Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon: How to Be Your Own Best Coach

Although a long time runner, I thoroughly enjoyed Brad Hudson's book that in a highly readable and efficient fashion relates his training programs for virtually all runners. His theory of adaptive running makes great sense and he constantly adjusts for abilities, current performance levels and common sense such as always pencil in workouts to adjust for how the runner feels today. His book focuses on balancing the human body with a combination of muscle training, aerobic and anaerobic combined with self assessment leading to an individualized plan. What I particularly like about this book is that it simply does not lead you into how to run a marathon but to a verity of race distances from 5K forward. He proves a variety of workout plans based on abilities and age at various distances. And what is somewhat rare, he has an excellent program for masters runners at different distances and, as he conveys that rest is needed, he builds in more rest time for masters runners in the form of cross training and core body workouts. His workouts are truly building block encouraging the athlete not to try to set PRs in practice or increase the load too soon but shy from injury and then work toward specific peak race workouts. He doesn't spend a lot of time on masters but what he says makes a lot of sense about different needs and recovery. For instance, for older and injury prone runners, he encourages more hill work over track workouts and hill work is a major part of all his training. I particularly like the 8 second sprints uphill that improve neuromuscular fitness. I am in the first 1/3 of the masters program, adding one extra day of running as opposed to 3 since 1 is a long social run, and I like the variety and a long range peak plan. Also, has great words of wisdom such as when cutting back for a recovery period, keep some intense workouts on the agenda since getting away from it too much makes a longer climb to get back in shape and increases the potential for injury. Great side bar articles on athletes he has coached with pictures. Dathan Ritzenhein just broke the American 5K record with a 12:55 and he was the 4th non-African to break 13:00. He currently is coached by Alberto Salazar for the past 3 months but Salazar credited Hudson for bringing Ritzenhien to such great shape free of the nagging injuries Ritz has had historically. This is a great book for all and particularly for HS coaches with four ranges of workouts based on class year/ability.

Before writing a review of this book I felt I needed to experience the contents on my own. The results were very encouraging as I was able to reduce my personal best by 14 minutes in a marathon race. I used one of the plans included as an example and deviated a little based on my own specific conditions (climate, altitude, time availability), but overall I followed the plan at 90%. What I like about the book is that it explains with plenty of detail what is going on in your body as you perform each of the sessions (long runs, easy runs, intervals, uphill sprints, etc) and therefore you are able to make changes and adapt your plan accordingly (but be ready to run a very high mileage during the 20 week plan). It did not feel like an easy read at times and bored me a little on some chapters but overall the results are there and it is only fair for me to say that it was good advice for training. I need to also mention that I have never had a coach in all my previous race experience and this book felt a little bit like having one.

A solid guide to constructing a running plan... thoroughly explains the "why's" behind its overall training template & rationales. If you're simply looking for an easy read to help you write up your own plan with a minimum of deeper thinking, this isn't the book for you. It is very detailed & will stretch the average, interested reader to grasp & distill its wisdom. While I loved this depth, I found myself wishing the authors had also included summaries of key points with each section, or provided a more step-by-step structure to the book alongside what they wrote. Even being a motivated & experienced runner, it was easy to miss the proverbial forest for the trees. Definitely not a book for beginners or those without much running experience... but for advanced runners & competitive athletes, this is a smorgasbord of knowledge & hard-won wisdom for building a running program to make you FAST. In regard to the latter audience, I give this book my highest recommendations!

I've been running for over half my life, and just recently got into serious miles and marathon training. Tom Holland has an AWESOME book for people training for their first time marathon, and Brad Hudson/Matt Fitzgerald has an AWESOME book for getting faster and understanding HOW to get faster...for whatever race you are running. In my case it was a marathon. I ran my second marathon in 28.5 minutes FASTER that my first marathon EVER...in only 3.5 monthes of serious training in between. Ok, so I'm not an elite runner, but I still went from a 5 hour marthon to a 4:30 marathon....and never thought I could EVER do that. In a little over 3 monthes. This book is slightly confusing for someone like me that doesn't understand the lingo completely, but he gets to the point. Change it up, hit your hills, and LISTEN to your body in HOW you think you should train TODAY. He also has awesome training guides for pretty much any race you are training for. Really good guidlines. He recommends running EVERY day. BUT, his plans vary, depending on your time level...from 4 days a week to 7. The ONLY thing I did NOT agree with was his statement that all his runners DID NOT lift weights. AND he didn't recommend it. WHAT?! I guess if you are an elite runner and that is ALL you care about...but in the real world, I care about my muscle tone! So, despite his thoughts on the subject, I still lifted at least twice a week, plus core work and flexiblity training. But he does say to listen to your body and train in a way that you become your own coach. So, I guess I didn't go too far from his coaching. If you are looking for something to motivate you to run faster and train harder, buy this book. I bought it on kindle and wish I had the book cuz the charts are really hard to read, but sometimes it is just hard to wait for that one thing you know is going to get you going....NOW!!!

A very helpful book for every runner. Either you are a beginner or an advanced runner this book has valuable insights on running everyone can benefit from!

One of the best running books I've read so far. Very insightful and pleasant to read. It explains very well the different factors that contribute to success in running and how to improve them with different workouts. It covers the whole process of building a training plan from scratch and adapting it to your personal specificities.

Un altro fantastico libro, sempre molto interessante e ricco di contenuti, di coach Matt Fitzgerald!

Ótimo

Great book, perfectly explained. I would highly recommend it to all runners!