In the previous article (The best books about the running – part 1) I presented a list of books that I called „motivational”. They tell stories of runners and triathletes, and their greatest value is that you read them in one breath and they evoke admiration and at the same time a desire for similar achievements.
Here I would like to introduce some new publications, this time carrying a „specific” knowledge. You can spend long hours over these books, witha a notebook and pen beside, frequently notind down more and more new pieces of information in order to introduce them later on into your own training. These items are real full-time running studies.
„TEXTBOOKS”
1. BIEGIEM PRZEZ ŻYCIE
Author: Jerzy Skarżyński
Publishing House: MEGA SPORT Jerzy Skarżyński
This is the first book I put my hands on as I was preparing for my first marathon. This is a complete compendium of knowledge about running and a must for anyone beginning the running adventure seriously. You will find here a set of basic information on everything related to running and runners. Jerzy Skarżyński discusses things in order: every possible piece of runner’s equipment (both clothing and the accessories), the principles of nutrition and hydration, technique of running, individual training methods (read also here), possible training plans, and even common injuries and how to deal with them. I would recommend it to anyone as the first „runner’s textbook”.
2. BIEGAĆ MĄDRZE (ORIG. TIMELESS RUNNING WISDOM)
Author: Richard Benyo
Publishing House: Inne Spacery
This is not a typical textbook, which bombards you with charts, tables and hundreds of mathematical formulas. On the contrary – it teaches to, above all, keep moderation. It covers all elements important for runners and indicates where and how often we push too hard. where our problems and injuries come from and how to proceed to achieve progress, and at the same time enjoy every moment of running. Advice that we find in here, come from 15 co-authors of the book, a true pleiad of stars in the American running history.
3. BIEGANIE METODĄ DANIELSA (ORIG. DANIEL’S RUNNING FORMULA)
Author: Jack Daniels
Publishing House: Inne Spacery
A Legendary textbook, written by one of the best running coaches in the world, Jack Daniels. The author describes in great detail the rules and the correct technique of running, determines the components of success in training, discusses the different parameters determining the condition of the runner’s, just to subsequently offer various models of training, adjusted to various distances. A typical textbook and a bible for those runners who delight in graphs and analysis, as these accompany us from the very first pages of the book.
4. BIEGANIE 80/20 (ORIG. 80/20 RUNNING)
Author: Matt Fitzgerald
Publishing House: Wydawnictwo Aha!
Very interesting approach to running. The author argues that most runners train too much and too fast. According to him we should run 80% of the time in a loose pace and intensity, and only 20% should constitute a high intensity workouts. He supports his theory with the huge amount of research and analysis of prominent celebrity runners (eg., Emil Zatopek, Paula Radcliffe, Mo Farah). The second part of the book is a collection of tips on how to build your training in accordance with the 80/20 principle. I encourage you to read and try it out – as far as I am concerned – it works!
5. BIEGACZ NIEZŁOMNY (ORIG. UNBREAKABLE RUNNER)
Author: T.J. Murphy / Brian Mackenzie
Publishing House: Galaktyka
Yet another approach to running, although it has some features simillar to this of Matt Fitzgerald. „Unbreakable runner” inspires us to to run … less! Again, there is the claim that runners are commonly overtraining. According to the authors one can train even to ultrarunning distances, without covering hundreds of unnecessary kilometers. What counts is quality, not quantity. Murphy and Mackenzie encourage to improve your training plan by adding CrossFit exercises that will strengthen you equally well, or even better than collectiong empty kilometers, not burdening at the same time one and the same muscle, which lis a straight way to injury.
