| In my opinion, Once a Runner is the best running book ever written. If you have not read this book, you are really missing out. Through the character Quenton Cassidy, John L. Parker, eloquently shows the hard work and dedication needed to be an elite runner. A must read. | |
| Pre details the life of running legend Steve Prefontaine. In my opinion, this is the best book written on the man who has inspired generations of runners to acheive their dreams. If you want to learn more about Pre, this is the book to get. | |
| The Perfect Mile is about the race between three men, Wes Santee, John Landy, and Roger Bannister, to become the first man to run a sub 4:00 mile. The book is a remarkable account of the drama and excitement that surrounded the various attempts to break the "unbreakable" barrier. | |
| Bowerman And The Men Of Oregon details the story of Bill Bowerman, the legendary coach of the University of Oregon. Bowerman created a running dynasty at the U of O, and coached such runners as Olympians Steve Prefontaine and Kenny Moore, among many many others. This book is a great account of one of the greatest coaches ever. | |
| Coaching Cross Country Successfully was written by Joe Newton. Coach Newton is the coach at York High School in Illinois. His teams have won an amazing 25 state cross country titles. This book provides an inside look into his training and motivation principles. This is an essential read for any coaches and/or high school athletes who are looking to get the most out of their cross country seasons. | |
| Running With The Buffaloes was written by former Princeton runner, Chris Lear, who was granted insider access to the University of Colorado cross-country team. This book is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the life of a college cross country runner. It is remarkable to see how hard Adam Goucher worked while he was at Colorado. | |
| Better Training for Distance Runners was written by Peter Coe, the father and coach of Olympic champion runner Sebastian Coe. This book endeavors to explain the science behind training principles. I should warn you that the book is a bit technical, but if you are interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of how to train, this book is a must read. | |
| Training Young Distance Runners can be thought of as the younger cousin of Better Training for Distance Runners. This book is focused on training younger (high school) runners, and does not have the same kind of scientific detail that Coe's book has. However, that's not a bad thing. Training Young Distance Runners is a readable and detailed account of how to get the most out of your training. | |
| Running Within is all about the psychology of running. As I detailed in my mental side of racing section, I believe that training your mind, as well as your body, is essential if you want to race well. This is the best book I have found on how to train your mind so that it doesn't get in the way of your body's ability to perform well. If you are having trouble relaxing or staying focused during races, definitely get this book. | |
| Jack Daniel's Running Formula is routinely regarded as the bible for distance training. Training hard takes up a lot of time and energy. By reading and applying the detailed priniciples found in this book, you can be assured that that time is not going to waste. Coach Daniels teaches you how to train the right way. | |
| Sub 4:00 follows the life Alan Webb, the high school mile record holder, during his first year at the University of Michigan. Although Webb did not find much success at Michigan, the book provides a very interesting account of the life of a college freshman runner. | |
| The Greatest details the life of Haile Gebrselassie, who, arguably, is the greatest distance runner ever. The book details "Geb's" incredible work ethic, as well as his humility. If you want to learn more about a legend of the sport, take a look at this book. | |
| God On The Starting Line is a very interesting and fun read about how Coach Bloom, who is Jewish, transformed his runners, who ran for a Catholic school, into champions. It's a great source of ideas for coaches and/or athletes on how to improve their high school teams. |