Beginner running books

[wetwiped]

Thinking of buying Even with your shoes on by Helen Hall, anyone read this or have any other recommendations for improving my running technique.
Have completed c25k in past 18m but stopped due to an Achilles injury, hoping to start again soon.

I was going to recommend Don't stop me now by Vassos Alexander, but your post suggests that you want something to teach you how to run better.

I would look at James Dunn on YouTube as a book can't show you how to do exercises to strengthen parts of your anatomy that makes you an efficient runner.

Even better, join a running club and participate in group runs and any strength exercises they may offer.

Thanks xsquared - I'm not confident enough to join a club at the moment but I'll definitely check out James Dunn and the book you mention.

I ran for 25+ years - until my 3rd lot of knee surgery put a stop to it. It was like a religion to me and a big part of my self identity - people I knew would sometimes see me when they were out riding their bikes along canal towpaths or out walking in the countryside - I never ran on pavements or along roads - I am lucky to live where I have access to a great network of rural footpaths, canals, rivers and repurposed railway tracks - I ran for the joy of running and wasn't interested in doing 10K or half marathon races - I did a fair few 10K's and could run up to 13 miles - most of my runs were 6-10 miles. I wish someone had managed to talk me into varying what I did for exercise - aerobically I was fit from running and developed muscular legs but no one ever really gets across the point that once your joints are damaged the damage affects your life after running - it's not like I could just stop running and switch to other replacement activities like riding a bike, using gym equipment like the rowing machines, etc or even swimming - breaststroke is murder on your knees - so - fine run - it's a beautiful thing to do - but if I had my time again I'd split my time equally between running, riding a bike and swimming - I did ride a bike and I could swim but they never has the same passion for them - not until I had to stop running and then I discovered the joy of riding my bike but my knees limited what I could do (I now ride an electric bike - I've had 3 rides this week 25, 22 and 15 miles - I couldn't do that on a normal bike - I'd be unable to walk from knee pain) - swimming then became an even more spiritual and beautiful experience than running - I would lane swim 2-3 hours 2-3 times a week - 100 laps and hour - 9hrs a week soon took it's toll on my shoulder and shoulder surgery that did not work out as well as expected put an end to swimming - believe me - stopping running was emotionally hard to accept but swimming was even harder - I still dream (at night) I am running or swimming. So... I know you wanted advice about running but I'm taking the opportunity to put an idea in your mind about balancing your time spent running and doing other sports and balancing the wear and tear on your joints - I wish someone had had this conversation with me - I doubt I would have listened as I was so in love with running. I used to run 8 times a month plus a few extra often around Christmas to make up the number of runs to something between 100 and 120 runs for the year. I never ran through any injuries - in fact I never had any that didn't result in surgery - my knee problems - affected both knees - as soon as I started having problems I stopped running - never run through pain - those problems all needed surgery to enable me to run again - 1) micro-fracturing (now not a preferred treatment I think) on right knee, 2) meniscus tear on left knee and 3) parrots-beak tears right knee.

Once you have got yourself fit and perhaps slacked off frim running and got out of shape and been through the loop a few times - you realise that it's not that hard to get back into shape again and to regain your aerobic fitness and your muscles get back into shape again but no amount of physio or rest will fix your joints once they are damaged - surgery is limited on what it can do - so this is why I advise thinking about a balance with cycling and swimming because they are - in some respects - less damaging to your knees - obviously any sport done to excess has the potential to wear or strain some part of your body. I ran with a running club for about 9 months and ran with guys who were in the 70's - I thought I would be one of those guys one day - maybe I was unlucky with my natural biomechanical build - I had played a lot of football - 5-a-side - up to 3 times a week and also used the gym a lot for 10-15 years before I started running - something I only started doing when I was injured from playing football.

A book I learned some useful things about running from was this one.
www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Running-Faster-Julian-Goater/dp/0736095500/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16AJR7VRTK3RG&keywords=julian+goater&qid=1650844327&sprefix=julian+goater%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1

Enjoy your running but look after your joints.

The book is more of a collection of amusing anecdotes on the highs and lows of running rather than a manual on running.

There are plenty of running videos about though.
In addition to James Dunne, I would also look at Global Triathlon Network and the Running Channel.

Larkstar thanks so much for taking the time to reply, your post has given me food for thought. I'm no spring chicken and have chosen to try to start running again as it is the only sport I have really enjoyed and felt such a great sense of achievement with. The mental clearance I achieved when out running even for a short while (I only ever ran for about 40 mins) really helped too. Plus I lost a chunk of weight which was a driving factor too.
I am going to start slowly and am working with a PT for a while to hopefully strengthen the right muscles and avoid injury,
Thanks again for sharing your experience and your advice, unfortunately I'm a terrible swimmer but am an occasional cyclist !I will definitely think more about a broader range of exercise.