This is a celebration of running, and what lots of us think about when we run. Part escape, part self-discovery, part therapy, part fitness. Part simple childlike joy of running when you could be walking. Vassos Alexander shares the highs and lows of falling in love with running, from his first paltry efforts to reach the end of his street to completing ultra marathons and triathlons in the same weekend. Each of the 26.2 chapters also features a fascinating insight into how others first started, from Paula Radcliffe to Steve Cram, the Brownlees to Jenson Button, Nicky Campbell to Nell McAndrew. Funny, inspiring, honest - the perfect read for anyone with well-worn trainers by the door (or thinking of buying a pair...).

Put on your running shoes - it's time to hit the road, the trails and the great outdoors. In this comprehensive runner's companion, you'll find 50 of the world's greatest running routes - from short city runs and must-do marathons to cross-country trails and challenging ultras - plus a further 150 courses around the globe to satisfy runners of all abilities. Each run is accompanied by stunning photos and a map and toolkit of practical details - where to start and finish, how to get there, where to stay and more - to help you plan the perfect trip. Suggestions for similar runs around the world are also included. Organised by continent, Lonely Planet's Epic Runs of the World takes runners past giraffes, zebras and rhinos in Africa, along courses the length of Vancouver's Stanley Park Seawall in the Americas, offers spectacular views of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak in Asia and jogs along Rome's Tiber River in Europe, while inviting athletes to push themselves to the limit in Oceania's Blue Mountains Ultra. Runs in Africa include: The Lewa Safari Marathon (Kenya) Marathon Des Sables (Morocco) The Great Ethiopian Run The Comrades Ultramarathon (South Africa) Run in the Americas include: The Big Sur Marathon (USA) Havana's El Malecon (Cuba) Rio at Dawn (Brazil) An Illuminating Ascent in La Paz (Bolivia) Runs in Asia include: The Great Wall Marathon (China) Angkor Wat Half Marathon (Cambodia) A Temple Ascent in Pokhara (Nepal) Kyoto's Riverside (Japan) Runs in Europe include: Amalfi Coast's Path of the Gods (Italy) A Classic Fell Run in the Lakes (England) The Athens Marathon (Greece) Dublin's Wild Side (Ireland) Runs in Oceania include: Great Ocean Road Marathon (Australia) The Kepler Track (New Zealand) Freycinet Peninsula (Tasmania) A Ghost Run in Waihi Gorge (New Zealand) About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more.

From world-renowned adventurer and bestselling author of The Art of Resilience and The World's Fittest Book, comes the ultimate blueprint to building a bulletproof body. 'He's an animal' CHRIS HEMSWORTH 'The inner workings of a sports science genius' EDDIE HALL, former World's Strongest Man Ross Edgley has spent decades perfecting the principles and practice of extreme fitness to achieve the impossible. Following a career-threatening injury in 2018, Ross was forced to reassess his training and take the next steps in a lifelong journey of redefining what the human body is capable of. In Blueprint, Ross shares the cutting-edge training program that empowered him to rebuild his body from surgery and a doctor's gloomy prognosis in just 365 days to complete a world record swim. Whether it's climbing a mountain, swimming the English Channel, or a gruelling triathlon, Blueprint will teach you the tried and tested principles of sports science that have been used for decades by Olympians, explorers and adventurers at the limits of peak physical endurance. Blueprint is Ross Edgley's complete training journey that shows you how to: * Divide a 365-day training plan into seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn) * Rebuild your body using evolutionary medicine * Build a superhuman work capacity with forgotten Spartan-style training * Gain bulletproof resilience through Soviet-inspired strength training * Boost your aerobic base with Olympian techniques. Blueprint applies the exact same principles that enabled Ross to complete extreme feats such as the World's Longest Sea Swim, World's Longest Rope Climb, World's Heaviest Triathlon and World's Strongest Marathon. Ross is your elite guide to achieving the impossible in the gym and beyond. Featuring almost 30 tailored workouts for different phases of training, packed with digestible sports science to help you optimise your workouts, and interspersed with Ross' own daring adventures across the world, Blueprint is the ultimate guide to optimising your time and training to make the impossible possible.

With off-road running, the ability of knowing where you are going is a fundamental skill. Unfortunately for many runners the secrets of navigation are akin to the secrets of the dark arts of black magic. Specifically with the runner in mind, this book presents in an easy to understand manner all the skills and techniques that are required for the beginner through to the advanced user. 'Navigation for Off-Road Runners' will give you the confidence to go further.

'Quite simply, it contains the tools to make you a better runner. Make space on your bookshelf for this timeless, classic marathon manual.' -Paul Tonkinson 'Drawing on decades of running and coaching experience, Murphy provides a current resource that long-distance runners are sure to return to time and again' -Booklist Learn how to run your best marathon and get the most out of your training. There's no shortage of advice out there on how to train for a marathon and yet it can be hard to know what will work best for you. Run Your Best Marathon is here to change all that with the expertise of running coach Sam Murphy. Whether you're looking to step up to the marathon for the first time or to better previous performances over the distance, Sam's runner-centred approach will help you prepare for and race your chosen marathon to the best of your ability. Choose from six training plans, each pitched at a different level of mileage, intensity and experience. The plans are backed up by a wealth of essential information and advice on how to train, race, eat and recover. Learn how to: - assess yourself and set a realistic goal - adjust your diet to optimise training and recovery - get your brain onside to resist fatigue and overcome discomfort - stay healthy during training and respond to injuries - master the skill of racing.

This book describes and analyzes the levels of experience that long-distance running produces. It looks at the kinds of experiences caused by long-distance running, the dimensions contained in these experiences, and their effects on the subjective life-world and well-being of an individual. Taking a philosophical approach, the analysis presented in this book is founded on Maurice Merleau-Pontys phenomenology of the body and Martin Heideggers fundamental ontology. Running is a versatile form of physical exercise which does not reveal all of its dimensions at once. These dimensions escape the eye and are not revealed to the runner conceptually, but rather as sensations and emotions. Instead of concentrating on conceptual analysis, this book explores the emotions and experiences and examines the meaning that running has in runners lives. Using the participative method, in which the author is both the research subject and the researcher, the book contributes to the philosophy of physical exercise.

For any runner considering training for a half marathon, author Jeff Galloway can help them prepare to train, enjoy training, and cross the finish line strong. In this book, the author outlines for each runner how to select a realistic goal and what workouts to use to best prepare for the race. He includes tips for staying motivated while at the same time eliminating aches, pains, and injuries. He also assures the runner that his training will not consume the runner's time so that they can train successfully while still enjoying other aspects of life. The author's successful and unique run-walk-run training method has helped thousands of average people train for half marathons, even if they have never run before. Using this program, even veteran runners can improve their personal bests. With this book, every runner will be given a step-by-step guide on setting up their training each week so that they will finish the half marathon strong.

Extreme Lakeland by Nadir Khan and Tom McNally is a stunning photographic celebration of all that makes the Lake District a magnet for those with a heart for adventure and who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of the hills and mountains of this jewel in the English landscape. From the crags of the high fells to the lakes and tarns for which the Lakes is famous, Nadir and Tom showcase incredible adventure sports through the seasons, including rock climbing, mountain biking, fell running, wild swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, base jumping and ski touring. Alongside a foreword by renowned rock climber Leo Houlding, and original illustrations by Anna Sharpe, there are inspirational literary contributions from wild swimmer Gilly McArthur, fell runner Ellis Bland, climbers Anna Taylor and Peter Goulding, and adventurer Jon Sparks. Extreme Lakeland is a visual feast for those that treasure the Lake District.

The essential day-to-day guide for training for and nailing your first marathon. 'Chris is a mad keen runner. I hope this book inspires others to get out and do it.' Sir Mo Farah 'WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING A MARATHON, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY ABOUT MAKING IT TO THE FINISH LINE, IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE GUTS TO MAKE IT TO THE START LINE.' In this beautifully designed and not-at-all scary marathon training guide, Chris Evans breaks down how we can all get ourselves off our sofas, up on our feet and onto that start line. And all in just 119 days! Fizzing with energy, great tips and hard-won experience, this is the perfect guide for anyone keen to take up their own marathon challenge, and to change their lives forever.

The Mountains Are Calling is the exhilarating story of the runners who go to high places. From its wild origins in the Highlands, hill running in Scotland remains as pure and traditional as sport gets. Jonny Muir explores the history and culture of the sport, and meets the legends of hill running who are revered for their extraordinary endurance. As he discovers the insatiable lure of the hills, a calling leads him to the supreme test of mountain running: Ramsay's Round - a continuous loop of 23 of Scotland highest mountains, to be completed within 24 hours. This book is lavishly illustrated with maps and two sections of delightful colour plates.

Ever been tempted to try a marathon? Maybe you've just started running, perhaps you're gaining confidence, or are you already well on your way to conquering the iconic distance? Whatever stage you're at on your journey, join marathon man Vassos Alexander as he shows us why we shouldn't be afraid of the big 26.2. Every marathon runner's journey is different. You might have caught the bug after experiencing that adrenaline rush of completing your first 5k; it might be a desire to finally cross something off your bucket list; or, perhaps it was a bit of an absentminded afterthought while watching TV, crisps in hand, and a niggling voice saying 'maybe I could do that' - it was for Vassos, at least. However far along you are in your journey, How to Run A Marathon shows us that absolutely anyone can take those first steps to defeating the distance. In fact, you'll probably end up enjoying it a lot more than you think. Including inspiring interviews with runners from all walks of life, delightful tales of remarkable marathons all over the world, crucial training and nutrition tips and so much more, Vassos shares all the lessons he's learnt - from start line to finisher's medal. Funny, candid and motivating, this book will not only help you succeed in your marathon quest but empower you to complete the distance any way you want. Whether that's achieving a particular time or simply finishing in one piece, How to Run a Marathon will guide you through.

How does the simple act of running make us human? As a form of enskilled movement that shapes how we perceive our surroundings, running enacts a mindful bodily engagement with the world, an engagement that generates our very minds through perceptual learning. Thomas F. Carter examines the interrelated aspects of a runner's being-mind, body, and environs-to illustrate that the skillful act of locomotion is one of principle ways that we as human beings become integral parts of the larger world. Synthesizing recent developments in neuroscience, anthropology, and philosophy of mind, On Running proves there is more to running than merely clocking up the miles.

An electrifying look inside the wild world of extreme distance running.

Once the reserve of only the most hardcore enthusiasts, ultra running is now a thriving global industry, with hundreds of thousands of competitors each year. But is the rise of this most brutal and challenging sport—with races that extend into hundreds of miles, often in extreme environments—an antidote to modern life, or a symptom of a modern illness?

In The Rise of the Ultra Runners, award-winning author Adharanand Finn travels to the heart of the sport to investigate the reasons behind its rise and discover what it takes to join the ranks of these ultra athletes. Through encounters with the extreme and colorful characters of the ultramarathon world, and his own experiences of running ultras everywhere from the deserts of Oman to the Rocky Mountains, Finn offers a fascinating account of people testing the boundaries of human endeavor.

'A must read!' Kevin Portman, IRONMAN Champion 'This is a guide to staying in endurance sports for the long haul!' Kathryn Cumming, elite cyclist and coach 'The principles that RJ and Angelo explore in this book are critical to achieving your best performance and staying healthy' Matthew Back, IRONMAN Champion Maximise Results - Extend Your Career - Achieve a New Personal Best! Resistance training delivers results - and Finish Strong is the ultimate guide to using this training method to improve your athletic performance. Whether you are training for a 5K or an IRONMAN, you can experience the phenomenal benefits from incorporating targeting resistance and mobility exercises into your training calendar. Richard (RJ) Boergers and Angelo Gingerelli are two leading US health and fitness authorities who will introduce and break down the principles of resistance training in a clear, accessible way. Written by athletes for athletes, this expert guide will help you: - prevent injuries - build muscular strength - enhance athletic performance - find the confidence to achieve a new personal best. The book will help you Finish Strong!

1001 Running Tips by Robbie Britton is a light-hearted and informative guide to all kinds of running. This is no standard instruction manual - it is much more useful than that. This is a huge collection of small tips to make a real difference to your running, whether you're just starting out and aiming to run for 30 minutes without stopping or if you're training for your first marathon - this book will improve your running. The myriad of topics featured include starting out, setting goals, training plans, injury, nutrition, safety, kit, running with your dog, navigation, sleep deprivation, running in all weathers, racing, fell running and music. Robbie's unique and accessible style will keep you entertained and, most importantly, he'll motivate you to keep enjoying running, overcome obstacles getting in your way and to become the best runner you can!

Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, "Born to Run "is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: "Why does my foot hurt? "In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world's greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.
Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.
With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. "Born to Run" is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.

"From the Hardcover edition."

Welcome to Japan, the most running-obsessed nation on earth, where: a long-distance relay race is the country's biggest annual sporting event; companies sponsor their own running teams, paying the athletes like employees; and marathon monks run a thousand marathons in a thousand days to reach spiritual enlightenment. Adharanand Finn - award-winning author of Running with the Kenyans - moved to Japan to discover more about this unique running culture and what it might teach us about the sport and about Japan. As an amateur runner about to turn forty, he also hoped find out whether the Japanese approach to training might help him keep improving. What he learned - about competition, about team work, about beating your personal bests, about form and about himself - will fascinate anyone who is keen to explore why we run, and how we might do it better.

This book documents short stories of inspirational local runners who were involved in the creation of Sundown Marathon or had participated and succeeded in the night race. Featuring the likes of Adrian Mok, Mok Ying Ren, Neo Jie Shi and many others, this collection features stories that uncover some of their own personal journeys and insights into their running experiences. By showcasing how these runners persevere in search of success, it is hoped that this book can inspire others to overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams. Runnerdotes: A Collection of Anecdotes from Inspirational Runners is a tribute to those who helped shape the running scene in Singapore.

‘Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional’

A compelling mediation on the power of running and a fascinating insight into the life of this internationally bestselling writer.

In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing.

Equal parts travelogue, training log and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and settings ranging from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston.

By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, this is a must-read for fans of this masterful yet private writer as well as for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running.

The book contains recent research about physiology, psychology, nutrition and training aspects of Marathon Running of different age, gender and performance level. The basic knowledge of marathon running with explanations of the physiological and psychological mechanisms induced by marathon training with the associated adaptations and subsequent improved physiological capacities are presented in a reader friendly format for researchers and practitioners. The book includes a full range of useful practical knowledge, as well as trainings principles to guide the reader to run marathon faster. After reading the book the reader is able to develop training plans and owns the knowledge about up-to-date scientific results in the fields of physiology, psychology, nutrition in marathon running.

'A fantastic book' - Running Fitness 'The Bible for runners who want to use yoga to enhance their running performance' - Athletics Weekly TRANSFORM YOUR RUNNING THROUGH YOGA Would you like to run further and faster? Want to find the perfect runner's flow? Yoga is the key to unlocking your running potential. Practised by the world's leading endurance athletes, yoga builds strength, improves flexibility and boosts recovery. Fully revised and featuring step-by-step exercises and workouts, the bestselling Yoga for Runners shows you how to: - release running tight spots, like the hamstrings and hip flexors - run taller with focused core exercises - strengthen weak muscles through power yoga moves - prevent injury with recovery techniques - breathe more deeply and sharpen your mind Suitable for runners of all levels, this is your essential training companion to strong and smooth running. 'The latest way to enhance your running performance' - Trail Running

A guidebook describing 40 trail running routes in the Chamonix Valley and around the Mont Blanc massif, visiting France, Switzerland and Italy. The routes, which range from 3.8km (21/2 miles) to 168km (104 miles), are graded from 1 to 5 and categorised as trail running, fell running or skyrunning. Starting from Chamonix, Les Houches, Servoz, Champex, Courmayeur, Orsieres and Vallorcine among others, and covering classic ultra trail routes as well as shorter day runs, there is something for every runner. Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping and route profiles, with notes on safety and useful tips for runners. Also included is a comprehensive equipment checklist plus information on running at altitude, adapting to the Alps, navigation, maps and mountain safety. GPX files for all routes are available for download after you have purchased the book by logging in to your Cicerone account. Renowned as a mecca for trail runners, the Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc region is home to some of the greatest trail running races in the world, including the Tour des Geants and Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. The landscape, with its dramatic mountain scenery and ethereal vistas, offers diverse trail options and true adventure - the perfect playground for this exhilarating sport.