Running Science (Sport Science)

I like to know what works and what doesn't work, not by anecdote, but by evidence. In the running world, there are so many different programs (Hal Higdon, Greg McMillan, Jack Daniels, Hanson's Marathon Method--I've read them all), and they will all produce results of some kind, particularly for novice runners. However, if you start asking questions: What kind of intervals? How often? What speed? How much hill work? At what point should I put these into my schedule? How many total miles per week are optimum? Is lifting weights helpful? What about cycling or swimming? And most importantly, why?Well, you probably get the point. The training programs offer guidelines for those items, but rarely do they offer the scientific basis of why speed work needs to be limited to 10% of total miles or long runs need to be so slow. Running Science does. That is why I give it 5 stars. It answers things that other running books don't answer very clearly. When you are done reading it, you will likely walk away with some new ideas on how to approach your next training cycle.Which brings up my critiques: Aside from a single half-marathon sample training schedule, the author falls short in providing a framework for applying all of the great information in the book. Another small issue I have with the book is that the author recommends specific exercises for strengthening running muscles--exercises that I've never seen before--yet he provides no studies which demonstrate that these specific exercises have been shown to improve running performance. He needs to run a study on his own recommendations:-)

Lots of good research cited to back training theory purposed. However, the author omits defending the rational behind doing some easy runs. In fact, he attacks easy running as being non-productive to improving racing ability. (unless you are an ultra-marathoner). Also, the risk of becoming injured by following the high intensity training program espoused by the author was not adequately addressed. He does offer some strengthening exercises to help prevent injury, but studies showing their actual effectiveness haven't been done yet. I would be cautious in applying such high relative volumes of high intensity training. For example, the author recommends building to where you do 25% of your weekly mileage at vVO2max pace (roughly the pace you can sustain for a 6-minute race). Plus, he advocates doing addition work at your maximal speed (all-out sprinting). I question whether most individuals could handle such stress successfully for many weeks or seasons, let alone for a lifetime of running and racing. As a coach and competitive runner of many years, I will seek to cautiously interweave some of the principles the author teaches into the workouts I write and follow, but will not ignore the value of easy running in doing so. But overall, this is a best current resource available for learning the science behind training distance runners.

I would say for 95% of people who buy this book, it has more info than you need. It has a few chapters titled something like "exhaustion at the anatomical level" which can be dry at times, but informative. The best part of the book are the hundreds of studies done on exertion, which is enough to base your own workouts on.Example: 12 runners did this workout for 6 weeks, 12 runners ran plus biked, and these are their results. VO2 max, vVo2 max, lactic acid resistance, blah blah. I've read 5 or 6 books similar and prefer this one. "Running Strong" is also good.Its break down various workouts for different distances, some are solid, some are obscure but worked. One chapter mentioned the workouts of milers from the past like Roger Banister and others. One miler from the 20's ran in place for hours. These dudes would also drop from exhaustion and go in to a coma for 20 minutes or so.Anyways there are a million workouts and studies. Well worth it.

Owen Anderson summarizes some of the most informative and up to date knowledge of running and the affects as well as effects on exercise. I have spent over 40 years as a runner and teacher/coach and as I read his reports on research I had to give up many of my "old" ways and thoughts as applied to runners and basketball players. I learned new ways to train that take less time and are more injury free when applied to the beginner as well as the experienced youngster under your guidance. A solid background in basic physiology of the cell is probaby required to get the most out of what he presents. The avid coach and athlete can learn a lot from this source to help him or her improve.

This book makes so much sense, but you have to be open-minded to not just believe old-school methodology about building base. It gives you researched reasoning on how to train with sample workouts and the understanding of the body's system and biomechanics of running. Many myths dispelled. The only reason not a 5 star for me is I sometimes had to skim over the "true science" because I didn't have the chemistry/kinesiology background to understand all the formulas. My husband understood it perfectly.

This book is well written! I was originally 350lbs when I first started running. Everyone told me I would get injured becuase of my size. However thanks to this book it helped me keep a healty running form and I have never been so fit in my life. Dr Owen Anderson is a true genius and master when it comes to running. I am full of gratitude towards him and I am so happy I bought his book.

One of the best running books I have read in a long time. The author describes a ton of ground-breaking research in an easy to understand manner. Each chapter ends with a short conclusion and advice for the reader. However, the author does not provide any detailed training plans. Instead, the reader has to leverage the presented materials and tools to develop his/ her own plan. Interestingly enough, this is probably the perfect book to get with the new Garmin Forerunner 620. There is a ton of advice/ research around some of the new signals this watch is able to measure.

The first thing I noticed about this book was that it was about 3x thicker than I expected. It’s a proper tome and at the rate I read will probably take about 18 months to get through! It’s fair to say it’s packed with information and being well indexed the best approach is probably to pick the chapters and sections most relevant to you and read those. Anderson’s approach seems to be to take the often-contradictory science of various aspects of running and look at it all through the filter of his own expertise. He then picks the bones out of it and presents his conclusions to the reader as to what he thinks are the most useful studies. This is perfect for me as I am interested in the science of endurance training but do not have a scientific background myself so I often find it difficult to make sense of the various studies. Although I am a very average middle of the pack runner I like to base my training on as much evidence as possible, to cut out the “junk miles” and wasted time. I am a fan of Human Kinetics’ titles and until now “Heartrate Training” (which is not running specific) has been my bedside bible. I think this will take its place.

Now that 'Lore of Running' is about a decade old and its author seems to have disavowed some of its content (fluid and nutrition) there has been a need for a text book which gives a grand old overview of this subject in a reader friendly format.This will do nicely.It is not an identikit replica of Noakes's Magnum Opus but covers similarish territory (same depth, less breadth) with interesting sections on areas that are now more mainstream than they were 10 years ago (ie genetics.)The book has chapters on improving speed, endurance, VO2max, vVO2max amongst others and while there are few 'plans' (e.g 16 week running plan for your first marathon) I don't think that this is at all a bad thing as I am a strong believer in the one-size-does-not-fit-all brigade.The book does a good job of trying to relate experimental findings to suggested practice and since buying the book about two weeks ago I have gone through it cover to cover once and then returned several times to some of the sections I found key.At times the author seems to suggest deviating from tried and tested methods (abandoning the weekly long run in favour of more 'shorter' workouts to improve speed and strength) but I think he does this in a considered and not gung-ho manner, ie. not suggesting you drop long-slow-runs altogether but cut them to alternate weeks (or to every third week.)In the same breath he also advocates that marathons runners do build up to 20-22 mile runs duration their preparation. I think this will become more mainstream.Despite being published this year (2013) there are already one or two sections a bit out of date, with key references missing [causes of deaths in marathon runners, the Cochrane review on cryotherapy] however this is just how things are with big textbooks which have probably been gestating for a few years.....a good reason for a second edition no doubt!I think it will appeal to anyone with more than a passing interest in running science, it is well written and good value for money.

A fantastic repository of a huge amount of the latest scientific research into running form, economy, and training best-practice. Highly recommended!Having given four stars overall I do have one serious complaint - the author's clear dislike for the proven training methods of Arthur Lydiard. Given the care into which he evaluates the training practices of other coaches it is surprising that he dismisses Lydiard so glibly.Perhaps this is because, as Anderson admits, very few research programmes into running training can last much longer than 8-12 weeks. Anderson bemoans the fact that such studies are limited by the funding available and the practicality of participants being able to commit to anything longer. Yet at no point does he consider the fact that almost ANY 8-10 week anaerobic/speed training will lead to an improvement in form. The question is, as Lydiard asks, can that be sustained for month after month; year after year? Lydiard's view was 'no' - hence a focus on building aerobic capacity (which is NOT 'long, slow running') and then adding in shorter, focused periods of anaerobic work in 4-6 week intervals in the build-up to major competitions.I was also amazed that Anderson outlines a very detailed 24 week half-marathon training programme, and at no point in the entire programme do you run further than 7 miles in a single session. Quite how you could get a PB in a half-marathon when the race itself would be at least 6 miles further than you have run in almost six months seems beyond me.These are my two (substantial) criticisms, but in virtually all other areas this is a brilliant book, and well worth its place in any coach or athlete's library.

I have 70+ books on running and this is the best yet in showing me how to run faster. Superbly constructed and written so that the layman can understand. If only I had found it sooner.

As a running coach I found this a great book, really well written, good quality information. Prefer this to Daniel's Running Formula or the Lore of Running.