How do you develop an effective marathon training plan? Is there any way to prevent hitting the wall during a marathon? What should you expect come race day when signing up for your very first marathon?
These are just a few of the questions that will be answered in the marathon running books featured here. These books are written by respectable sources and are packed with information that every marathon running needs under their belt.
From picking the perfect shoes for marathon training to deciding what pace you need to train for, these marathon books will give you greater confidence going into your marathon… whether it is your first or your thirty-first!
Advanced Marathoning
Cut to the chase and improve your marathon training plan and race day performance with research based information on marathon training. This is one of the best marathon running books for those with considerable running experience to their credit.
You won’t find much basic marathon training information in these pages, but you will find marathon-pace runs, tempo runs, and a wide variety of training advice for the advanced runner.
What makes this one of the more reputable marathon running books is the knowledge of its authors. Pete Pfitzinger is an esteemed Olympian and Scott Douglas was once the editor of Running Times magazine. Together, they give powerful advice for serious marathoners interested in improving their race performance.
Marathon: You Can Do It
Jeff Galloway has become famous for his Couch to 5K training program that helps aspiring runners make it through their first 5K, but he has also written one of the best marathon books available today.
The beauty of this book is that you don’t have to be an experienced runner to follow and learn from it. The book gives practical and motivating advice for runners of all experience levels. The updated version now available offers new training techniques, such as the “miracle mile” and a ton of advice on safely training for and competing in a marathon.
If this is your first time running a race at marathon length, you should consider picking up this book even if you buy others. If you have run a marathon or two but would like to improve your performance, this could also be one of the best marathon books to read.
Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide
Hal Higdon is one of the most influential voices in the running world today, so it makes sense that this has become of the most honored marathon running books on the market. Many runners think of this book as motivational or inspirational, since it draws upon the experiences of professional and accomplished runners throughout time.
Rather than offering new advice based on science or strict facts, each chapter gives the story of a well known runner and then draws upon that experience to teach readers something about running a marathon.
This is a good book to read in addition to other marathon running books. It won’t serve as the only book you need, and it won’t give the nuts and bolts of improving our time or beating obstacles like the “wall.” It will lift you up, give you some new ideas to think about, and help you stay motivated throughout marathon training.
It is always good to get the advice of many industry professionals when taking on a challenge like the marathon. Consider picking up at least a couple of these marathon running books so you have the knowledge and skill needed to make it comfortably through your upcoming marathon.
If you already have a marathon training schedule, you will find valuable ideas to implement into the plan and tons of advice on getting through difficult training and race day moments.
Recommended further reading:
- Running Magazines
- Beginner Running Books
- Half Marathon Running Books
- Ultra Marathon Running Books
- Women Running Books
- How to Run Faster Books
- General Running Books
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