The greatest athletes in the world today are not the Olympic champions or the stars of professional sports, but the "marathon monks" of Japan's sacred Mount Hiei. Over a seven-year training period, these "running buddhas" figuratively circle the globe on foot. During one incredible 100-day stretch, they cover 52.5 miles daily-twice the length of an Olympic marathon. And the prize they seek to capture is the greatest thing a human being can achieve: enlightenment in the here and now.

This book is about these amazing men, the magic mountain on which they train, and the philosophy of Tendai Buddhism, which inspires them in their quest for the supreme. The reader will learn about the monks' death-defying fasts, their vegetarian training diet, their handmade straw running shoes, and feats of endurance such as their ceremonial leap into a waterfall. Illustrated with superb photographs, the book also contains the first full-length study in English of Mount Hiei and Tendai Buddhism.

John Stevens lived in Japan for thirty-five years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. Stevens is a widely respected translator, an ordained Buddhist priest, a curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor. He has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai. Stevens has also studied calligraphy for decades, authoring the classic "Sacred Calligraphy of the East." Other John Stevens titles that are likely to be of interest include "Extraordinary Zen Masters" and "The Philosophy of Aikido."

How much power does your human engine have? How much power do you need for running in different conditions? How can you optimize your training and racing performance? How can you use power meters to improve your results? What are the ultimate limits of human performance?The Secret of Running answers all of these questions. All factors determining the performance in running (from 800-meter race to marathon) are explained step by step: training, nutrition, body weight, running form, wind, hills, temperature, running gear, power meters and much more. Written in a crystal-clear and lively style, this book is a wealth of information for every ambitious runner. This title also contains brand new insights on how the balance of the power of your human engine and the power requirement for running in different conditions determines your performance. It shows how power meters can be used to optimize your training, running economy and race result. This book is lavishly illustrated and packed with useful data. Being already a bestseller in the Netherlands and Belgium, The Secret of Running can be considered the ultimate textbook for all serious runners and their coaches.

On 4 August 2012 Jessica Ennis kicked off what some described as the greatest night in British sporting history. For her it was the end of a long, winding, and sometimes harrowing road. Hers is an inspiring tale of following your dreams no matter what life throws at you. Unbelievable is a refreshingly candid account of her rise to fame in a highly charged world in which body image issues and drug abuses lurk. From the unique pressures facing her, to behind-the-scenes glimpses into the greatest show on earth, and a revealing account of her love-hate relationship with her long-term coach, Jessica reveals the truth behind the smiles for the first time. Unbelievable includes exclusive behind-the-scenes photos. This is the story of how the girl next door became London's poster girl, and how an ordinary woman used an extraordinary talent to claim the title of the world's greatest all-round female sports star.

Reviews of The Science of Running: "The Science of Running sets the new standard for training theory and physiological data. Every veteran and beginner distance coach needs to have this on their book shelf." -Alan Webb American Record Holder-Mile 3:46.91 "For anyone serious about running, The Science of Running offers the latest information and research for optimizing not only your understanding of training but also your performance. If you want to delve deeper into the world of running and training, this book is for you. You will never look at running the same." -Jackie Areson, 15th at the 2013 World Championships in the 5k. 15:12 5,000m best If you are looking for how to finish your first 5k, this book isn't for you. The Science of Running is written for those of us looking to maximize our performance, get as close to our limits as possible, and more than anything find out how good we can be, or how good our athletes can be. In The Science of Running, elite coach and exercise physiologist Steve Magness integrates the latest research with the training processes of the world's best runners, to deliver an in depth look at how to maximize your performance. It is a unique book that conquers both the scientific and practical points of running in two different sections. The first is aimed at identifying what limits running performance from a scientific standpoint. You will take a tour through the inside of the body, learning what causes fatigue, how we produce energy to run, and how the brain functions to hold you back from super-human performance. In section two, we turn to the practical application of this information and focus on the process of training to achieve your goals. You will learn how to develop training plans and to look at training in a completely different way. The Science of Running does not hold back information and is sure to challenge you to become a better athlete, coach, or exercise scientist in covering such topics as: . What is fatigue? The latest research on looking at fatigue from a brain centered view. . Why VO2max is the most overrated and misunderstood concept in both the lab and on the track . Why "zone" training leads to suboptimal performance. . How to properly individualize training for your own unique physiology. . How to look at the training process in a unique way in terms of stimulus and adaptation. . Full sample training programs from 800m to the marathon."

Why am I always tired? Why can't I sleep at night? Why do I suffer from jetlag?

We all have a body clock, a biological structure that controls how we feel, our mental and physical performance, and whether we are active or asleep. This is nature's response to our rhythmic environment, dominated by day and night. Though the body clock normally adjusts us to daytime activity and night time sleep, it can go wrong or be tricked by lifestyle changes. This can result in jetlag, some forms of insomnia and even depression. Keeping in time with your body clock provides clear and accessible advice on how to live with, and not against, your body clock. In a clear and accessible style, it explains how the body clock works, how and why it can work against you, and the measures you can take to optimise your feeling of health and wellbeing. It also explains the role of the body clock in illness, and how an understanding of this can increase your feeling of health.

An essential book for anyone who wants to better understand their body and optimise their feeling of health and wellbeing.

From the best-selling author of "C25K: The Couch to 5K Beginner Running Program," this newly expanded version of the program is designed to turn the average couch potato into a 10K runner in just 14 weeks. Like the original C25K program, this 10K running plan eases you into running. It begins with a combination of running and walking that gets progressively more challenging. You'll run just three times a week for 14 weeks. At the end of the program you'll be able to run for 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles.

If you are a triathlete, coach, or someone interested in participating in an upcoming triathlon, Sport Psychology Library: Triathlon holds many answers to establishing and maintaining the mental discipline needed for what is certainly one of the most grueling and psychologically challenging events in all of sport. Guided by the expertise of Dr. Joe Baker and Dr. Whitney Sedgwick-both experienced, successful athletes and triathlon competitors - Sport Psychology Library: Triathlon summarizes current research and offers invaluable mental exercises to improve mental performance during triathlon training and competition.

"Hamilton is a guarantee of quality." -Financial Times "Duncan Hamilton's compelling biography puts flesh on the legend and paints a vivid picture of not only a great athlete, but also a very special human being." -Daily Mail The untold and inspiring story of Eric Liddell, hero of Chariots of Fire, from his Olympic medal to his missionary work in China to his last, brave years in a Japanese work camp during WWII Many people will remember Eric Liddell as the Olympic gold medalist from the Academy Award winning film Chariots of Fire. Famously, Liddell would not run on Sunday because of his strict observance of the Christian sabbath, and so he did not compete in his signature event, the 100 meters, at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was the greatest sprinter in the world at the time, and his choice not to run was ridiculed by the British Olympic committee, his fellow athletes, and most of the world press. Yet Liddell triumphed in a new event, winning the 400 meters in Paris. Liddell ran-and lived-for the glory of his God. After winning gold, he dedicated himself to missionary work. He travelled to China to work in a local school and as a missionary. He married and had children there. By the time he could see war on the horizon, Liddell put Florence, his pregnant wife, and children on a boat to Canada, while he stayed behind, his conscience compelling him to stay among the Chinese. He and thousands of other westerners were eventually interned at a Japanese work camp. Once imprisoned, Liddell did what he was born to do, practice his faith and his sport. He became the moral center of an unbearable world. He was the hardest worker in the camp, he counseled many of the other prisoners, he gave up his own meager portion of meals many days, and he organized games for the children there. He even raced again. For his ailing, malnourished body, it was all too much. Liddell died of a brain tumor just before the end of the war. His passing was mourned around the world, and his story still inspires. In the spirit of The Boys in the Boat and Unbroken, For the Glory is both a compelling narrative of athletic heroism and a gripping story of faith in the darkest circumstances.

"Lore of Running" gives you incomparable detail on physiology, training, racing, injuries, world-class athletes, and races.

Author Tim Noakes blends the expertise of a physician and research scientist with the passion of a dedicated runner to answer the most pressing questions for those who are serious about the sport:

-How your body systems respond to training, the effects of different training methods, how to detect and avoid overtraining, and genetic versus trainable potential

-How to train for the 10K up through ultramarathon with detailed programs from Noakes and several leading running experts

-How to prevent and treat injuries, increase your strength and flexibility, and use proper nutrition for weight control and maximum performance

You'll also find a candid analysis of supplements and ergogenic effects and training aids. The book includes new interviews with 10 world-class runners who share their secrets to success and longevity in the sport. Features on legendary figures and events in running history provide fascinating insights.

And that's just scratching the surface. "Lore of Running" is not only the biggest and best running publication on the planet. It's the one book every runner should own.

Abel Kiviat (1892-1991) was one of track and field's legendary personalities, a world record-holder and Olympic medalist in the metric mile. A teenage prodigy, he defeated Hall of Fame runners in Madison Square Garden before his twentieth birthday. Alan S. Katchen brings Kiviat's fascinating story to life and re-creates a lost world, when track and field was at the height of its popularity and occupying a central place in America's sporting world. The seventh and oldest child of Moishe and Zelda Kiviat, Jewish immigrants from Poland, Abel competed as 'the Hebrew runner' for New York's famed Irish-American Athletic Club and was elected its captain. Katchen offers a detailed account of the I-AAC's evolution, including its close ties to the Tammany Hall political machine, and sheds light on the rapid modernization of the sport and the ways it provided a vehicle for the assimilation of working-class, immigrant athletes. Overcoming bigotry and prejudice from several of the sport's leaders, Kiviat served for fifty years as the Amateur Athletic Union's press steward during the emergence of broadcast media. He died at ninety-nine, just months short of carrying the torch for the opening ceremonies of the Barcelona Olympics. Abel Kiviat, National Champion pays tribute to a remarkable athlete and the sport during its most dynamic and celebrated era.

Destined to be a cult classic.
As the first running boom was sprouting in the early 1970's, a group of Kentucky teenagers were brought together by a young coach who was ahead of his time. Cross country was regarded as a sport for the slightly odd and unathletic, a means of "getting an easy varsity letter." Among this group of runners was a particularly odd (though strangely athletic) teenager who was taken in by the joy of running over the grass, hills, and mud of cross country courses. The coach and seasonally growing team rose to dominance of Kentucky cross country in the span of four short years. Along the way, they "learned the lessons every runner has to learn, mostly the hard way, many of them twice." From humble backgrounds and with guidance from a ground breaking coach, the Lloyd Memorial High School Juggernauts led the way for high schools in Northern Kentucky to win State Championships for over thirty consecutive years. This is that story.

Paul VI High School dominated boys' scholastic cross-country in South Jersey over a span of 20 years. From 1980 through 1999, Paul VI was voted the number one boys' cross-country team in South Jersey an unprecedented 15 times, including 11 straight seasons encompassing the years 1980 through 1990. Paul VI won 7 New Jersey State Championships in boys' cross-country over a 12-year period, within the toughest division in New Jersey-Parochial-A. The Paul VI Eagles also became the number one team in all of New Jersey 4 times by winning the prestigious Meet of Champions, the most titles won by any South Jersey high school. Jason DiJoseph, a 1989 Paul VI graduate and 3-time State Champion in cross-country, was named the Runner-of-the-Century by the Courier-Post newspaper in 1999. DiJoseph's coach, Mike Glavin, was voted the Coach-of-the-Century. From 1980 through 2006, Paul VI High School won 240 consecutive dual meets in boys' cross-country. This streak is the fourth longest high school winning streak in cross-country history. Jim Enright had the pleasure of coaching the Paul VI boys' cross-country team from 2003 through 2006.

'Elite athletes aren't born. They're made.' Michael Johnson From a living icon of the Olympic Games - as both an athlete and now as a BBC broadcaster - Gold Rush is a compelling analysis of the fascinating combination of psychological and personal qualities, as well as internal and external factors, that go to create an Olympic champion. This exciting new book is based on Michael Johnson's own experiences as an iconic four-time Olympic champion, and on the knowledge he has gleaned as a top-class coach and motivational speaker. It also features, uniquely, more than a dozen exclusive and insightful interviews with Olympic legends from across several different sports who between them have claimed more than 50 gold medals over the past 30 years. In essence, Johnson has assembled his very own Olympic Hall of Fame in assessing the DNA of true champions. Gold Rush is themed around chapters in which Johnson will discuss each of the key qualities/factors. He expertly feeds in fascinating first-person testimonies from the Olympic legends. In the process he builds up a definitive knowledge bank of expertise and experience from athletes who have been on this fascinating journey, encountered the highs and the lows, but ultimately reached the summit - an Olympic gold medal. Johnson's interviewees include: Usain Bolt Carl Lewis Sally Gunnell Seb Coe Daley Thompson Cathy Freeman Ian Thorpe Michael Phelps Rebecca Adlington Chris Hoy Steve Redgrave Matthew Pinsent Lennox Lewis Michael Jordan

Any runner can tell you that the sport isn't just about churning out miles day in and day out. Runners have a passion, dedication, and desire to go faster, longer, and farther. Now, "The Art of Running Faster" provides you with a new approach to running, achieving your goals and setting your personal best.

Whether you're old or young, new to the sport or an experienced marathoner, this guide will change how you run and the results you achieve. "The Art of Running Faster" challenges the stereotypes, removes the doubts and erases the self-imposed limitations by prescribing not only what to do but also how to do it. Inside, you will learn how to

-overcome the obstacles that prevent you from running faster, more comfortably, and with greater focus;

-rethink conventional training methods, listen to your body, and challenge traditional running 'norms';

-customize your training program to emphasize the development of speed, strength, and stamina;

-shift gears, reach that next level of performance, and blow past the competition.

In this one-of-a-kind guide, former world-class runner Julian Goater shares his experiences, insights and advice for better, more efficient and faster running.

Much more than training tips and motivational stories, "The Art of Running Faster" is your guide to improved technique and optimal performance. Let Julian Goater show you a new way to run faster, farther and longer.

Athletic contests in running, walking, jumping and throwing are among the oldest of all sports and their roots are prehistoric. Athletics events were depicted in the Ancient Egyptian tombs in Saqqara, with illustrations of running at the Heb Sed festival and high jumping appearing in tombs from as early as 2250 BC. The original and only event at the first Olympics in 776 BC was the stadion, a stadium-length running event. The turn of the century was a time of renewed interest in the sport, with the foundation of the Amateur Athletics Association in 1880, the first modern Summer Olympics in 1896 and the International Amateur Athletics Federation in 1912. In this classic guide, Montague Shearman traces the evolution of athletics and shares his expertise in training and discipline.

Great athletes make difficult moves look effortless with a combination of skill, strength, and balance. Traditional conditioning builds a fitness base, but modern sports training takes into account athletic movement patterns. The Athletic Body in Balance book and DVD first of its kind to show you how to train for smooth, fluid movement and prevent muscle imbalances, mobility restrictions, stability problems, and injuries. Physical therapist and sports conditioning expert Gray Cook has proven the effectiveness of his approach through the performances of athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, WNBA, and Reebok (R) University's sports training system. Whereas other books concentrate on maximizing your strengths, the Athletic Body in Balance book focuses on exposing and overcoming your weaknesses to form a foundation for long-term training gains. Cook will help you identify functional weaknesses; correct imbalances; explore your potential; and refine sport-specific movement skills such as jumping, kicking, cutting, and turning. You will see where conditioning is breaking down and how to get your body back on track. The Athletic Body in Balance DVD then covers five assessment tests to help you find the imbalances in movement patterns, sample corrective exercises to improve mobility and stability, and ways to integrate these exercises into a regular training program. The tests include -deep squat-assessing the mobility and stability of the hips, knees, and ankles -hurdle steps-evaluating bilateral mobility and stability of the hips, knees, and ankles -in-line lunge-determining hip mobility and stability, quadriceps flexibility, and ankle and knee stability on both sides of the body -straight leg raise-gauging hamstring flexibility -seated rotation-measuring uppertrunk stability during a combined upper- and lower-body movement Move more efficiently and achieve real gains in performance with the Athletic Body in Balance book and DVD. Human Kinetics DVDs are coded for universal playback and can be played in all regions of the world.

Racing Weight is a proven weight-management program designed specifically for endurance athletes. Revealing new research and drawing from the best practices of elite athletes, coach and nutritionist Matt Fitzgerald lays out six easy steps to help cyclists, triathletes, and runners lose weight without harming their training. This comprehensive and science-based program shows athletes the best ways to lose weight and avoid the common lifestyle and training hang-ups that keep new PRs out of reach. The updated Racing Weight program helps athletes: Improve diet qualityManage appetiteBalance energy sourcesEasily monitor weight and performanceTime nutrition throughout the dayTrain to get-and stay-lean Racing Weight offers practical tools to make weight management easy. Fitzgerald's no-nonsense Diet Quality Score improves diet without counting calories. Racing Weight superfoods are diet foods high in the nutrients athletes need for training. Supplemental strength training workouts can accelerate changes in body composition. Daily food diaries from 18 pro athletes reveal how the elites maintain an athletic diet while managing appetite. Athletes know that every extra pound wastes energy and hurts performance. With Racing Weight, cyclists, triathletes, and runners have a simple program and practical tools to hit their target numbers on both the race course and the scale.

It's normal for a daily run to become somewhat of a chore. Finding out how to get out of the rut can be a challenge. Luckily, The Happy Runner has the answers for you. Authors David and Megan Roche believe you can't reach your running potential without consistency and joyful daily adventures. These can lead to long-term health and happiness. Guided by their personal experiences and coaching expertise, they help you learn exactly how to become a happier runner and achieve your personal best. The text uses proven coaching methods to teach you how to run faster, run longer and stay healthy. There are also real stories from successful athletes who have had personal breakthroughs as they learn to love the process of running. You will also learn how to adapt your running based on personal lifestyle and goals. As well as how to avoid setbacks from injury. Whether you're battling burnout, returning after injury or simply just new to running and want to enjoy it, the science-based guidance in The Happy Runner helps you get faster, go longer and live stronger.

This is the sensational insider story of Oscar Pistorius, by the acclaimed author of Playing The Enemy (which inspired the movie Invictus.)

The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius will rivet the world's attention in a way no other case has since another famous sportsman, O. J. Simpson, was tried for the murder of his ex wife in 1994. John Carlin brings his own extensive knowledge of South Africa and access to Pistorius himself, as well as to his friends and family, after the death of Reeva Steenkamp to tell the story of the rise and fall of a classically tragic hero.

It is the most remarkable sports story ever told - about a man whose legs were amputated at the age of eleven months and ended up running in the Olympic Games - and it is a story too about crime and punishment, love and death that follows Pistorius' trail from South Africa to London, to the United States, to Iceland, to Italy and has at its heart a richly varied and compelling set of characters, among them the beautiful victim, two brilliant rival lawyers and the fascinatingly complex figure of Oscar Pistorius himself.

"Core Concepts in Athletic Training and Therapy" provides a balanced introduction to the knowledge, skills, and clinical abilities that span the profession of athletic training. Students in athletic training, coaching, or other health care fields will find current information covering the breadth of theory and application of athletic training, including evidence-based practice, prevention and health promotion, clinical examination and diagnosis, acute and emergency care, therapeutic interventions, and health care administration. It also presents advanced topics of pathophysiology and psychological response to sport injury to better prepare students for continued study.

Compared to other introductory athletic training texts, "Core Concepts in Athletic Training and Therapy" is the only text that aligns with the newest athletic training education competencies from the National Athletic Trainers' Association (2011). Written by a team of respected athletic training educators with experience at the professional and collegiate levels, the text breaks new ground by condensing key concepts to a comprehensive level while not overwhelming students with content that will be addressed in depth in advanced courses. Numerous features assist students in learning the fundamentals:

- Each of the six parts opens with a discussion of the competencies that are covered in that part and concludes with a reference list of those competencies by description and number, making it easy to monitor the knowledge required.

- A companion web resource contains 41 clinical proficiency exercises, carefully chosen to complement the introductory level of the text and align with required educational objectives. The modules may be completed online or printed, and cross-references at the end of each chapter guide students to the appropriate modules to apply the chapter content.

- Case studies sprinkled throughout the text demonstrate real-world situations and include critical thinking questions that underscore principles of rehabilitation and exercise.

- Full-color photographs depict specific conditions and techniques, giving students an accurate picture of real practice.

- For instructors, a complete set of ancillaries assists in preparing and presenting lectures, leading class discussion, and planning assignments and assessments.

In addition, "Core Concepts in Athletic Training and Therapy" is the first text to offer a complete chapter on evidence-based practice, the newest educational competency required of entry-level athletic trainers by the NATA. The rest of the text introduces general information about life as an athletic trainer, such as training, education, licensure, certification, employment opportunities, and the roles in a sports medicine team. The core of the text then focuses on required knowledge and skills related to injury prevention, injury recognition and classification (including region-specific examination strategies, basic objective tests, physical exam strategies, and injury mechanisms), acute care, therapeutic interventions, and the role of pharmaceuticals in the healing process. To round out the text, it addresses health care administration and discusses strategies for the management of athletic training programs.

With learning features and a web resource that integrate clinical learning into an introductory course, "Core Concepts in Athletic Training and Therapy" is the essential resource for current and future athletic trainers. Long after its first use, it will prove a valuable reference for athletic training students as they progress through the curriculum, prepare for certificiation, and begin careers in the profession.

"Core Concepts in Athletic Training and Therapy" is part of Human Kinetics' Athletic Training Education Series. Featuring the work of respected authorities in athletic training, this collection of outstanding textbooks, each with its own supporting instructional resources, parallels and expounds on the content areas in the accreditation standards of the NATA Education Council.