An excellent guide for the new runner When a friend persuaded me to try a sprint-distance triathlon, I knew I could complete the swimming and cycling legs. However, I doubted my ability to complete the 5k run, as I have NEVER been able to run for more than a few minutes — not when I was 15, and not now when I’m 35. The Beginning Runner’s Handbook appears to be changing that. I’m now in the fifth week of the program, and I’m finding that it’s working. This week, I’ll be running 13 three-minutes segments, for a total of 39 minutes running. This is a major accomplishment for me. The...

Absolutely amazed!! I can’t believe it. I’ve always been athletic, but never a runner. I could play an entire soccer game without coming out, 2 tennis matches, etc., but when it came to telling me to go run 1 mile or 30 minutes, I thought I was going to die. Not only did I dread it, I knew I couldn’t physically and mentally do it. I have 4 runs left before I finish the 13 week program, I’m completely amazed. I ran for 65 minutes last night!!!! I’m running around 6 miles, I’m in the best shape of my life. I’ve never been more than 5 pounds overweight, but this is...

I Love This Book! I have never been able to run but have always wanted to. My friends at work were really getting into running and one of them asked me to go for a run with her. I wanted to – but I had never run for more than a city block before I was too winded to go on. Anyway, I bought this book and read it several times. It took 3 months after buying the book to start the program. That was 12 weeks ago and I go into my 13th week on Monday. I’m just loving this and I’m so amazed that I can actually run. I’ve followed the program to the letter and have never missed a ...

Buy some good running shoes and this book! Okay – I’m in my 30s and I want to get fit. I’d tried running in my 20s and nearly killed myself by training the wrong way – just going out the door and running till I fell over. I concluded I couldn’t run. But it just looked so much fun and people running look so much cooler than people on exercise bikes. So trawling the internet, I found this book and followed a 13-week training program that starts off almost entirely walking and builds to a 60 minute training run or 10k race. I tell you – it works! The book gives the beginner all the info they...

Fantastic book for beginners This book is full of useful advices and directions to get started on a running program and is especially helpful for a beginner. The authors are experts in the fields and they present their knowledge nicely. I am short statured and fat (200lbs). Before I read this book, I tried a number of times but could not get into running. But by using the advices and the running program provided in this book, I can now run better and longer. I am now in the 9th week of the running program. If you are looking forward to get started in running, this book is definitely for...

Running has never felt so GOOD I really got my money’s worth. I have to disagree with S. Brown’s review. He claims that the book offers common sense advice. Well, from reading the personal anecdotes in this book and from my own experience, much of the ‘common sense’ advice isn’t really common sense. This book offers great advice not only to novice runners, but to recreational runners as well. Aspiring runners learn how to start slowly and gradually build their strength and endurance without getting injured–very important! Also, they learn about appropriate running apparel and...

I feel SO lucky to have found this book! I can’t believe how amazing this book is! If you are an overweight or obese man or woman who has told yourself you are too out of shape and fat to run… get this book. It is one of the best things I ever did! If you are too intimidated or fearful of injuring yourself since you are not quite sure “how” to begin running, this book spells it out AND gives you three 13 week programs to work with. There is the Walk/Run program which works you up from running 30 seconds at a time, to running for 60 minutes straight at the end of the 13 weeks. For example, in week...

A easy way to start running injury free I used Ian MacNeill’s running program to train for my first 10k (6.2 miles). What a wonderful and easy way to get started! I had tried running before and always stopped for one reason or another. This book helped keep me motivated and focused with its easy to follow program that can be done outdoors or on a treadmill. No more worrying about how long, how far, how intensly I should run during training. The book spells it all out for you. I would just put on my sneakers, look up the workout I was scheduled for that day, and run! The focus of the book is running injury free,...

Easy to read, Easy to understand, Easy to follow It usually takes me a few days to read a book, but I couldn’t set this one down. I read half of it the evening I purchased it. The book is easy reading and easy to understand. I just started boxing. I need to drop some pounds and build my stamina to be able to compete. I knew that I needed to start a jogging program to assist me in reaching my goals. This book made it easy for me to be consistent and stay motivated. I also learned valuable information; allowing me to increase my distance and enjoy running at the same time. The program was easy to follow. This book...

Reading this book was the best thing I ever did! One day last April, I went searching for a book to tell me how I could train for a marathon. I had never enjoyed running (I am 42) but was envious that my brother would be running a marathon on his 40th birthday and I got caught up in the excitement and said I wanted to do that too. (I am not a small, petite woman either who started off at a high activity level to begin this program. I had recently lost 45 pounds and was motivated to begin exercising.) By luck, I found this book. I started reading it, finding it informative, motivating and easy to read. The book touches on every...