This handy trivia book is packed with everything you need to know about running, including potted history, quirky facts, sayings and hints about the planet's most popular exercise form.

It includes running philosophy and advice on how to get more out of your daily run. From science to humour, tips to tales, it runs the reader through everything they need to know about pounding the pavement.

This pocket-sized guide to running is the perfect gift for runners of all ages and experience levels.

In 2011, Belgian runner Stefaan Engels set the record for the most consecutive marathons run - 365. He was 49 years of age.

A study at the University of Oxford concluded that the post-run buzz people get after running is sparked by cannabinoids - the same substance that's found in marijuana.

Could Confucius hit a curveball?
Could Yoda block the plate?
Can the Dalai Lama dig one out of the dirt?

No, there is only one Zen master who could contemplate the circle of life while rounding the bases.

Who is this guru lurking in the grand old game? Well, he's the winner of ten World Series rings, a member of both the Hall of Fame and the All-Century Team, and perhaps the most popular and beloved ballplayer of all time. And without effort or artifice he's waxed poetic on the mysteries of time ("It gets late awful early out there"), the meaning of community ("It's so crowded nobody goes there anymore"), and even the omnipresence of hope in the direst circumstances ("It ain't over 'til it's over").

It's Yogi Berra, of course, and in What Time Is It? You Mean Now? Yogi expounds on the funny, warm, borderline inadvertent insights that are his trademark. Twenty-six chapters, one for each letter, examine the words, the meaning, and the uplifting example of a kid from St. Louis who grew up to become the consummate Yankee and the ultimate Yogi.

Trail Running Bend and Central Oregon is an extensive guide to the best trail running in one of the country's top outdoor destinations. Author and trail runner Lucas Alberg provides detailed descriptions of the area's best loop runs, including several new trails added within recent years. From classic high desert runs to the east in the Badlands, to mountain escapes and high alpine scenery to the west in the Cascades, the guide highlights the unique and diverse geography that Central Oregon has to offer. Unlike other guidebooks, Trail Running Bend and Central Oregon is organized by season, so runners can know when to hit the right trails at the right times throughout the year. The 50 routes described in the book are all located within 65 miles of Bend, which means that trail runners will spend more time doing what they love to do, instead of spending time behind the windshield in anticipation.

This book examines the relationship between athletics and philosophy in ancient Greece and Rome focused on the connection between athleticism and virtue. It begins by observing that the link between athleticism and virtue is older than sport, reaching back to the athletic feats of kings and pharaohs in early Egypt and Mesopotamia. It then traces the role of athletics and the Olympic Games in transforming the idea of aristocracy as something acquired by birth to something that can be trained. This idea of training virtue through the techniques and practice of athletics is examined in relation to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Then Roman spectacles such as chariot racing and gladiator games are studied in light of the philosophy of Lucretius, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. The concluding chapter connects the book's ancient observations with contemporary issues such as the use of athletes as role models, the relationship between money and corruption, the relative worth of participation and spectatorship, and the role of females in sport. The author argues that there is a strong link between sport and philosophy in the ancient world, calling them offspring of common parents: concern about virtue and the spirit of free enquiry. This book was previously published as a special issue of the Ethics and Sport.

This book examines the relationship between athletics and philosophy in ancient Greece and Rome focused on the connection between athleticism and virtue. It begins by observing that the link between athleticism and virtue is older than sport, reaching back to the athletic feats of kings and pharaohs in early Egypt and Mesopotamia. It then traces the role of athletics and the Olympic Games in transforming the idea of aristocracy as something acquired by birth to something that can be trained. This idea of training virtue through the techniques and practice of athletics is examined in relation to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Then Roman spectacles such as chariot racing and gladiator games are studied in light of the philosophy of Lucretius, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. The concluding chapter connects the book's ancient observations with contemporary issues such as the use of athletes as role models, the relationship between money and corruption, the relative worth of participation and spectatorship, and the role of females in sport. The author argues that there is a strong link between sport and philosophy in the ancient world, calling them offspring of common parents: concern about virtue and the spirit of free enquiry. This book was previously published as a special issue of the Ethics and Sport.

The 153-kilometre West Highland Way encompasses the variety of Scotland’s wild places. The route, which begins in Milngavie and finishes in Fort William, passes from Glasgow, Scotland’s friendliest city, through lochs and forests, and across wild moors in the shadows of Munros. Offering panoramic views and clear waymarking, it is no wonder this is one of Scotland’s most popular long-distance routes. The West Highland Way appeals to people who have different levels of experience and travel at all speeds, and this Vertebrate Publishing Guidemap is unique in that it caters for four categories of user, providing custom itineraries for walkers, trekkers, fastpackers and trail runners. This lightweight, waterproof, durable and easy-to-use folding map features all the essential information for a successful West Highland Way, including 1:40,000-scale mapping for the linear route starting in Milngavie and finishing in Fort William. It also includes a detailed elevation profile and route planner, safety advice, terrain information and an accommodation directory, and a link to a GPX file download.

Masters athletes are those that continue to train and compete, typically at a high level, beyond the age of thirty-five and into middle and old age. As populations in the industrialized world get older and governments become increasingly keen to promote healthy aging and non-pharmacological interventions, the study of masters athletes enables us to better understand the benefits of, and motivations for, life-long involvement in physical activity. This is the first book to draw together current research on masters athletes.

The Masters Athlete examines the evidence that cognitive skills, motor skills and physiological capabilities can be maintained at a high level with advancing age, and that age related decline is slowed in athletes that continue to train and compete in their later years. Including contributions from leading international experts in physiology, motor behaviour, psychology, gerontology and medicine, the book explores key issues such as:

• motivation for involvement in sport and physical activity across the lifespan
• evidence of lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes
• the maintenance of performance with age.

Challenging conventional views of old age, and with important implications for policy and future research, this book is essential reading for students and practitioners working in sport and exercise science, aging and public health, human development, and related disciplines.

Masters athletes are those that continue to train and compete, typically at a high level, beyond the age of thirty-five and into middle and old age. As populations in the industrialized world get older and governments become increasingly keen to promote healthy aging and non- pharmacological interventions, the study of masters athletes enables us to better understand the benefits of, and motivations for, life-long involvement in physical activity. This is the first book to draw together current research on masters athletes. The Masters Athlete examines the evidence that cognitive skills, motor skills and physiological capabilities can be maintained at a high level with advancing age, and that age related decline is slowed in athletes that continue to train and compete in their later years. Including contributions from leading international experts in physiology, motor behaviour, psychology, gerontology and medicine, the book explores key issues such as: motivation for involvement in sport and physical activity across the lifespan evidence of lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes the maintenance of performance with age. Challenging conventional views of old age, and with important implications for policy and future research, this book is essential reading for students and practitioners working in sport and exercise science, aging and public health, human development, and related disciplines.

The ultimate pain-to-personal-best guide to running injuries, covering prevention, detection and rehabilitation. Runners suffer from the highest injury rates of all recreational athletes. Whether you are a novice or elite-level runner, guide yourself through a step-by-step process of avoiding and managing injury. Written by a globally respected physiotherapist who has worked with Olympic and World Champion athletes, Running Free of Injuries will help runners to understand their body, identify weaknesses and develop a natural defence against injury. The book covers the most common running injuries that occur to the foot, ankle, lower leg, hip, knee and pelvis and includes key exercises applicable to all levels of fitness.

LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020 'Reads like a thriller, or even a spy novel...Walsh keeps you gripped' Rosamund Urwin, Sunday Times 'A turbulent but ultimately inspiring tale. The candour...is rare and gripping' Matt Dickinson, The Times It was the story that shocked the world: Russian athletics was revealed to be corrupt from top to bottom, with institutionalised doping used to help the nation's athletes win medals they did not deserve. But the full story of the couple who blew the whistle has never been told - until now. When Russian anti-doping official Vitaly Stepanov met the young 800m athlete Yuliya Rusanova, for him it was love at first sight. Within two months, they were married. But there was a problem - in fact, there were lots of problems. She admitted she was doping and that everyone else was doping, and she let him know that she came from a dark place ... It could all have brought a very swift end to a very hasty marriage, but gradually the Stepanovs began to realise that whatever you did, the system in Russia was stacked against you. In the end, the only ones they could rely upon were each other. Fully aware of the risks they were taking, they decided to turn the tables on those who had manipulated them and cheated the sporting world. The result of their investigative work sent shockwaves around the planet and led to Russia's athletes being banned from world sport, while the Stepanovs themselves had to go into hiding. The Russian Affair is a gripping true-life drama that at times reads like a spy novel and at others like an epic love story. But, at the centre of it all, is a quietly determined couple who knew that if they stood together they could shine a light on a corrupt system and bring it crashing to the ground.

The runners from Eisenhower High School had every possible justification to fail. They were poor with little time to devote to their passion. They had problems at home and distractions that would test even Job. Yet they gave their quest for the Washington State cross country championship everything they had. Running is a religion to millions of men and women who devoutly head out each day. They view any book that celebrates their passion as Holy Scripture-a must-read that can take them to The Promised Land. Salvation is at hand with Running to Glory--a celebration of grit, perseverance and ultimately the American Dream. It is the inspiring story of an Irish immigrant coach and a group of Hispanic boys and girls as they chase their hopes and a state championship. Running to Glory, by veteran journalist Sam McManis, follows the cross country team from Eisenhower High in Yakima, Washington, through a tumultuous and challenging season with excitement, suspense and pathos. The Eisenhower runners are primarily Latino from economically challenged families, many of whom are migrant farm workers. They must compete with more affluent schools in the Seattle-Tacoma area, where parent involvement is strong and funds are readily available to augment performance. Their coach Phil English knows how his runners feel. He grew up poor in rural Ireland in the 1960s during The Troubles, emigrated to the U.S. for a college track scholarship, and over 37 years coaching in Yakima, has won 11 state titles and sent more than 100 kids to college with full or partial scholarships for their running. How Eisenhower runners have accomplished such feats lies at the heart of the book's compelling narrative. McManis follows the team from summer workouts in the blistering sun to the state championship meet in the bitter cold. Readers will learn how these young men and women either overcome their environment or succumb to it--on the course and in the classroom.

The popularity of distance running as a sport, and a recreational activity, is at an all-time high. Motivated by the desire to achieve a personal best, remain healthy, or simply complete an event, distance runners of all ages and abilities actively seek out advice from experienced coaches and sport scientists. This is also reflected in the growth of programmes of education for young coaches and aspiring sport scientists in recent years. There are a multitude of different approaches to training distance runners; however, the basic principles and ingredients required for success are applicable to any distance runner. The science that underpins the training and physical preparation of distance runners has developed considerably in recent years. The most experienced and successful coaches in the distance running community rarely have the opportunity to share their tried and tested methods of training. Similarly, the novel work of sport scientists is often only accessible to elite runners, their support teams and academia. The Science and Practice of Middle and Long Distance Running links together the science and coaching artistry associated with preparing distance runners for events ranging from 800 m up to ultra-marathon distances. It combines the latest scientific evidence, published by world-leading sport scientists, with the sound training principles and strategies adopted by experienced coaches. The book translates cutting-edge scientific research from the fields of physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition into practical suggestions for achieving success. Important topical issues and contemporary practices related to health and performance are also addressed. This book is an essential addition to the library of any distance runner, coach or sport scientist.

An effective strength and conditioning program is an essential component of the preparation of any athlete or sportsperson. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance is a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to the theory and practice of strength and conditioning, providing students, coaches and athletes with everything they need to design and implement effective training programs. Revised and updated for a second edition, the book continues to include clear and rigorous explanations of the core science underpinning strength and conditioning techniques and give detailed, step-by-step guides to all key training methodologies, including training for strength, speed, endurance, flexibility and plyometrics. The second edition expands on the opening coaching section as well as introducing an entirely new section on current training methods which includes examining skill acquisition and motor learning. Throughout the book the focus is on the coaching process, with every chapter highlighting the application of strength and conditioning techniques in everyday coaching situations. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance includes a unique and extensive section of sport-specific chapters, each of which examines in detail the application of strength and conditioning to a particular sport, from soccer and basketball to golf and track and field athletics. The second edition sees this section expanded to include other sports such as rugby union, rugby league and American football. The book includes contributions from world-leading strength and conditioning specialists, including coaches who have worked with Olympic gold medallists and international sports teams at the highest level. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance is an essential course text for any degree-level student with an interest in strength and conditioning, for all students looking to achieve professional accreditation, and an invaluable reference for all practising strength and conditioning coaches.

What makes East African middle and long distance runners the best in the world? How should contemporary academia approach this question?

The success of East African distance runners has generated a plethora of studies but much of the 'evidence' presented to support hypotheses is anecdotal, arguments being led by non-academics who use popular media as their medium rather than relying on scientific publications. This has resulted in many stereotypical arguments being advocated.

Within the academic community, research has also been restricted by its isolation within either the natural science or social science communities. East African Running: Towards a Cross Disciplinary Perspective, presents a rare collaboration between researchers from the sports sciences and social sciences to explore the questions raised by the phenomena of East African success on the track. The text includes:

• psycho-social and economic explanations
• physiological and genetic explanations
• attempts to provide unified theories bringing together ideas from natural and social sciences

Includes contributions from John Bale, Jim Denison, Timothy D. Noakes and Craig Sharp.

Ellison ""Tarzan"" Brown was one of America's premier marathon runners during the 1930's and 1940's. This volume tells the story of his life from the beginning of his budding career in the early 1930's through his untimely death in 1975. With his unorthodox approach to the sport and his spectacular finishes, Tarzan Brown quickly became something of a legend in racing. Inevitably, he became the subject of stories that were not always entirely factual - and sometimes not very flattering. This biography seeks to present an accurate, unbiased account of Brown's life. The reminiscences of his close friends, family and even his rivals paint a vivid picture of the man and his career. The book covers in considerable depth events such as Brown's first Boston Marathon victory and his trips to the 1936 and 1940 Olympic Games. Also discussed are the rivalries between Brown and other marathoners of the day. Completing the picture are a look at the more personal aspects of Brown's life, such as his struggle to support his young family, and an examination of his Narrangansett Indian heritage. The final chapter discusses the misconceptions surrounding Brown's accidental death outside a bar in 1975. An appendix offers a wealth of information on the sport of running.

On 6th May 1954, in what is regarded as one of the key moments in the history of modern sport, Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes. Fifty years on, Bannister's status, not just as a champion athlete but also as a true British hero, a gentleman and an amateur from a "golden era" in sport, retains its unblemished appeal.
Until now there has been little critical and even less close historical study of Bannister and his achievement. This book redresses the balance, and in doing so provides fresh insights into the making of this British champion.
"Roger Bannister and the Four-Minute Mile" does more than detail the history of a sports star. It is a testimonial to the legend of Roger Bannister but it also invites the reader to reconsider the very words often used to describe him - notably "hero" and "gentleman amateur." Informed by contemporary sports science, the text also questions the significance of the four-minute mile per se.
Thoroughly researched, this book gives fascinating insights into the history of track racing as well as early athletic training methods and the beginnings of sports science.
The first rigorous historical study of Bannister's sporting life and the man behind the legend reveals an ambivalent athlete - highly achievement-orientated and scientific in his approach but also in love with the freedom of running sensuously in nature, in contrast to the constraints of modern sport.

Join 300,000 other runners in using the bestselling training diary from the world's leading running magazine!

Runner's World

Even if you have benefited from the advice of running experts, you can gain even more knowledge by keeping and studying your own personal running record.

Inside this handy diary, Runner's World provides the outline. You fill in the facts about each day's run, such as your pace, the distance you ran, your pulse rate, and weather conditions. You set the goals--to run every day or twice a week, to log two or ten miles a day, to train for a 10K or a marathon--then note your progress. You discover what really works, and what doesn't.

In addition to a useful format and generous space for charting an entire year's running, the "Runner's World Training Diary" also includes:

Charts to record racing results, best times, and a year's running at a glance

Tables listing pacing rates, wind-chill readings, and metric distance conversions

Warm-up exercises and valuable running hints

A helpful table showing the caloric cost of running

Pages for training records, schedule planning, and much more!

This book of interviews with track and field athletes highlights those whose lives have revealed courage, persistence and decency both on and off the field. After their great careers ended, they went on to become authors, teachers, coaches, radio and television sports commentators, consultants, Congressmen, actors, businessmen, military officers, social workers and ministers. Many continued in athletics long after their days as Olympians. The Olympic track and field athletes include Glenn Cunningham (middle distances), Lee Calhoun (high hurdles), Ken Doherty (decathlon), Dick Fosbury (high jump), Bruce Jenner (decathlon), Abel Kiviat (middle distances), Bob Mathias (decathlon), Al Oerter (discus throw), Bob Richards (pole vault), Wes Santee (middle distances), Jackson Scholz (sprints), Bill Toomey (decathlon), Forrest Towns (high hurdles), Craig Virgin (long distances), Archie Williams (long sprints), John Woodruff (middle distances), and Olympic coaches Payton Jordan and Berny Wagner. They talk about the influences in their lives that helped them develop their values, their first memories of competition and participation in their sport, their educational experiences, the problems they faced when they were active competitors and the problems athletes today face, and many other topics.

Even the most minor of injuries can sideline a runner from being active for an extended period of time; some are even determined to run through the pain and risk injuring themselves further. Danny Dreyer's technique, ChiRunning, can help prevent these injuries and promote the ability to run faster, farther, and with less effort at any age. ChiRunning employs the deep power reserves in the core muscles of the trunk, an approach that evolved out of such disciplines as yoga, Pilates, and t'ai chi. Dreyer's training principles are broken down step-by-step to accommodate all levels of runners.

26 MILES TO BOSTON slips squarely into the running shoes and minds of the athletes as they traverse the 26-mile, 385-yard course of America's most venerated long-distance race. From suburban Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to the center of metropolitan Boston, here are the mile-by-mile sights and sounds experienced by the runners. Interwoven throughout is the colorful history of the men and women of manifold skills who have competed in this preeminent event over the span of more than a century. Profusely illustrated with photographs and maps, 26 MILES TO BOSTON is a book for anyone who's ever wondered what it might be like to run the Boston Marathon.

Nearly half a century ago, Filbert Bayi revolutionized how the middle-distance races were run. During that heyday of athletics competition before pacemakers were hired to take the lead, the unheralded Tanzanian served as his own 'rabbit'. The innovative Bayi set a blistering pace that dared formidable challengers from around the globe to, as his autobiography suggests, Catch Me If You Can. After an inspiring career that included two world records and an Olympic medal, Bayi took the same assertive approach into post-racing life as an educator, entrepreneur and sports administrator. Today, he still embodies excellence in a school and foundation that bear his name as he strives to improve his country and community. In telling his long-awaited story, Bayi recounts hardships, including his mother's encounter with hyenas while he was still in the womb, bouts of malaria and an Olympic boycott, as well as enduring friendships with John Walker and other great rivals. Over nearly 70 years, his experiences consistently reflect the three values he treasures most - sacrifice, commitment and confidence - resulting in an unforgettable example for anyone, anywhere to follow.

'Jenny Tough writes with the same talent, imagination, and sheer courage that she displays in her athletic endeavours. This book will broaden the horizons of all who venture between its covers.' - Emily Chappell, author of Where There's a Will 'I love that SOLO is part-self help and part adventure story. Jenny shows us all that the journey to self-belief comes with just as many ups and downs as the mountains she traverses and that, with a little trust in ourselves (and a few good cups of coffee) the next seemingly insurmountable pass is never beyond our reach.' - Anna McNuff, author of Bedtime Adventure Stories for Grown Ups Jenny Tough is an endurance athlete who's best known for running and cycling in some of world's most challenging events - achieving accolades that are an inspiration to outdoor adventurers everywhere. But SOLO tells the story of a much more personal project: Jenny's quest to come to terms with feelings and emotions that were holding her back. Like runners at any level, she knew already that running made her feel better, and like so many of us, she knew that completing goals independently was empowering, too. So she set herself an audacious objective: to run - solo, unsupported, on her own - across mountain ranges on six continents, starting with one of the most remote locations on Earth in Kyrgystan. SOLO chronicles Jenny's journey every step of the way across the Tien Shan (Asia), the High Atlas (Africa), the Bolivian Andes (South America), the Southern Alps (Oceania), the Canadian Rockies (North America) and the Transylvanian Alps (Europe), as she learns lessons in self-esteem, resilience, bravery and so much more. What Jenny's story tells us most of all is that setting out to do things solo - whether the ambitious or the everyday - can be invigorating, encouraging and joyful. And her call to action to find strength, confidence and self-belief in everything we do will inspire and motivate.