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, not to mention triathlons and a slew of critically acclaimed books, 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 among young women who outpace him. Through this marvellous lens of sport emerges a cornucopia of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his greatest triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after fifty, of seeing his race times improve and then fall back. By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is rich and revealing, both for fans of this masterful yet private writer and for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running.

Big Trails: Heart of Europe is an indispensable guide to the most spectacular and popular long-distance trails in the Western European countries of France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. The twenty-five featured routes cover the best that European trails have to offer, sweeping from the GR21 along the Normandy Coast to the GR1 Tour de Paris and King Ludwig's Way in Germany. Culminating in trails such as the Tour du Mont Blanc and Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route, the jewels of the Alps, this delves deep into Western Europe's most iconic routes. The book will inspire big adventures. Rather than being carried along the route, this guide provides everything you need to plan and explore further, including a general overview of the trails, specific technical information, overview mapping, key information and stunning photography. As well as this, each route specifies approximate timings devised using the Jones-Ross formula, which allows for custom itineraries to be generated depending upon the speed of the user. Whether you're walking, trekking, fastpacking or running, let Big Trails: Heart of Europe be your guide.

"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.

Running Up That Hill is a celebration of endurance running. Of running ridiculous distances - through cities, over mountains and across countries. Distances most people couldn't even imagine. But sports presenter Vassos Alexander is hooked!

Why else would he run an ultra in Paris, backwards, having missed the start? Why head to Wales for the world's hardest mountain race with a badly sprained ankle? And why follow in some unforgiving, ancient footsteps and attempt the oldest and toughest footrace on earth, the 153-mile Spartathlon?

There's joy to be found here. Really there is. Vassos recalls his own assaults on these gruelling races, along with ultra-running legends including Scott Jurek, Jasmin Paris, Kilian Jornet, Mimi Anderson and Dean Karnazes. They all testify to the transformative power of endurance running.

It's about the astonishing highs that come from pushing your body to the limit. The confidence and peace when you challenge yourself and succeed. All told, this is a cracking tale of what keeps ultra-distance runners running, mile after mile after mile.

I CAN RUN is not a running book for 'runners' - it's the must-have running book for anyone who has ever experienced a moment of defeatism and had the little voice in their head make the excuse, 'I can't run'. In 12 chapters, you will discover that you can. You will dig deep to find your inner athlete. You'll learn how to train smart, recover well, sync your runs to your menstrual cycle and fuel right. I CAN RUN will ensure you never again wait until you're thin enough, fast enough, athletic enough, whatever-next enough to call yourself a runner, because if you put one foot in front of the other, repeatedly, you are a runner. Getting outside, surrounding yourself in nature and moving your body is more important than ever in these anxiety-inducing times, and Amy's debut will give you the encouragement and know-how that you need to do this. I CAN RUN recognises that this is hard and that committing to consistent training is often more of an accomplishment than the 10K, half marathon or marathon race itself. You will find comfort and encouragement in Amy's experience of cramps, chafing and the occasional little sick, while learning from leading experts about how to set yourself up for success and get the very best from your runs both physically and mentally. This book is real talk about the keys to going well far. We're all in it for the long run, together. We CAN do this!

With The Planted Runner, runners will learn to optimize training with plant-based nutrition, harness the power of their minds, and perform at their best while discovering the joy of running at any age. Plant-based nutrition is no longer a fad, but rather has been shown to optimize athletic performance and reduce recovery time. Fueling with the power of plants is not only a suitable eating plan for training, but it is also delicious and satisfying. Author Claire Bartholic breaks down the information to provide complete understanding of how to eat not only to fuel running, but also to enjoy eating. Readers will also find a chapter devoted to basic ingredients and building blocks of a plant-based diet, rounded out with runner-specific fueling recipes. Successful training requires more than just good plans and nutrition, however. With the proven mindset training techniques provided in this book, the runner will quiet that negative self-talk which can sabotage the best efforts to find his or her potential. Through her coaching, Claire Bartholic has found the best way to successfully integrate those three critical elements-physical training, plant-based fueling, and mindset techniques-to help hundreds of runners reach their personal bests, and she provides her wealth of knowledge in this book.

From his childhood amidst the steel mills of South Yorkshire to Olympic glory and beyond, Seb Coe's story is one of extraordinary achievement. One of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time, Seb earned four Olympic medals during a world-record breaking career. THE WINNING MIND is Seb's account of the challenges, hard graft, set-backs and victories that he experienced during his career, retold with the passion and commitment that ultimately made him such an inspirational sporting champion. As an athlete, politican, business speaker and key figure in the delivery of the 2012 Olympic Games, Seb Coe has striven to achieve success in every challenge he has faced. This is the story of one man's quest for excellence and the power of the winning mind.

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."

Development of the Youth Athlete offers a single-authored, well-illustrated, evidence-based, and integrated analysis of the development and trainability of the morphological and physiological characteristics which influence sport performance in youth. The book critically analyses the development of the youth athlete in the context of current and future sport performance and long-term health and well-being. Development of the Youth Athlete identifies the principal controversies in youth sport and addresses them through sport-specific examples. Presenting a rigorous assessment and interpretation of scientific data with an emphasis on underlying physiological mechanisms, the book focuses on the interactions between growth, maturation, and: Sport-related fitness Sport-specific trainability Sport performance Challenges in youth sport Providing the only up-to-date, coherent critical discourse on youth athlete development currently available, Development of the Youth Athlete is essential reading for students, lecturers, sport medicine practitioners, researchers, scholars, and senior coaches with an interest in youth sport, exercise science, and sport medicine.

There is a looming existential crisis for competitive sport. We are witnessing a waning trust in the integrity of sport at all levels that stems from the win-at-all-costs culture that has become so pervasive, worldwide. Doping, fraud, corruption and inhumane high-performance systems as well as worrying levels of dropout, burnout and mental health problems among athletes, all points to the fact that sport has lost track of its true meaning and is increasingly out of touch with its core values. What is needed is a powerful counterpoint to this results-focussed culture, one which goes far deeper than the superficial realm of wins, losses, medals and fame, and that provides a roadmap for athletes to discover deeper meaning and achieve more in their sporting lives. The True Athlete Philosophy is that counterpoint. This is an approach that harnesses the best of sport - the persistent drive for excellence, constant innovation, unmatched opportunities for personal development - and puts it firmly in service of the participants and society as a whole. Sport can be a tremendous tool for unlocking potential and thriving in life, but currently it is not coming close to delivering on that promise. Drawing on a combination of ancient wisdom and modern psychology, The True Athlete Philosophy explores how athletes can harness their lived experience of sport to contribute to a healthy, meaningful and fulfilled life and be of greater benefit to their community.

The remarkable true story of an unrivalled journey to recreate the greatest run in film history: 15,621 miles, five-times across the United States. ‘Rob Pope has made his name revelling in challenges that range from the unconventional to the extraordinary.’ BBC News Becoming Forrest is the incredible story of Englishman Rob Pope, a veterinarian who left his job in pursuit of a dream – to become the first person ever to complete the epic run undertaken by one of Hollywood’s most beloved characters, Forrest Gump. After his momma urged him “to do one thing in life that made a difference�, he flew to Alabama, put on his running shoes, and sped off into the wilderness. His remarkable journey covered 15,600 miles, the distance from the North to the South Pole and a third of the way back. Over a grueling 18 months, braving injuries, blizzards, forest fires and deadly wildlife, he crossed the United States five times. During one of the most turbulent periods in recent American history, Rob immersed himself in American life. His time on the open road saw him forever changed, trying to make that difference, in the process of Becoming Forrest. This is a tale of one man who just wanted to make a difference.

After the young South African athlete Caster Semenya won the 800m title at the 2009 World Championships she was obliged to undergo gender testing and was temporarily withdrawn from international competition. The way that this controversy unfolded represents a rich and multi-layered example of the construction of gender in wider society and the interrelationships between sport, culture and the media. This is the first book to explore the case in depth, from socio-cultural, ethical and legal perspectives. Analysing what came to be called "the Caster Semenya Case" in a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary fashion, and covering issues from media discourses and the rhetoric and regulations of the sport's governing bodies to the reaction of the athlete herself, the book explores the ethics of how gender norms in sport, and in society more generally, are constructed through appearance, behaviour and sporting performance. This 2009 controversy can be taken as an indicator of the tensions of the time, and served as a link between medical sciences, society and gender. Including discussions of key concepts such as 'intersex', 'body norms', and 'fairness', Gender Testing in Sport is fascinating and important reading for anybody with an interest in sport studies, gender studies or biomedical ethics.

wo-time Olympian Kara Goucher shares her secrets to conquering self-doubt and improving running performance using proven tools from the field of sport psychology. This book includes tips, techniques and real-life experiences from Olympians Emma Coburn and Molly Huddle, and New York Times bestselling author Robin Arzon. Strong also offers perspectives from two experts in the field of sport psychology, including Kara's own sport psychologist, Dr. Stephen Walker.

Brecon Beacons Trail Running is a comprehensive guide to off-road running across the national park, including the Black Mountains, the Brecon Beacons themselves and the Black Mountain. With 20 runs from 5.3km to 17.5km in length, this book is suitable for runners of all abilities. The hills and valleys of the Brecon Beacons offer a wide variety of running, all sharing the same mountainous scenery and stunning views in this beautiful part of South Wales. Local authors Lily Dyu and John Price have compiled many of their favourite runs, including accessible loops around Carreg Cennen Castle and Table Mountain, through to big days out around Fan y Big, Pen y Fan and Fan Brycheiniog. Summit the Sugar Loaf and The Blorenge on the outskirts of Abergavenny, explore the waterfalls by Ystradfellte, or trace the Cat's Back along the Welsh-English border; there's something for everyone. Each route features clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and timings, and refreshment stops and local knowledge.

Do you have a finish line in your life? A goal that you want to achieve―a dream that you want to live―but you know the road to get there will be long and hard? There are obstacles in your way and you fear that you might fail, and failure intimidates us all, but you still dream of that moment―your finish line moment. How do you get there? FINISH LINE VISION® is the motivation that comes from visualizing your success, imagining yourself experiencing that moment.

Jay Hewitt will take you on a journey, telling you his remarkable story of overcoming type 1 diabetes to qualify and race on the US national triathlon team, balancing grueling physical training with work as an attorney, diabetes, and life as a husband and father.
He provides research on the neuropsychology of achievement with examples of high achievers in history. You will learn lessons on:

•setting and reaching goals

•overcoming obstacles and doubt

•achieving work-life balance

•fitness and diet for a healthy lifestyle

•handling change and failure

Many people have already been inspired by Jay Hewitt’s powerful message on stage. If you apply these principles, learn from these successes and failures, work hard, and persevere . . . you will reach your finish line.

An enlightening biography and gripping sports narrative that takes us behind the scenes into the lives of some of the world’s most elite runners in Kenya and their coach, Patrick Sang.

At a secluded training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, a small town nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in the Great Rift Valley, three-dozen world-class runners, including Olympic champions, world record holders and the fastest marathoner of all-time, share simple dormitory-style rooms and endure grueling workouts six days a week.

These determined, devoted, and selfless runners are who they are because of a man named Patrick Sang. One of the greatest—and least-heralded coaches in the sport—Sang is described by his athletes as a “life coach.”

In We Share the Sun, Sarah Gearhart takes us inside this high-octane world of elites of which few are even aware of and even fewer have ever seen. We are immersed in Sang’s remarkable story, from his college days in the US to winning an Olympic medal in the steeplechase, and his journey to become a man who redefines what coaching means. There is no singular secret to athletic success, but, as readers will learn, Sang’s holistic philosophy is like no other approach in the world. It is rooted in developing athletes who can navigate the pressures of elite competition—and life itself.

In these pages, we explore Sang’s influence on his athletes — including his unique and longstanding relationship with marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge — as they prepared for the delayed Tokyo Olympics and other competitions. We witness the remarkable recovery of two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor after a freak accident as he strove to earn his first Olympic medal. And we follow one of the world’s most dominant mid-distance runners, Faith Kipyegon, as she attempted a historic repeat title in the 1,500 meters three years after the birth of her first child.

We Share the Sun brings forth the remarkable lives and stories of East African runners, whose stories are seldom shared. Through Gearhart's vivid prose, we experience the richness that exists in Kenya as we come as close as we possibly can to running alongside a current and future generation of elites—and the man who molds them into champions.

Trail running is one of the fastest developing areas of physical fitness and the countryside of North Wales is one of the most scenic parts of the UK in which to practice it. With a rugged coastline, lush countryside, deep sylvan forests and all set against the backdrop of the high mountains of Snowdonia, this part of Wales is a joy upon which to plant the trainer. In a series of fifteen runs, join the authors as they set foot to trail on some of the most exhilarating running routes within the UK. Beach, coast, field, forest and hill, to the runner who wants to get away from the mundane of pounding the tarmac these are some of the most stirring words in the English language. If you've never tried trail running then let this book guide you to some of the most memorable running experiences around. If you are a veteran of the trail running scene then, in the two writers, you've got expert guidance to routes that you simply must put foot to. To the runner, running may be a necessity but there are some runs you just owe it to yourself to experience...

Running has become more and more popular in recent years, with thousands of people entering marathons, buying new running shoes with the latest technology, and going for a daily jog, whether on the track or on a treadmill. Unfortunately, with running comes injuries, as a result of wrong information and improper training. Author Jay Dicharry was tired of getting the same treatments from doctors that didn't heal his joint and muscle pain from running, so he decided to combine different fields of clinical care, biomechanical analysis, and coaching to help you avoid common injuries and become the best runner you can be.

Along with clear and thorough explanations of how running influences the body, and how the body influences your running, this book answers many of the common questions that athletes have: Do runners need to stretch? What is the best way to run? What causes injuries? Which shoes are best for running? Is running barefoot beneficial?

The mobility and stability tests will assess your form, and the corrective exercises, along with step-by-step photos, will improve your core and overall performance, so that you can train and run with confidence, knowing how to avoid injuries

It is probably not surprising to learn that the modern craze for running is not new: our species has been running since we were able to stand upright. What may be surprising, however, are the many ways and reasons we have performed this painful, exhausting and yet exhilarating activity down the ages. In this original, humorous and almost improbable world history, Thor Gotaas brings us many unusual and curious stories showing the remarkable diversity of running, from earliest times to the immense popularity of running today at athletics meetings, world championships and Olympic games. Amongst the myriad characters the author describes are King Shulgi of Mesopotamia, who four millennia ago boasted about his ability to maintain high speeds while running long distances, and once claimed to have run from Nippur to Ur, a distance of not less than 160 kilometres, and Norwegian Vikings who exercised by running races against animals. There are also the little-known naked runs, backward runs, monk runs, snowshoe runs, the Incas' ingenious infrastructure of professional runners and the running culture of Native Americans. This unique book will be a revelation to everyone who reads it. It will appeal to all who wish to know more about why the ancients shared our love, and hatred, of this physically demanding yet spiritually rewarding pastime.

Being mentored by Chrissie Wellington would be a dream for any triathlete. In To The Finish Line Chrissie presents her distilled wisdom, hard-won over the course of her extraordinary career, to give all triathletes the chance to learn from the very best. Chrissie writes with emotional honesty, and her warmth and sense of humour also shine through. She speaks frankly about her own experiences - both good and bad - from her career. Such stories will be a source of great inspiration to readers. The book will also be an invaluable practical resource for triathletes. It contains a significant amount of easily-applicable advice on subjects ranging from training tips through to mental strength, transition techniques and nutrition.

In the increasingly popular sport of parkour, athletes run, jump, climb, flip, and vault through city streetscapes, resembling urban gymnasts to passersby and awestruck spectators. In Parkour and the City, cultural sociologist Jeffrey L. Kidder examines the ways in which this sport involves a creative appropriation of urban spaces as well as a method of everyday risk-taking by a youth culture that valorizes individuals who successfully manage danger.   Parkour’s modern development has been tied closely to the growth of the internet. The sport is inevitably a YouTube phenomenon, making it exemplary of new forms of globalized communication. Parkour’s dangerous stunts resonate, too, Kidder contends, with a neoliberal ideology that is ambivalent about risk. Moreover, as a male-dominated sport, parkour, with its glorification of strength and daring, reflects contemporary Western notions of masculinity. At the same time, Kidder writes, most athletes (known as “traceurs� or “freerunners�) reject a “daredevil� label, preferring a deliberate, reasoned hedging of bets with their own safety—rather than a “pushing the edge� ethos normally associated with extreme sports.