Book Review: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Running: Third Ed." by Bill Rodgers and Scott Douglass

This book is a priceless resource for new runners!

For someone who has just started running or wants to start a running program, it may seem that all the sport requires is to put one leg in front of the other. Without being unnecessarily burdensome or complicated, the author makes it clear that there is much more to running than meets the eye, at least if you want to be reasonably good at it and sustain as few injuries as possible.

Some of the topics covered in this book are:

• Reasons why running is a great sport!
• How to know if you're overtraining.
• How to measure and log your runs.
• How to choose the right shoe for you.
• Choosing the right running apparel.
• An overview of the various running gadgets (watches, gps, heart monitor, etc.)
• How to properly stretch to avoid injury.
• What muscles you need to exercise that won't get a workout while running.
• When to run with an ache and when to run to a doctor.
• What foods / nutrients to consume.
• The necessity and possibilities of cross-training.
• There's a whole chapter that addresses women's issues.
• Determining how to dress / run in various weather conditions.
• The joys of participating in a race.
• How to train for specific races (the author provides a general weekly schedule for training for 5K's, 10K's, etc.)

I would highly recommend this book to anyone getting started in running. It's an easy read and every page is saturated with helpful information.