Tag Archive | book

Anatomy for Runners

Dec27

Just because some of you asked for more on form in my last post, about my 2012 best practices, I figured I’d share!

I just finished reading Anatomy for Runners by Jay Dicharry; there is an excerpt here, and check out the table of contents:

 
 
I am not sure about you, but Physics and Physiology can be a bit dry…  I have read a LOT of Running Biomechanics in the last two years and I got used to it but I am aware that it is heavy stuff. And if you don’t have a very solid Physics base to pile on, you can get really lost. Physiology? Yuk. I’ve always hated it. But we all know it’s worth learning about it!
 
And text about that stuff is usually either superspecific, heavy and unreadable OR very light and not enough information… Somehow, this book does a great job of making itreally accessible. But, besides that, what I really like is that it is, not only very specific, but also catered to runners and not just biomechanics that you need to adjust in your head. It’s like he’s talking to every runner, and already telling me what I am thinking about asking next. There is also a few examples in there, tests, that you can do to see where your weaknesses are.
 
 
Or really great pictures of drills to do….  There are SO many charts, that make it all so easy, just a few examples:
 
 
 
 
No worries if something in those images confuses you, EVERYTHING in the book is really well explained, that’s just how through and deep it is! If you want to learn about what your runner’s body does and how, you might want to consider putting this one on your Christmas list…
Questions?!?!

Anatomy for Runners

The Perfect Mile – book review

Jul30

Before you scream, IT IS A BOOK:

blog post photo

I, obviously, wouldn’t even know a perfect mile if it hit me in the face with a jar of Nutella!

I JUST finished reading it. And I say “just” because I got it for Christmas!!!

 

 

First, I don’t have much time for reading (without falling asleep). Second, it took me four attempts to get into it. I even brought this book on a few flights to force myself to read it. It just didn’t look interesting at all to me. It’s about the struggles Landy, Bannister, and Santee go through in their quest to do the first sub-4 minute mile. And… who cares about achieving the first sub four mile now? Hello, we KNOW how it ends!! Duh! And these people were so different to me and my view of running that I couldn’t relate at all!! The book went into SO much detail about their lives, their jobs, their splits, the time they were in, the competition, their coaches, their schools, yada yada yada…

Then, on my FOURTH try, somehow, it all came together and I got hooked. And can’tputitdown andohIjustmissedmystop hooked!!! It was the strangest thing… all of those things that were so unappealing before, all of a sudden had me breathing hard and loosing sleep. I sound crazy, I know, but this book is AMAZING. And it all really happened so I even lost sleep thinking the work it must have been to put all of these facts and stories together.

The way Neal describes every single meet is just perfection…  A race that would last “around” 4 minutes could turn into the most exciting 80 pages you’ve ever read. I was literally reading this book at the edge of my seat, mouth open, stressed out, and with very high bpms!! AS IF I was watching a World Cup game or racing the mile myself. VERY VERY INTENSE… 


After I finished the book, I watched those same races on youtube and it was great as now I had an insane amount of context, but it was not as exciting as the book, not even close… Read it if you can. I KNOW it looks and sounds boring, but trust me, it’s worth it.

TGIF!!!!!!!!!! Zero miles for the week so far. Bummed about missing the track meet yesterday, but JFlecks has promised to make Martha’s amazing mac&cheese tonight, and I’m planning some 12 miles to stretch out the legs tomorrow with Flor in the park. A zero miles week would not be right.

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!