As a young man, Jeff Galloway traveled the world and entered international running events, satiating his desire to compete and cultivating his love of the sport. He became the "running equivalent to a ski bum," and his book, Galloway's Book on Running, retains that laid-back feel while still managing to be an incredibly comprehensive source. Anecdotal and engaging, the book opens with an American running history and the Five Stages of a Runner, which sets a bar by which you can measure yourself and minimize "the pitfalls and maximize the gains of your running future." Galloway then describes how the three levels of training--base, hills, speed--are crucial to enhancing and improving performance. Reasonable mileage programs for specific race distances, such as "Less mileage for a faster 10K," address the many myths circulating about mileage requirements for injury-free and effective training programs. You'll also find such minutiae as the natural reactions of the human body when running in hot or cold weather and hints for a more comfortable run. Note this striking warning: "Men, please wear more than nylon tricot shorts if you value your future family production. Penile frostbite is no joke." Whoa! He also discusses the importance of hydration: "Many of the undesirable aspects of racing--poor performance, muscle soreness, even injury--are partially or wholly attributable to dehydration." And, for those curious about the physiological reasoning behind hitting the "wall" or the difference between fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fiber, an entire chapter is committed to "Physiology--What Happens Inside When You Run." --Cate Bick

FROM OUR EDITORS

Since 1984, Galloway's Book on Running has been pleasing readers. But its phenomenal word-of-mouth success hasn't deterred author Jeff Galloway from searching for improvements. In response to reader suggestions and medical advances, the second edition features a sharpened text that includes new material on topics ranging from fat burning to running apparel.

ANNOTATION

"...written by an Olympic runner, describing the same training principles used by elite runners...the author explains his secrets for running better & his revolutionary ideos on stress and rest."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Olympic athlete Jeff Galloway shows how amateur runners can use the same training principles followed by world-class runners. He tells beginners how to get started, explains his ideas on stress and rest, and reveals secrets for running better. In this completely revised and updated new edition of the classic text on running, Galloway includes training schedules for 5k, 10k, and the increasingly popular half-marathon races, as well as recent insights into motivation, nutrition, and fat burning. Runners at all levels will benefit from this seasoned athlete's wisdom.

FROM THE CRITICS

Kick!