I've always been an avid reader since I was a little boy. I loved reading science fiction back then and still do today. Used to get some funny looks from my classmates reading things like Battlefield Earth, 2001 and I, Robot when I was still in grade school. Kids my age didn't read stuff like that, it was for grownups. But I didn't care. Those books were classics man, classics!
As I grew into an adult I discovered things like The Complete Sherlock Holmes collection, Tom Clancy, Frankenstein and Dracula. I'm a huge Star Wars fan and there's several hundred books telling the story of what happened after Return of the Jedi. Awesome stuff and too bad that the new movies aren't going to follow them at all.
I wasn't really into reading anything else, unless it was for college. But I gave in a little in when I started running in 2002. I got subscriptions to Runner's World and Running Times. I was new to the sport and through both of those great magazines I learned a lot of great information. I found out how to treat my shinsplints, discovered what a running podcast was and read about some talented runners all over the world. I eventually stopped getting both of those though. I think they're very good sources of information. But over time I think that they've gotten a little too general with their training approach. Besides, you can research everything to death online now.
About three years ago I decided that I wanted to change up some of the cross-training that I was doing at the time. I wanted something new and different. I asked some of my running and triathlete friends if they had any ideas and someone suggested picking up Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald. I did and I was really happy that I did. I lost a large amount of weight, trained my ass off using some of Matt's cross-training guides and broke four hours for the first time in a marathon! It was a magical year. I remember easing way back after the race, not following his advice as much and started eating like the little fat kid that's inside of me. I started to get nervous around Christmas because I was continuing to loose weight. Even with the more relaxed diet and decrease in mileage. It was a physical testament to how good I trained under someone who knew their stuff!
If you read my blog and or watch my video podcast then you know that along with my other favorites, I now include books about running in my rotation. I love the non-fiction running books because I'm a detail oriented type of guy and I can get lost in all training plans and details. There's some amazingly well written books out there by some of our nation's best runners too that'll take your breath away. I like the fiction running books because I think that as runners we have a unique talent to get lost in ourselves out there on the roads and trails that nobody else has. That ability allows those of us who write well to pen some incredibly inspiring stories. All of us have struggles, triumphs and dreams. It's nice to read that we're not alone in this really long ass race called our life.
Next time your in a bookstore or browsing online take a peek at the many books out there that are running related. You'll be surprised at what you can find and there's something out there for everybody. So nowadays my nightstand has a stack of books as tall as my lamp! I've got enough books to read to keep me occupied until next year. And I even bought another damn one today. Matt's new one in fact about mind over matter as it applies to running. We're definitely aiming for the stars now my friends. So getting my head wrapped around those goals would be a really, really good thing! Lots of running, lots of training! Now if I could just find some time to read...
As I grew into an adult I discovered things like The Complete Sherlock Holmes collection, Tom Clancy, Frankenstein and Dracula. I'm a huge Star Wars fan and there's several hundred books telling the story of what happened after Return of the Jedi. Awesome stuff and too bad that the new movies aren't going to follow them at all.
I wasn't really into reading anything else, unless it was for college. But I gave in a little in when I started running in 2002. I got subscriptions to Runner's World and Running Times. I was new to the sport and through both of those great magazines I learned a lot of great information. I found out how to treat my shinsplints, discovered what a running podcast was and read about some talented runners all over the world. I eventually stopped getting both of those though. I think they're very good sources of information. But over time I think that they've gotten a little too general with their training approach. Besides, you can research everything to death online now.
About three years ago I decided that I wanted to change up some of the cross-training that I was doing at the time. I wanted something new and different. I asked some of my running and triathlete friends if they had any ideas and someone suggested picking up Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald. I did and I was really happy that I did. I lost a large amount of weight, trained my ass off using some of Matt's cross-training guides and broke four hours for the first time in a marathon! It was a magical year. I remember easing way back after the race, not following his advice as much and started eating like the little fat kid that's inside of me. I started to get nervous around Christmas because I was continuing to loose weight. Even with the more relaxed diet and decrease in mileage. It was a physical testament to how good I trained under someone who knew their stuff!
If you read my blog and or watch my video podcast then you know that along with my other favorites, I now include books about running in my rotation. I love the non-fiction running books because I'm a detail oriented type of guy and I can get lost in all training plans and details. There's some amazingly well written books out there by some of our nation's best runners too that'll take your breath away. I like the fiction running books because I think that as runners we have a unique talent to get lost in ourselves out there on the roads and trails that nobody else has. That ability allows those of us who write well to pen some incredibly inspiring stories. All of us have struggles, triumphs and dreams. It's nice to read that we're not alone in this really long ass race called our life.
Next time your in a bookstore or browsing online take a peek at the many books out there that are running related. You'll be surprised at what you can find and there's something out there for everybody. So nowadays my nightstand has a stack of books as tall as my lamp! I've got enough books to read to keep me occupied until next year. And I even bought another damn one today. Matt's new one in fact about mind over matter as it applies to running. We're definitely aiming for the stars now my friends. So getting my head wrapped around those goals would be a really, really good thing! Lots of running, lots of training! Now if I could just find some time to read...
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