The following is a list of recommended reads. Some of these I read as a high-schooler 30 years ago, and they had more of an influence on "daydreamer Hodgie" than any other factor.
Run To The Top and Running To The Top, by Arthur Lydiard
As malmo says, "A runner not knowing Lydiard.is like a physicist not knowing Newton." (malmo is a master wordsmith and a former American record holder in both the steeple and the half-marathon.)
Lydiard's original ideas are the basis for everything I believe with regard to training. He stresses the need for a runner to create a foundation with a mileage build-up before honing his speed with a mix of hills, intervals and preliminary races to prepare for his goal race. The mileage foundation is the key; the mix is an individual matter.
The original Run to the Top was published in 1962 and may be difficult to find. I bought my copy while on a trip to New Zealand in 1986 at a used bookstore for $5.00. A later edition, titled Running To The Top, was published in 1997. Click here for Lydiard Interview, training outline.
A Clean Pair Of Heels: The Murray Halberg Story, by Murray Halberg with Garth Gilmour
Halberg is a Lydiard disciple, a former 5,000-meter world record holder, and an Olympic gold medalist.
No Bugles, No Drums, by Peter Snell with Garth Gilmour
Snell is a former mile world record holder and an 800m/1500m Olympic gold medalist.
The Unforgiving Minute, by Ron Clarke
Autobiography of the Australian great and former world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m.
The complete Jim Ryun Story, in installments.
The Long Hard Road, Parts One (Nearly To The Top) and Two (To The Peak And Beyond), by Ron Hill
Champion of the European, Commonwealth, and Boston marathons who ran 2:09:27 in 1970. One of my favorites and written by the man himself. Unfortunately, it's hard to find.
Marathon, by Clarence DeMar
Awesome autobiographical account of the early days of marathon running. A marathon runner's must-read.
A Cold Clear Day: The Buddy Edelen Story, by Frank Murphy
Another must for marathoners.
Olympic Gold: A Runner's Life And Times, by Frank Shorter
A must-read for every American distance runner.
Marathoning, by Bill Rodgers with Joe Concannon
Another must read. Bill and I and our fellow GBTC teammates found our way together as a loose group and on our own with our desire and dreams, and Coach Bill Squires provided the blueprint and the inspiration. No necessity for training camps, altitude training or physiologists - just hard training, some laughs and disappointments, and camaraderie.
Click here for link to Bill Rodgers Running
Center.
Boston Marathon: The First Century of the World's Premier Running Event, by Tom Derderian
Great history of the world's premier marathon.
In The Long Run, by Bob Schul
A new and important book from the only American ever to win the Olympic 5,000m. Summarizes the ideas of coach Mihaly Igloi.
The Miler, by Steve Scott with Marc Bloom
A nice account of the American Record Holders career and a valuable book for those who pursue middle distance running at the highest levels.
Pre: The Story Of America's Greatest Running Legend, by Tom Jordan
Read it. Enough said.
Train Hard, Win Easy: The Kenyan Way, by Toby Tanser
How do the Kenyans do it? This book provides some insight.
Inside Track: My Professional Life In Amateur Track And Field, by Carl Lewis
America's best ever T&F athlete on his career. I like Carl despite his foibles.
Thrown Free, by Wolfgang Schmidt
A good look into the East German sports machine as experienced by Schmidt an Olympic Hero and former world record holder in the Discus throw.
Inside Running: Basics Of Sports Physiology, by David Costill
Basic physiology for the runner.
Running With The Buffaloes, by Chris Lear
A high-testosterone inside look at the University of Colorado's 1998 cross-country campaign.
Triumph and Tragedy: A History of Abebe Bikila and His Marathon Career
by Tsige Abebe
Bikila's daughter honored: Tsige Abebe, the daughter of two-time Olympic Marathon champion Abebe Bikila, will be a guest of honor at the Rome
Marathon in Italy on March 22. (Rome was the site of Bikila's barefoot
Olympic Marathon triumph in 1960.) Also, some Italian publishers have expressed an interest in translating
Abebe's biography on her father, Triumph and Tragedy: A History of Abebe Bikila and His Marathon Career,
into Italian. An autographed English copy can be purchased from the author. Send $12 plus $2 postage to
Tsige Abebe, 4711 West Braddock Road, Apt. 203, Alexandria, VA 22311.
John Kellogg Training Advice Posted on Letsrun by Carolina Runner on 8/9/2003