Runners' bible

[AuntieStella]

Can you help me - I'm after recommendations for an all purpose runners' "bible" as a present for my DBro.

He runs quite a lot, but has some odd ideas about improving fitness/running stamina, ideas about cross training, training cycles and the need for rest - well, just about everything really!

And I'm not being mean, he freely says he's idiosyncratic. But sort of realises that knowing the received wisdom might help improve his overall fitness and stamina.

I realised that what I know comes from experience, thousands of chats (online and in RL) lots of articles etc. And I was wondering if there is one book that brings it all together, and can be either something you'd read through, or something you can use as a reference book to dip in to.

Does anyone have one they'd recommend?

Anyone?

I'm not sure if lack of replies means there is no such thing, or I posted at an unlucky time and it just sank, or if everyone's thinking 'oh just lace up your trainers and move, and stop thinking so much' !

I know the bible used to be The Runner's Handbook by Bob Glover. It was always recommended as the book you had to read, but this was in the early internet days where there just wasn't the same amount of information available and YouTube etc didn't exist.

I don't know if it has been updated to take into account new developments in running (I think the science has definitely moved on in some respects). It might still be a really well-regarded book or it might be seen as hopelessly out of date now - perhaps worth reading some recent reviews to see how it's perceived these days.

Recent reviews seem good, and as my DBro is quite nerdy, this could be a good one for him!

Just wondering if anyone else had ideas or recommendations before I make an order

I am far from an expert, but I have recently read and enjoyed Matt Fitzgerald 80/20 training, and 'training for the uphill athlete' Steve House.

They are both very science- based which I like, so if he is nerdy he might like them. I am by no means an uphill athlete, nor intend to be but the theories are reported to be really sound and applicable to all running. i am partway through it and it is an interesting read with more detail following on from the 80/20 one.

I've just been reading reviews of those.

I'm intrigued, what is it about the Uphill Athlete that stands out for you? I wasn't expecting such an alpine recommendation

Runners world do good ones, you can normally find them with the magazines in WH Smith. I have. ‘ The Guide to Womens Running’ , but I think they do a general one too. It has all sorts of stuff about clothing, injuries, training plans, stretches etc etc

The uphill athlete one goes into a lot of detail about the physiology side, chemical reactions in the cells, how energy is produced etc and the reasoning behind why doing a lot of lower pace/lower heart rate training than what you (probably) normally do is more beneficial. It is similar to the 80/20 but goes into a lot more depth.

I got it after the 80/20 as I had read somewhere it has an amazing amount of technical details and was a cover all running bible, rather than just of use to mountain people. So far I am really enjoying it. I am about 40% through it. I just got the kindle version but might get a hard copy for easier reference at some point.

I can hide the kindle purchases more easily 😂

Here you go www.whsmith.co.uk/products/runners-world-complete-book-of-running/amby-burfoot/paperback/9781605295794.html or even a subscription to runners world magazine. I loved the book though, when I started running I’d often consult it for guidance.

Lore of Running by Tim Noakes. 922 pages of extremely small print on the science of running. The only running book you’ll ever need.

I was just looking to see if Amazon had Runners World books - first hit was 'How to make yourself poop - and 999 other tips all runners should know'

Anyone read it? It sounds focused very ... um ... practically