Run Strong

272 pages published: 2005

About the Book

Run faster and longer with less effort than ever before! Putting in the miles is only one part of the training equation. You can become a much stronger overall runner by improving leg turnover, efficiency, body alignment, muscle balance, and running-specific muscle strength, and by finding your most effective range of motion.

Expert coaches and runners show you how to assess what you need and implement these training methods into your current program. And if you’re returning from injury, you can bounce back stronger and faster than ever before.

Make your base miles pay off by improving your efficiency and economy. With Run Strong you’ll maximize your current fitness level and see results at the very next race!

About the Author

Kevin Beck has been a runner since 1984 and is currently a senior writer for Running Times magazine. He has also written about sports and health-related topics for Marathon & Beyond, Men’s Fitness, The Roanoke Valley Sports Journal, and numerous other publications.

After running cross country for the University of Vermont, Beck ran 2:39:37 in his first marathon in 1994. Since then, the New Hampshire native has steadily carved his personal best down to 2:24:17, placing seventh among Americans and 28th overall at the 2001 Boston Marathon.

In 2003, Beck placed seventh at the USA Track & Field New England Half-Marathon Championship and ran 1:49 to win the Eastern States’ 20-miler. He kicked off 2004 with personal bests in the half-marathon (1:08:22), 10 miles (51:33), and 5,000 meters both on the track (14:58.2) and on the road (15:16). In November 2004, he placed second at the USA Track & Field National 50K Road Championship, running 3:06:22.

Beck has served as a distance running coach at various levels and is coached by two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner Pete Pfitzinger. He also helped coordinate a research study on exercise and diabetes at the University of California at San Francisco, where he was a diabetes researcher and exercise technician for the Mount Zion Medical Center.

Words of Praise

"Run Strong is unlike anything else on the running shelf for improving performance. This book shows runners how to train to become faster, stronger, and more efficient." Keith Dowling 2003 USA World Championship Marathon team member Top American finisher of 2002 Boston Marathon

"The varied topics in Run Strong, ranging from training principles to nutritional advice to prerace strategies, are thoroughly explored but easily digested. Beck has done an exemplary job of assembling the ideas and wisdom of experienced and esteemed authors." Ellen O’Neil Head cross country coach, Smith College

"Comprehensive and entertaining, this book unlocks the secrets to running your personal best!" Daniel Browne 2004 US Olympic team member, 2002 USA Marathon champion