In Motivational Moments in Men's Track and Field, read 80 inspirational stories of male athletes who overcame adversity to achieve success. The stories convey the history of track and field and are designed to inspire, encourage, motivate, and teach valuable life lessons. The stories are written for those who are currently competing, coaching, have participated in track and field, or are simply a track and field or sports fan. The questions at the end of each of the stories are designed to apply learning principles to athletics and to the bigger game of life. Some of the stories are of well-known athletes such as Glenn Cunningham, who set a world record in the mile after being told he would never be able to walk again, or Al Oerter, who won four Olympic gold medals despite never being a favorite to win. Other stories are of less-known athletes whose achievements did not end on the podium, but whose glory was achieved through magnificent efforts. Performances such as Buddy Edelen, who raced through 100 degree temperatures to win the Olympic Trials Marathon by 20 minutes, or Ryan Shay, who paid the ultimate price and gave his life in an attempt to achieve his lifelong dream, or Louis Zamperini, who survived inhumane prisoner of war treatment, are stories of ever-lasting inspiration. Some, such as Jesse Owens, faced racial discrimination but overcame adversity to become successful. Many athletes trained to become among the best in the world but were unlucky with injuries, such as Eulace Peacock, who consistently beat Jesse Owens before injuries prevented him from competing in the 1936 Olympics. The athletes profiled are ordinary people who used extraordinary desire to accomplish extraordinary things in the history of track and field. Each athlete began simply with a dream, which developed into a belief in themselves. Their stories offers hope that we too can dream and reach beyond our perceived abilities to achieve. Each story can be read in just a few minutes. The stories of these 80 history makers teach us how to think positive and how to overcome obstacles to reach our goals.

From elite marathoner and Olympic hopeful Becky Wade comes the story of her year-long exploration of diverse global running communities from England to Ethiopia-9 countries, 72 host families, and over 3,500 miles of running-investigating unique cultural approaches to the sport and revealing the secrets to the success of runners all over the world. Fresh off a successful collegiate running career-with multiple NCAA All-American honors and two Olympic Trials qualifying marks to her name-Becky Wade was no stranger to international competition. But after years spent safely sticking to the training methods she knew, Becky was curious about how her counterparts in other countries approached the sport to which she'd dedicated over half of her life. So in 2012, as a recipient of the Watson Fellowship, she packed four pairs of running shoes, cleared her schedule for the year, and took off on a journey to infiltrate diverse running communities around the world. What she encountered far exceeded her expectations and changed her outlook into the sport she loved. Over the next twelve months-visiting 9 countries with unique and storied running histories, logging over 3,500 miles running over trails, tracks, sidewalks, and dirt roads-Becky explored the varied approaches of runners across the globe. Whether riding shotgun around the streets of London with Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt, climbing for an hour at daybreak to the top of Ethiopia's Mount Entoto just to start her daily run, or getting lost jogging through the bustling streets of Tokyo, Becky's unexpected adventures, keen insights, and landscape descriptions take the reader into the heartbeat of distance running around the world. Upon her return to the United States, she incorporated elements of the training styles she'd sampled into her own program, and her competitive career skyrocketed. When she made her marathon debut in 2013, winning the race in a blazing 2:30, she became the third-fastest woman marathoner under the age of 25 in U.S. history, qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Trials and landing a professional sponsorship from Asics. From the feel-based approach to running that she learned from the Kenyans, to the grueling uphill workouts she adopted from the Swiss, to the injury-recovery methods she learned from the Japanese, Becky shares the secrets to success from runners and coaches around the world. The story of one athlete's fascinating journey, Run the World is also a call to change the way we approach the world's most natural and inclusive sport.

You are about to read (and hopefully study and practice) a step-by-step program that will improve your current running abilities and prevent unnecessary injuries. While this is intended for beginning runners, it will also help those who consider themselves experienced runners. Unfortunately, many people believe that they can just go out and run. I know because that's what I used to believe. Before I started running, I was involved with many sports (cycling, hiking, martial arts, and weight lifting). I thought I could just add some running to be ready to do a triathlon. I remember how painful those early runs were to both my body and ego. I huffed and puffed, and pounded (literally) the pavement. Luckily my brain finally kicked in, and I started to study every book and magazine I could find on running technique. Eventually, I earned a certificate as a Track and Field Coach by the USATF. With this new information I had a science-based approach to running. What a difference Now I could go out and cruise along for several miles with the same amount of effort as going for a walk in the backyard. And even stranger, it was actually enjoyable. AMAZING This little book is the result of years of my own running, as well as experience gained in teaching classes for beginning runners. Everything in this book has been tried and tested, and proven to work on people of all shapes and sizes - those who have never run or those who ran "way back before the kids." I am presenting the information my beginning runners receive in class-including the "why" each of these steps are so important, followed by exercises to help you develop good technique. I would like for you to learn how to run safely and efficiently, so you can enjoy the health benefits and pleasures that come from running. As part of this book you also have access to videos that will explain the 8 steps visually. Please go to www.coachkfitness.net for more information. A glossary at the end of the book explains the technical terms I use throughout.

An inspiring story of fatty to fitty and the power of the mind. Aged 30, Ben had a routine medical and was told he wouldn't see 40 unless he changed his lifestyle. An overweight, sedentary smoker, Ben had a young family and busy career with little time for anything else. 10 years later having completed many of the world's toughest ultra marathons including the Western States 100, the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc and the Marathon Des Sables, he was hit with life-changing news when one of his daughters was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Ben decided to undertake his toughest challenge yet: to prove to her that anything was possible. One evening, departing from the bright lights of Monte Carlo he headed towards the mountainous terrain behind the Cote d'Azur to run an unsupported 100km / 62.5 miles trail run. For most hardened ultra-marathon runners this would be a feat in itself, but for Ben he had something to prove: choosing to descend the rugged terrain he had already climbed and run the Cro Trail - a 130k / 81 mile mountain trail ultra race. A thrilling and yet down to earth account, detailing a young, working family man's journey to fitness - his love of nature and travel evolves - these stories can only inspire and motivate any reader.

In Run Smart, XTERRA trail run champion and running coach, Adam Hodges, passes along decades of knowledge he has gleaned from competing and coaching in the sport. Topics cover various dimensions of running, including goal setting, mental skills, training principles, warmup protocols, running drills, functional strength, running form, running shoes, nutrition, hydration, recovery, and sleep. Each chapter consists of a concise, self-contained article that addresses a different aspect of a topic, making this book a valuable reference guide for new and experienced runners alike. Whether you run competitively or for fitness, you will find valuable information to help you run smart and take your running to the next level.

Running through Life explores twenty-six different characteristics that speak to the emotions and thoughts of marathon runners. In each chapter, author Tommy Bresson explores a characteristic that relates specifically to a certain mile in the marathon or to training in general. Using stories from his own life and examples from the Bible, Bresson illustrates the importance of these characteristics--not just while running the marathon but in life itself. Whether you are training for your seventeenth marathon or just curious about the sport, you will enjoy and be encouraged by the lessons Bresson shares. As you gain a clearer picture of who God is and how his character is revealed through stories in the Bible, you will find yourself challenged to reflect on how these various characteristics manifest themselves in your own life.

G. Kent has a lifetime of running experience. In the 1960's he ran on three Los Angeles City Championship cross country teams at Granada Hills High School. He went on to run at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. During a long teaching career, he also coached track and cross country at Lake Weir High School in Candler, Florida. In Running with Razors and Soul he shares knowledge distilled from all this experience. The book is written especially for the competitive high school and college athlete who is ready to step it up a notch and become a more dynamic and successful runner.

Running Ahead of the Sun portrays the journey of an everyday father and career professional from injury to a sub-3:00 marathon. While many books have been written focusing on elite runners, few if any focus so specifically on the challenges that most runners face, - fitting their training around all their other commitments. The book is based on the author's training journal, as shared through the dailymile.com website, as well as the writings on the Predawn Runner blog. Every week holds a different lesson, ranging from running while traveling to finding the time for training to preventing injuries and burnout. This book focuses on helping the busy runner translate their training document into reality, while maintaining the ability to uphold all his or her other responsibilities.