marathon

Four Months to a Four-hour Marathon,Updated
$13.95
I have had this book for quite a while but held off on writing a review until putting it to the test. I ran my first marathon this month - the New York City Marathon, at age 61. My personal target was 4:30 and I succeeded in just beating that. I used many sources of inspiration and information, some printed and the others verbal or web-based. This book, which intrigued me, was one such source.
It is a short book (about 100 pages). It is a little out of date. Nevertheless, I found it very relevant, easy to use, and often of help. If someone wanted to run their first marathon and was limited to reading no more than one 100-page book, this book is undoubtedly the answer.
The book includes some valuable inspirational material, including an anecdote surrounding the author's father and the story of Oprah. This is a great start for a questioning first marathoner.
It also includes an outline training plan. While I would not rely totally on that plan, I found it a good basis for a personal training program. If I was ever in doubt as to my own training approach, I found it useful to read this book's plan to check that I was in the same ballpark. Many little tips in the book are also useful.
In summary, I found this book very helpful, and I would definitely recommend it as one book to read for anyone contemplating running his or her first marathon.
Warwick Ford, Co-author "Fun on Foot in New York"

Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide
$17.99
I found this book an invaluable resource while training for my first marathon several years ago. Its a great resource of information, especially to those new to racing. If you are thinking about or training for your first marathon, this is a must buy.

The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training
$14.95
This book is absolutely hilarious! This is the book for "the rest of us" and talks about all of the things all the "runners" will never tell you. There is a running schedule for beginners* and some practical advice along the way. Most of all, it's an entertaining description of in-the-trenches training that us newbies can relate to.

Read this book if you:

1. Have no clue how to get started or a realistic view of what to expect on your quest to become a runner.
2. Have ever gotten passed by the walkers.
3. Feel overwhelmed at the thought of running a marathon or intimidated by all of the "athletes" out there.
4. Need some motivation and support to finally get started.
5. Have the overwhelming urge to laugh until you almost collapse in tears and wet your pants.

*One reviewer didn't recommend the training schedule supplied in the book. Do not let that stop you from getting this book. It's there more as a reference rather than a "do it this way" rule. This book is about an experience, not a how-to book. There are plenty of training schedules out there and they are all slightly different. Like your running shoes, they are not one-size-fits-all.

Spirit of the Marathon
$27.98
This is a great movie. This movie has plenty of elite runners providing insight and tracks 4 non-elite runners training and running the Chicago marathon for various reasons. The sound track adds to the excitement of the race. For someone who is considering running a marathon, this is a great movie. You feel the highs and lows of the runners. It is often asked "Why would you want to run 26.2 miles?" The answer is the moment you cross the finish line. The marathon is a journey that defines you. There simply is no way to describe finishing one. Because the camera is able to track the runners during the marathon, this is as close as you can get to actually experiencing it. Better than watching life coverage which only tracks the elites. I loved it. S. Altemus, Pittsburgh, PA