Review of The Beginning Runner's Handbook: The Proven 13-Week Walk-Run Program (Paperback)

I started tentatively, being 85 pounds overweight, a couch potato, and an overeater (obviously), with bad knees and a bad back but I knew I had to do SOMETHING to start participating in my own life and destiny. If you're in a similar spot, and you've gotten as far as "What", this book is a tool that will give you the "Hows."

Written economically and informally, it's packed with information beginning runners and walkers need, from stretching and shoe selection to injury prevention. The heart of the program is an easy-to-follow schedule that starts slow (run 30 seconds, then walk 4:30, and repeat seven times your first day) and builds every week. The plan is flexible, simple, and requires nothing more than a watch, a pair of shoes, and your commitment to yourself three times per week. If you're completely sedentary, you can start with the 13-week walk program to build your stamina before taking on running. And there's an intermediate program, when you're done with your first 13 weeks of running and looking for the "next cut."

At the end of thirteen weeks, I was running 65 minutes without stopping, I had shed 35 pounds, I avoided injury and felt BETTER than when I started. I was having FUN! I realized that completing the program was about far more than running -- I had a grip on my destiny, and I was participating in life, not just watching everyone else. I realized, in my bones, that I can do ANYTHING, and breathing hard three times a week seemed a small price to pay for that. Now I look forward to my runs, and haven't missed a running day since I started over a year ago, and all 85 extra pounds are gone for good. If you're committed to yourself, this book is the tool you need.

Product Description
At the core of this popular guide is "the program" - a 13-week walk - run plan designed to turn anyone into a runner, without injury. Originally developed by sports medicine physicians and refined through three years of clinics and responses from runners, it explains precisely how the beginner should train every day for the first 13 weeks. Every part of the process is covered, from equipment to staying motivated.
New to this edition are sections on training to run faster and farther, interval and tempo training; maintaining fitness on vacation; training for a half and full marathon; and coming back from injuries. A new chapter focuses on running and the family, including running during pregnancy and after the baby arrives, jogging strollers, children who want to run, and running with the family dog. Also included is the latest on nutrition and running, including low-carb diets and other popular diet trends.

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