 30 second run and see how things go.

I bought another book - The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer - which is very good. It also has a beginner schedule in the Introduction (Page 9) which does not start any running until after WEEK 4. Then starts jumping very quickly. This is a 10 week introduction before you start the formal training in the book.

In summary, I wish that the Handbook had explained some alternatives if things do not go well your first week - things to be aware of if you need to cut back and take it slower.

This book will help you start running
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since my glory days of running.I, like many of you, needed a program that, if I stuck to it, would get me back into running.I picked up this book with that goal, resumming running for the rest of my life, firmly in mind.Following the 13 week program, I went from not really being able to run much at all, to being able to run the 10K run at the conclusion.It's a good program which will challenge you, yet give you time to rest and heal, a very important facet of training that gets ignored in the quest for quick results.All you have to do is do what the program says, whether you think you can or not.Just do it and before you know it, you're running.

I would highly recommend this book to first time runners, and folks like me who've fallen off the health band wagon and are trying to get back on.Believe me, with this program completed, you will not only have accomplished something significant, but you will have a foundation on which to build a permanent running lifestyle.5 stars.
... Read more