Getting Real About Running

Book excerpt: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE In more than twenty years as a runner and a coach, top marathoner Gordon Bakoulis has tackled almost every problem a runner can face. Now in her accessible, inspiring new book, Bakoulis becomes your personal coach and mentor, preparing you to meet the exhilarating challenges of running. She discusses everything a runner must know, including: SETTING UP A PROGRAM: Three-month, six-month, and one-year training cycles; the importance of rest and downtime. CHOOSING EQUIPMENT: Foot types and finding shoes that meet your unique biomedical needs; the latest apparel for hot-and-cold-weather running. COMMON INJURIES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM: Runner?s knee, heel spurs, shin splints; the benefits of stretches, massage, and yoga. FUELING YOUR BODY: Diets for different lifestyles and fitness levels; easy, nutritious recipes. THE SCIENCE OF RUNNING: the ?hard-easy? approach to training. RUNNING WITH (AND FOR) YOUR HEAD: How running can make you feel more sane and alive, with mantras used by champions. CHILDREN WHO RUN: An illustrated discussion of the special concerns of runners from 6 to 18. RUNNING AND AGING: Advice for runners over 50, with profiles of senior runners. PLUS?Pace charts, mile/kilometer conversion, and running resources and organizations. Getting Real About Running gets down to the real nitty-gritty of this most satisfying of sports. Here?s a book that?s worth its weight in gold medals!