There are so many books about running. You do not know where to start and want to learn about the sport, athletes, or just read a novel, and then I selected 15 books about running.
I am reading most of time on electronic devices, but I tend to buy paper versions of the books I really liked. I have paper versions of the book I use to prepare my training plans. Both Lore of Running and Daniels Running Formula are the books I use all the time. I read them many times and I use them to get my training plans ready. The more I follow coaching courses and read about athletics training, the more I study these two books.
Personally, the following books impressed me:
– Ultramarathon Man, by Dean Karnazes : Was the book I read in 2006 before running my first ultramarathon, the Saintelyon (69km between Saint Etienne and Lyon the first Sunday of December : start at midnight)
– Lore of Running, by Tim Noakes, MD : It is the bible of running, with lots of data on the 900 pages. This book details physiology, training, racing, injuries, world-class athletes, and races. The detailed book brought me to coaching.
– Daniels Running Formula, by Jack Daniels : As an engineer I was looking more details on the training load / speeds. The work from Jack Daniels was mentioned in the book Lore of Running. This book allowed me to start planning training plans for my athletes with more details.
On the festive Season, you may look to buy a good book for an athlete. You will find a good book in the following list of 15 books. Click on the pictures and you will get an affiliate link to Amazon to get the book.
15 BOOKS (in alphabetic order):
Alberto Salazar’s Guide to Road Racing, by Alberto Salazar – 2002.
It is the next book I want to read. Alberto Salazar (born August 7, 1958 in Cuba) has been a great athlete, winning New York Marathon in 1980, 81 and 82. He is well known for his victory in Boston marathon 1982 : “Duel in the Sun”. It was a battle of the stronger, where he won on a very hot and tough day. He was a great track and field and marathon athlete (5 km 13’11” – 10 km 27’25” – Marathon 2h08′). Following his running career, Alberto became a coach, getting great results. He was the head coach of Nike Oregon Project in Portland Oregon. On the other side, he was banned for 4 years in 2019 for doping offenses. The Oregon Project was shut down. He was in the center of a controversy after the video published on the New York Times by Mary Cain (click HERE to see the video).
The book itself gives programs to run farther, faster and with greater reward and enjoyment. Alberto gives expert advice to improve your workouts.
Some of his coaching technique may be controversial, then it is important to be careful to apply his advises on our coaching. However, there are certainly some great insights in his book.
Better Training for Distance Runners, by Peter Coe and David Martin (runs the gamut from very dry scientific rationale of strength training to specific exercises with photos modeled by Sebastian and Pat Porter) – 1997.
It is the second book written by Peter Coe (father and coach of Sebastian Coe). Peter implemented lots of weights and strength and conditioning sessions in Sebastian weekly training routine. Sebastian was doing weights on Mondays, Strength and Conditioning on Wednesdays. It was the beginning of the introduction of Strength and Conditioning to athletics.
Born to Run, by Christopher Mc Dougall – 2009.
Christopher Mc Dougall was wondering why his feet were hurting. He investigated the Mexican tribe : The Rarámuri or Tarahumara are a group of indigenous people of the Americas living in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. They are renowned for their long-distance running ability.
Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.
He brings then the best Tarahumaras runner to one of the most challenging 100 miles: Leadville Ultra marathon in Colorado run between 9,000 feet and 12,000 feet. I ran the race in 2012, and read the book later in 2013. It is a great book and Christopher Mc Dougall a great fan of lunar sandal running.
This is a very famous book that inspired many runners.
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, by David Goggins – 2018.
David Goggins had a difficult childhood (poverty, physical abuse…). He transformed himself from overweight to a Navy SEAL and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. David is a tough guy, motivational speaker, sharing with us this book. He understood that most of us use only 40% of our capabilities. He gives us the path to push past pain to reach full potential.
This is the ideal book to improve your mental strength.
Courir Longtemps, Bruno Heubi (In French) – 2013.
Bruno Heubi was part of the French 100km team, with a record of 6h51′ (marathon in 2h31′). He is a coach, and wrote the French version of Lore of Running. His book and internet site have many training plans and advises. It is more simple than the Lore of Running, and very valuable to prepare a 100km.
Daniels Running Formula, by Jack Daniels – 1998.
Jack Daniels was on Olympian in the 1956 Summer Olympics (Team Silver) and in 1960 Summer Olympics (Team Bronze) in the Modern Pentathlon. Jack Daniels is a great university coach, with great cross country results.
It is a great book for coaches. It gave me a scientific aspect to the training. There are many tables (VDOTs) to give different paces depending on your results. It allowed me to tailor my training plan for all athletes. I have read and studied this book many times in the last 5 years.
Eat and Run – My Ultimate Journey to Ultramarathon greatness, by Scott Jurek – 2012.
Scott Jurek is one of the greatest ultra marathoner. He has been running at very high level for more than 20 years. He is one of the elite runners who travelled in Mexico to race against the Tarahumara and was part of the book : Born to Run. Scott is a vegetarian too. He is very active in the ultra world, and was cheering at the finish line, when I completed Leadville 100 miles.
In this book, Scott opens up about his career with a plant-based diet. From his Midwestern childhood hunting, fishing, and cooking for his meat-and-potatoes family to his slow transition to ultrarunning and veganism, Scott’s story shows what athletes should eat to fuel optimal performance. There are scientific insight and practical advice.
Faster than Lightning: My Autobiography, by Usain Bolt – 2013.
I get this book as a present. It is the biography of Usain Bolt from his childhood in Jamaica to becoming the fastest runner in the world. Interesting biography book. I enjoyed it.
Lore of Running, by Tim Noakes, MD – 2002.
It is the most important book about running, with lots of data on the 900 pages. I have been reading this book during the last 10 years. At the beginning, it was many new things, too scientific for my knowledge.
After all the courses I have been following, it now makes a lot of sense. This book details physiology, training, racing, injuries, world-class athletes, and races.
Paula – My story so far, by Paula Radcliffe – 2005.
It is the biography of Paula Radcliffe, the fastest marathon runner in the world (not any more). From her cross-country races in UK, to her Track and Field then Marathon great career. From her time training at high altitude in Font Romeu, through her bad track and field results to achieve finally her best results. Interesting biography book.
Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow: Quick-Fix Recipes for Hangry Athletes: A Cookbook, by Elyse Kopecky and Shalane Flanagan – 2018.
This book gives lots of receipt for healthy athletes who want to cook quickl. There are pre-run snacks, post-run recovery breakfasts, lunches, and more. Shalane Flanagan is a vegetarian and very talented marathon runner.
I really enjoy trying their receipts, the winter soup is great and the Marathon Bolognese so perfect for marathon runners. Great receipts for all.
Running, Jean Echenoz – 2009.
This short novel, by the talented French writer. Jean Echnoz is not a sport person but grew up in the 50’s, when Emil Zátopek was winning many races from 5km to marathons. It is not really a biography for the athlete, but more a novel about his life. He is not giving too many details about the athletics results. He gives a picture of the life of athletes and Czechs in the 50’s.
Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth, by Adharanand Finn – 2012
Adharanand Finn travelled to Kenya to train with the best endurance athletes. In the Rift Valley in Kenya at above 2000m altitude. Thousands of athletes from all over the world are going there to optimize their training. From young local runners bare feet, to the top athletes, it is a great area to train. The book will detail Adharanand’s trip with his family and practical advises on the sport.
Ultramarathon Man, by Dean Karnazes – 2005
Was the book I read in 2006 before running my first ultramarathon, the Saintelyon. Dean Karnazes, started running after 30, during a night after a party. He get the virus and trained hard to be able to win few races like the western states 100 miles or the Badwater ultramarathons. His next challenge was to attempt to run 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 days to raise awareness of youth obesity and urge Americans of all fitness levels to “take that next step.” Inspirational book for many ultra-marathon runners.
Why we sleep, by Matthew Walker – 2017
This book is one of the 5 books that Bill Gates suggested in December 2019.
Bill was writing the following : “I read a couple of great books this year about human behavior, and this was one of the most interesting and profound. Both Jenn and John Doerr urged me to read it, and I’m glad I did. Everyone knows that a good night’s sleep is important—but what exactly counts as a good night’s sleep? And how do you make one happen? Walker has persuaded me to change my bedtime habits to up my chances. If your New Year’s resolution is to be healthier in 2020, his advice is a good place to start.”
This book is a science book about sleep by the neuroscientist and sleep researcher, Matthew Walker. Walker is a professor of neuroscience and psychology and the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Recovery is so important, and need to be part of your training plan. However, sleep is the most important part of the day. To ensure you recover well between training sessions, the body need 7 to 9 hours of good sleep. This book will be my next read, as I am very interested in the topic.
During my coaching courses, I have been able to read some very detailed studies. Here are the latest studies confirming Strength and Conditioning is improving the athlete’s performances. Then another study to give the different energy systems used on distances between 200 m and 1500 m. Click on the title to get the full article.
STUDIES:
– Effects of Strength Training on the Physiological Determinants of Middle- and Long-Distance Running Performance: A Systematic Review
Richard C. Blagrove, Glyn Howatson, Philip R. Hayes
Published online: 16 December 2017
– Effects of resistance training on neuromuscular characteristics and pacing during 10-km running time trial
Mayara V Damasceno et al
February 2015
– Energy system contribution during 200- to 1500-m running in highly trained athletes
MATT R. SPENCER and PAUL B. GASTIN
Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 33, No. 1, 2001, pp. 157–162