Lore of Running, 4th Edition by Timothy Noakes Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Lore of Running, 4th Edition
Book Review: For enthusiasts only
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading the 900-page Lore of Running, there is probably no need to read any other how-to books on running because you will have heard it before. Like a steep uphill at the beginning of your run, Noakes starts off with how muscles work, oxygen transport, energy systems. The chapters are lengthy with many charts and graphs. The prose is like a medical textbook.
I might have organized the book differently. Chapters on staying injury free and running & your health are near the end of the book. I would have put that near the beginning. But one does not have to read the book in sequence.
This is not a good introductory book to running, but as was mentioned by other reviewers, a great reference or read for coaches or anyone else with a more in-depth interest.
Like the late great Ed McMahon would say, "EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about running is in this book".
Book Review: God gaves Moses 10 Commandments, Noakes gives runners "The 15 Laws of Training" in The Runner's Bible
Summary: 5 Stars
John V. Karavitis Tim Noakes is a South African physician, professor of exercise and sports science, researcher and ultramarathoner. This book (4th edition (c) 2003) represents a veritable bible of information for every runner, from the beginner to the elite champion. Noakes covers a lot of ground, and he does so thoroughly. In fact, in a word, this 921-page book is a STUNNING opus.
Noakes shows how the hodgepodge of "theories" that are still taught in school today are without foundation, and, in their place, offers a "Central Governor" model of fatigue (aka the Integrated Neuromuscular Recruitment Model). This model posits that the brain monitors one's physical exertion and internal core temperature and signals one to slow down or stop by invoking a sense of fatigue. It does this in order to protect the brain and the body from damage. Noakes also provides the reader with great detail about how muscles work, how the body utilizes oxygen and energy stores (carbs and fat), and, perhaps most importantly, training schedules from both elite runners like Jeff Galloway and researchers like Jack Daniels. That is, you are given actual training schedules that will get you to run anything from a 10K to a marathon or even an ultramarathon in just 26 weeks.
My favorite sections are (1) Chapter 5 "Developing a Training Foundation", where Noakes looks back at the greatest runners and distills their wisdom into the "15 Laws of Training" (which gives some of the best advice I've ever read for runners), and (2) Chapter 6 "Learning from the Experts", which gives us a look at the lives and training regimens of some of the greatest runners of all time. Other interesting tidbits include: the apparent fact that marathoners only have a 20-year window of excellent performance, regardless of when they start racing (in fact, only one really elite marathon performance in their career); that one should include walking with any running (to forestall stretch-shortening cycle fatigue in the quadriceps); that speed work/interval training is essential to run faster.
Bottom line, this book is THE BIBLE for anyone who wants to run any distance. If you love to run and want to either learn more about it, pick up useful training tips, or read about the "lore of running", then this is the book that you must have. FIVE STARS! John V. Karavitis, John Karavitis, Karavitis.
Book Review: Great book
Summary: 5 Stars
I haven't gotten much chance to read it yet, but it's a great book, especially as a reference.Book Review: If you only buy one book on running...
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are very serious about running, especially at the marathon or ultramarathon level, you will find invaluable advice in this essential reference book. Not only is the author an accomplished endurance runner, he is also a medical doctor. It is extremely well written and highly readable, so that no matter what your knowledge base, you can put this incredible collection of information to use.Book Review: LORE OF RUNNING
Summary: 5 Stars
Superbly written. An excellent book for the technically oriented individual who wants to know the what and why of everything that happens in running. Still simple enough for any good coach to get important ideas as to how to train future and long time runners.