(Part 3) Best running & jogging books according to redditors

Not to be a smartass but how much is several?

If you've recently re-located, I have to recommend, at least at some point, catch the redwoods and sequoias almost anywhere in California. They create a great deal of shade which means often lush green ground cover below. Sequoia and King's Canyon parks are about 4 hours North of LA (hence my first question).

If you head into the sierras, there are various sorts of forests, meadows and green rolling hills worth exploring (you can spend a lifetime doing so).

Closer to LA, you have the Angeles National Forest and associated trails and ranges. There are pine forests, some creeks and rivers. These mountains are quite arid, rising above the LA Basin and the high desert towards the North. It may take some getting used to but it's really your back yard. Switzer Falls is a pretty quick drive and recommended. Eaton Canyon is closer, if you're in Pasadena but can be a bit of a crowd scene. I've never gotten around to it but Malibu has legendary trails green and close to the ocean.

Check out Casey Schreiner's book, Day Hiking Los Angeles and website. I can't recommend those highly enough. The kindle version you can load on your phone and bring with you on your hikes. Most of those quick day hikes are going to be great. Don't overlook the epic parks in LA like Griffith, Elysian, the Arroyo in Pasadena, Runyon and other canyons in the hills. I have to recommend also, some from his book and some from others, The San Gabrielino Trail, The San Gabriel River and we have some interesting parks based around flood control basins that are sprawling multi-use recreation areas such as the Sepulveda dam, Whittier Narrows and The Santa Fe Dam (I don't know a ton about those but intend to in the future).

Drive up the Crest (Highway 2 out North of Foothill) and you will be transported to the mountains within minutes. You can drive this route for hours till you come out the other side. Literally everywhere along that road is going to be a nice break from the city. In these areas, you're going to experience an elevation gain that takes some by surprise and it's quite hot so stay hydrated, be prepared, don't overdo it and you'll want to pick up a wilderness pass so you can park.

When running is your first activity and you're lifting to augment that timing of the lifting workout is really important. If you have proper sleep and nutrition a high weight, low rep work out can stimulate testosterone and growth hormone production which helps with recovery. What I've seen recommended is a lifting workout with 1-2 "work sets" of squats about 4 hours after hard workouts so they can be followed by a rest day.

If you're running 80-100 mpw I am guessing running is your main focus and weight is a huge factor in running performance. Mostly you want to get as much strength out of your, presumably, string bean body without sacrificing your ability to run quality workouts or running volume. Somewhat ironically, this is better achieved with high weight, low rep. There is a good section on weight training during high mileage in the book Healthy Intelligent Training.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.

It was only one tribe, the Tarahumara natives of the Copper Canyons in Mexico, but he interviewed and ran with a lot of ultra-marathoners. Good book.

You're most likely running too fast too soon. Slow it down and take it easy. I know it's hard, especially if you're a competitive person like me, to actually just jog, but it's what you need to do.

The best thing to do for beginners is to mix running and walking. Go slow and walk when you need to rest. Run by feel, and before you know it, you'll be in much better shape. A good place to start is run two out of every five minutes. When you can do that for 30 minutes easily, bump it up to 45 minutes. When that's easy, try to run 15 min. straight for a part of that run. Just keep bumping up the amount of time not distance. Get to where you can run for an hour consistently and then you can start with more sophisticated training. A lot of people here will recommend Couch to 5k, and if that's what works, by all means go for it, but I think young people can handle a much more "intense" program.

If you want to get serious about running, I suggest you read Healthy Intelligent Training by Keith Livingstone.

Good luck!

I use Day Hiking Los Angeles to find trails to take our 2yo on. We like Switzer Falls, Lake Hollywood Trail, and Beaudry Loop. He rides in his carrier for the most part, but gets to play at the destination. The AllTrails app is a great way to track your progress.

This may help.

Or this.

I know even in military combatives classes they taught us "you're learning just enough to get yourself fucked up if you get froggy". There's no reason to get to blows with someone unless you're looking to do that anymore, so going halfway into training for it doesn't sound smart.

Matt Fitzgerald really seems to think it's pretty awesome for runners. IIRC, he says that it helps us to learn how to activate muscles that we don't commonly use... something like that... In his book Run! he's got a section on it... The book is a great read.. I've got it at home, if you're interested drop me a PM and I'll try to give you a little more info on what he has to say about it.

He also recommends picking up The Athlete's Guide to Yoga.

There are a ton of hidden staircases sprinkled throughout the East Bay. I've always thought it was fun to stumble across them randomly, but when I found out there was a book, I was all over it. Not as exciting as steam tunnels, maybe, but I've loved the hikes I've taken from the book!

I suppose you could try to learn on your own by reading a book like The Mechanics of Sprinting and Hurdling (a very good book, by the way), but even so, you would at least have to be able to film yourself, which is harder than when lifting for the obvious reason that you are not stationary. You could get a training partner to operate the camera, but then you are no longer really learning to sprint on your own, are you?

Edit: This book is also quite good, and arguably more practical, though less thorough.

Have you heard of the Hansons Marathon Method?

Hansons First Marathon: Step Up to 26.2 the Hansons Way https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937715795/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_F-b2CbYJDP0PT

Hansons Half-Marathon Method: Run Your Best Half-Marathon the Hansons Way https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937715191/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_w1b2CbF4SNEZR

Hansons Marathon Method: Run Your Fastest Marathon the Hansons Way https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937715485/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nSb2CbR4V7518

Once you get into the longer distances, it's worth buying a book on the program you will use. You can find the plan online for free but it's best to understand the ins and outs of a program so you are following it correctly. The hansons marathon method is amazing. The book is structured to help you understand what running does to your body, how to adapt your body through the various workouts (how to do the workouts and which paces) and the concept of cumulative fatigue. It goes over goal selection, the workouts, schedule modifications, diet, rest, cross training, etc.


Luke Humphrey has online community forums (Facebook and elsewhere) as well as blogs and podcasts that help to reinforce the content of the book.


I was amazed at the quality of the program and I'm a full believer in the program. I used this program for my first marathon and I'm starting it again in July for the Philly marathon.

I love the Adirondacks, like the other poster suggested, but they are FAR from PA--depending on where you are in NE PA, they could be over 6 hours away.

There is some good backpacking in PA. Loyalsock trail (especially the 20-mile Loyalsock Trail-Link Trail Loop. A great 1-2 nighter, with many pretty cascading brooks and overlooks. VERY steep ascents and descents. In North-central PA, there are the Quehanna, Donut Hole, and Susquahannock Trail systems. Plus there is the Black Forest Trail and MidState trails. Even futher west is the Allegheny Nat. Forest.

There are probably 1000s of miles of backpacking and hiking trails in PA. Here's a good book: http://www.amazon.com/Backpacking-Pennsylvania-37-Great-Hikes/dp/0811731804

I would recommend that Loyalsock-Link Loop trail. It is great, but do buy the map and guide for it (or any other trail you do). If you don't have an REI or EMS, Cabella's (or Amazon) might have that stuff. You can begin and end the loop at World's End State Park, which makes for easy parking and access. You might even be able to buy the guide at the park, I think I bought my copy there.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0711222363/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519644994&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=isbn+13%3A978-0-7112-2236-6&dpPl=1&dpID=41Yt1tKF-1L&ref=plSrch

This is the link for the Guide.
Do watch some Runnehammer videos, they are amazing and have a lot of useful information.

http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/

I liked this book too 109 Hikes of the Lower Mainland

Here's one I haven't read but it's the same author: 103 Hikes Southwestern British Columbia

Hundreds of possibilities .. easy ones are Lynn Canyon, Cap, Stanley Park, Lighthouse Park, do all the beaches, Minnekhada, Colony Farm, Seymour Demonstration forest, +1 on Pacific Spirit, Deer Lake

oh man, my coworker got me this book when i first moved here. highly recommended: https://www.amazon.com/Seattle-Townscape-Walks-Walk-guidebooks/dp/0981659926 it's informative and illustrated beautifully.

My favorites are Running to the Top by Arthur Lydiard and Two Hours: The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon by Ed Ceasar.

https://www.amazon.com/Running-Top-Arthur-Lydiard/dp/1841263354/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1510158797&sr=1-1&keywords=running+to+the+top

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Hours-Quest-Impossible-Marathon/dp/145168584X

There is a good book about night running called Night Running.

https://www.amazon.com/Night-Running-Essays-Breaking-Through/dp/0985419075

The Complete Walker by Colin Fletcher. Specifically the third edition is less reviews. May go a bit beyond what you need but definitely covers the basics.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0394722647/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Glad I can help. If you decide to got for it, the book by Alfred Wainwright (the guy that devised the walk) is great.

I've also uploaded a bunch of pictures from the walk, here.

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Stairs-Historic-Staircases-Berkeley/dp/1595800638/186-3974677-1858161?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0 Get this, go walk around some neighborhoods and admire some architecture and/or history.

Christopher McDougall. Here's a Link

What a great feeling, eh? I am reading a book that might interest you called Running & Philosophy, A Marathon for the Mind. I find that it is nice to read one chapter, and then think it through on the next run.

These guys or these guys might let you borrow a guidebook or two like this one.

Simple google searches like "hiking near rhode island"will also get you a number of places to start your exploration.

North-central PA has a lot of options in the PA Wilds. The Loyalsock Trail, the Old Loggers Path, the Black Forest Trail, the Susquehannock Trail System, the Chuck Keiper Trail, the Donut Hole Trail, the Bucktail Path, the Allegheny Front Trail, etc.

I've found this book to be invaluable for planning PA backpacking trips: http://www.amazon.com/Backpacking-Pennsylvania-37-Great-Hikes/dp/0811731804

Found it in a book a friend had! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934028908/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Running to the Top - Lydiard

I know I'm late to the game on this, but this one is on my list to pick up. If you aren't familiar with the name, Lydiard was a runner and coach in New Zealand that led the team to a number of victories. Many (most?) of the training plans you're familiar with are variations on the idea he promoted back in the 50s and 60s. He was also one of the first (if not the first) to promote "jogging" for the masses.

I have been on scores of solo trips deep in the back-country hiking or floating around in the canoe, both in summer and winter in places void of cell phone signals or even AM/FM signals, sometimes up to 10 or 12 days at a time.

There is nothing wrong with going alone; but the consequences of an injury are greater for there is no one to help; this is compounded if you are in an area with no signals. So, you must take extra care to reduce the probability of an injury or stay within areas with signals. Or get a HF Ham radio, or a PLB (e.g., http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/acr-resqlink-plb-375.html). Or, like I have done for decades, go and don't die doing something stupid.

I don't feel scared given the experience I accumulated over the years and the survival and search and rescue training I took years ago (which included going out solo for multiple days with minimal gear). But there is a palpable sense of caution I am acutely aware of when I am alone. I notice my ears are 'perked' up a bit more and I notice little snaps and such in the bush a bit more; but that is partly because I am not distracted by company than any outright fear. Remember, being scared is useful when it raises your awareness so you don't do something stupid or absent minded so long as you are not so scared you do something rash.

I trained as an EMT. When arriving at a scene we were trained to think of the 'mechanism of injury,' that is, to think about what might have caused the injury given the scene to help to determine what the problem is. This sort of mentality is important when alone to make sure you are fully situationally aware during those times when such mechanisms are present. Take care when felling trees, crossing rivers, chopping wood, etc..

Can you navigate with map and compass on your own? Or are you walking on marked trails? Moving at night in unfamiliar terrain is asking for trouble unless you are very skilled though it is always inefficient moving at night. Are you going to a place you have been before or someplace new? This will affect how you feel for sure.

Unless you are in a place with big bears or other predators - and there are counter-measures for these mechanisms of injury (like having a clean camp and hanging gear, spray, flares etc.), there is very little 'out to get you,' so to speak.

Your biggest adversary will be your own fatigue, absent mindedness or wayward imagination. Don't get lazy. Don't panic (I had one guy who came into the deep woods with me panic once and try to bolt home, a three day walk at least - I had to grab and shake him into sense, set up the camp and put him to bed). Your best defence against fear is your training and preparations. Have a first aid kit. Stow your food properly if in bear country, or raccoon country, for these will come right up into your camp.

Perhaps the most simplest advice I can give is to get a walking stick - this will help you avoid tripping/spraining your ankle, or falling on slippery rocks, it will help you climb over obstacles and up and down hills when carrying a heavy pack. Small ankle strains and falling injuries are very common mechanisms of injury. My walking stick has saved my ass countless times.

Don't be surprised if you suddenly wake up in the middle of the night wide awake - your little reptilian brain is paranoid and sometimes just jolts you up; listen carefully to see if there is anything of concern, which is highly improbable, then just roll over and go back to sleep. Keep your flashlight, eyeglasses, bear counter measures etc., in the same spot all the time when you sleep so you can immediately get them if you suddenly need them after awakening - I like hanging things from the shelter lines above my head or putting things in my boots.

Before you go, find someone who is trustworthy; give them your 'route card'. Your route card should include the position of your camps, your probable route, the trail you will be taking etc., signal methods you are carrying, as well as the time you expect to get out and your exit point. I always left a route card when going out alone for a long walk with my expected return time. I would tell my contact to give me 24 hours after I plan to get out (for contingency/weather delays) before getting worried. Include instructions about who to call for help, like the local SAR centre or park authorities etc.. Be sure to call your trusted person as soon as you get back to prevent him from starting a search (there is a guy who cut off his own arm for want of a route card - his story is famous).

Only one time in my life did the route card get used for a search: I was trapped by high water at my exit after a flash of warm weather mid-winter on a 3 day hike and needed another day to walk around the excess water. But that blew all of my 24 hour contingency window. My friend called the police who started a search. I was picked up by helicopter, perfectly fine, not lost or injured, only late, and would have made it out the next morning. I was out of camp fuel; but I carry a fire-steel for making fire and still had rations (I always packed an extra day's rations for just this sort of contingency).

Read some books by Colin Fletcher, he'd walk a 1000km alone.

“But if you judge safety to be the paramount consideration in life you should never, under any circumstances, go on long hikes alone. Don’t take short hikes alone, either – or, for that matter, go anywhere alone. And avoid at all costs such foolhardy activities as driving, falling in love, or inhaling air that is almost certainly riddled with deadly germs. Wear wool next to the skin. Insure every good and chattel you possess against every conceivable contingency the future might bring, even if the premiums half-cripple the present. Never cross an intersection against a red light, even when you can see all roads are clear for miles. And never, of course, explore the guts of an idea that seems as if it might threaten one of your more cherished beliefs. In your wisdom you will probably live to be a ripe old age. But you may discover, just before you die, that you have been dead for a long, long time.”
― Colin Fletcher, Complete Walker III
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walker-III-Colin-Fletcher/dp/0394722647


Me, Solo Trip Sample 1

Sample 1 Location: N47.21087° W53.09808°

Me, Solo Trip Sample 2

Sample 2 Location: N45.240317°, W81.343428°

Enjoy

Here is the mobile version of your link

Sounds to me like you might have hit a plateau, which is an effect of not varying your workouts. You will definitely be fine for this half, but if you keep with it, I'd recommend a training program mixing slow runs, speed work and tempo runs. I'd recommend reading the first few chapters of this. It does a good job of explaining the different types of workouts and the science behind them. Keep with it and best of luck in your half!

I'm halfway through the autobiography of the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny (World and Olympic Triathlon champs). The consistent theme throughout their life, whether aged ten in a small competition or leading the WTS final is perseverance and a willingness to go further and train harder than the guy who comes second. They push themselves until they pass out and slowly changed their mentality from 'I'm lucky to be in this race', to 'I AM going to win this race.' Obviously they're helped by buckets of natural talent too!

There's also a book called Run: The Mind Body Method of Running by Feel by Matt Fitzgerald. He basically say that, in addition to fitness gains, the reason you train is to give yourself the mental confidence you need to race. When you know you've put in the absolute most to training, then you'll feel confident in yourself before and during your race. Worth a read anyway http://www.amazon.co.uk/Run-Mind-body-Method-Running-Feel/dp/1934030570

Try out the book YOU (Only Faster) by Greg McMillan. It has plans for 5K through marathon and has focused add-on modules like hills, stamina, duration, etc.

I like it because it’s no fluff and teaches runners to build their own training plans based on how their body reacts to different workouts.

I've been having decent results from You (Only Faster) by Greg McMillan. It goes into a lot of the mechanics on how to create your own plan from scratch. I've found it good for pushing both distances and speeds.

Hmm, any tips on selecting a good coach? I just started running for fun on my own, and I've been figuring everything out on my own from books (like this and this), online forums, etc. I might benefit from some coaching, but I'm not sure how to distinguish the good ones from the quacks. Sports and fitness is an area where there just seems to be a lot of uneducated, superstitious bullshit out there, even among professionals.

PS: someone above linked you to Higdon's website, but I can't recommend this book enough: http://www.amazon.com/Marathon-The-Ultimate-Training-Guide/dp/1594861994 --This was my training bible in the time leading up to the race (and after the race, too). He has chapters on every little thing including nutrition, injuries, what to expect in the race, how to prepare yourself mentally, what to expect from your body while you're training, etc. Love love love that book. It also has the added benefit of making you feel really excited about running as you read it :o)

Get these books:
109 Walks and
103 hikes
The directions/explanations aren't the best, but at least it will give you ideas. And lots of the listings are not super well known, so often it's less crowded. I like just flipping through and picking a random spot. The walk book has walks that can take from a couple to many hours, but the hike book has major hikes - many of them are carry-in camp style for more serious hikers. Happy adventuring!

Running and Philosophy ed. Michael Austin

As well as the ones already suggested, Night Running is a collection of essays almost all written by women, about running. It's a fairly short book but I LOVED it. Also, Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is great. Outside of running, I've found all of Atul Gawande's books absolutely incredible, really interesting, and very much concerned with the idea of forward momentum/self-improvement, so that might also be up your alley. I hope your heel heals well!

http://www.amazon.com/Seattle-Townscape-Walks-Tyler-Burgess/dp/0981659926

I don't know much about the cause of lower back pain when running, but it helped me with foot and hip pain.

Pose running is essentially changing your form such that your core is stable, you do not break at the hips, and you lean forward until you are falling forward. You then lift one heel towards your hip using your hamstring, and then place that foot down right under you without flexing your calf to catch yourself, and then repeating with the other foot. You wind up catching your weight in the back of the ball of your foot (mid foot or so), and your heel should touch down a split second after the ball, but not absorb the brunt of the impact.

Essentially you fall forward and catch yourself on your foot, then repeat.

I googled to find a good summary since mine kinda sucks, but here is this:

http://running.competitor.com/2013/01/training/an-introduction-to-the-pose-method-of-running_65128

And here is a book on it


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0972553762/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Edit: fixed a spellcheck

Look into the Pose method of Running

I suggest you check out a couple books:

• New England Waterfalls
  
• Hiking Connecticut and Rhode Island
  
  There are some good options in the Catskills, too. The Appalachian Mountain Club has lots of good books, like Best Day Hikes Catskills & Hudson Valley.