Advanced Marathoning
by Peter Pfitzinger, Scott Douglas
List Price:
Our Price: $5.70
You Save: $14.25 (71%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.89 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Peter Pfitzinger, Scott DouglasEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-02-07
ISBN: 0736034315
Number of pages: 248
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Accessories:
Book Reviews of Advanced Marathoning
Book Review: Recommeded Reading for Serious Marathoners
Summary: 4 Stars
Advanced Marathoning (AM) by Olympian Pete Pfitzinger and former Running Times editor Scott Douglas is packed with high-value training advice that should benefit every serious runner. AM is not without its problems, but none are serious enough to detract from a work that is well written and philosophically sound.
From the beginning Pfitzinger and Douglas make clear the basis of their views: "Advanced marathoning has to be based on more than common sense and running folklore. Advanced Marathoning, therefore, is based on exercise science." This declaration puts Pfitzinger and Douglas in the camp of exercise physiology, and, quite obviously, separates them from mainstream running authors. It's also a mild reproof of the mainstream and their penchant for ignoring the rapidly expanding world of exercise science.
Squarely on the side of science, AM begins by listing lactate threshold (LT), maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), running economy, glycogen storage, recovery time, and muscle fiber composition as the key physiological variables that govern performance. The authors' claim, quite correctly, that "lactate threshold (LT) is the most important physiological variable for endurance athletes." They go on to say that "Contrary to many runner' beliefs, high levels of lactate (lactic acid) in your muscles aren't what make you sore for several days after a hard effort." Indeed, lactate, once considered metabolic waste, is "...produced by your muscles and is used by your muscles, heart, liver, and kidneys." Since the marathon is run at a speed slightly below LT, marathoners have a vested interest in raising LT. AM tells us how: "The most effective way to improve lactate threshold is to run at your current lactate threshold pace or a few seconds per mile faster, either as one continuous run (tempo run) or as a long interval session at your lactate threshold pace...." It's here that I have to quibble. Tempo runs are good LT workouts, however, recent research (Rusko, Billat, Anderson, and others) indicates that intervals at 3-K to 10-K speed with fairly long recoveries are better. Tempo runs definitely have their place, but not to the exclusion of faster LT sessions.
As for the other key variables, maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), not as important as LT and only a rough predictor of performance, is also worth some attention. Pfitzinger and Douglas are right on the money again when they report "The most effective running intensity to improve VO2max is 95% to 100% of VO2max." This speed is normally close to 5-K pace. They wisely recommend work intervals of two to six minutes with rest intervals of equal length or slightly less. This is the standard, scientifically sound VO2max workout. However, it's interesting that velocity at VO2max (vVO2max) is not mentioned as another critical training intensity. Daniels, widely quoted in AM, has much to say about vVO2max, yet AM is silent on the subject. If recent work by Billat is correct, vVO2max could be a training intensity equal in importance to LT. This omission could be due to the long lead-time (sometimes 18 months) in getting a book published. AM may have gone to press before Billat's research was available.
In addition to physiological variables, Pfitzinger and Douglas have plenty to say about shoes, tapering, fluid replacement, nutrition, pre-race activities, post-race recovery, heart rate, periodization and a bevy other topics. They also present three very reasonable training schedules based on low, medium, and high mileage. Their only serious error regards altitude training. AM tells us that "Other than by training at altitude...the hemoglobin concentration of your blood won't increase with training." It should be well understood by now that living at altitude, not training at altitude, confers the benefit--hence the live high/train low protocol. Scores of endurance athletes are training at or near sea level by day and sleeping in hypoxic tents at night. Rusko (1998) has even constructed an altitude house. (See Gamow, Snell, Stine, Poronnet, Rusko, and Levine.)
All things considered, AM is well written, fairly well researched, and aside from an obvious typo in the first sentence of the third paragraph on page 18, also well edited. AM's puny bibliography was slightly disappointing. One would expect several pages of references in a work of this size. Nevertheless, AM is a worthy treatise, unfettered by the "folklore" so popular with the commercial running establishment. I give it a solid four stars and recommend it to every serious marathoner.
Summary of Advanced Marathoning
Want to run a faster marathon? Commitment and hard work are essential but you also need to train smarter to run faster. Advanced Marathoning contains all the information you'll need to run faster, peak for multiple marathons without injury, and meet your marathon goal?whether it's running a personal best, qualifying for the Boston Marathon or winning your age division.
Extensive, day-to-day training schedules are targeted to your weekly mileage and length of training program (12, 18, or 24 weeks). These training schedules will have you racing at peak speed, whether you're targeting one race or several during the season.
The more you know about why and how the plan works, the more motivated you'll be to stick with the workouts. You'll also be better able to assess your progress as you get closer to the big race. You'll learn the scientific principles behind what makes you a faster marathoner and which workouts you need to improve.
Many factors can affect your marathon success. Advanced Marathoning gives you information on everything critical to your success, including
- which types of training are most important for success and which are a waste of time,
- eating and drinking for top performance in training and racing,
- which types of nonrunning training have the biggest impact on your marathon times,
- finding the time and energy to fit training into real life,
- tracking your progress, and
- planning and implementing your race-day strategy.
Author Pete Pfitzinger was the top American finisher in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Marathons. He won the 1984 Olympic Trials by outkicking former world record holder Alberto Salazar. Pfitzinger, now an exercise physiologist, won the San Francisco Marathon twice and finished third in the 1987 New York City Marathon. Co-author Scott Douglas is a well-known writer on running, a former editor of Running Times, and a competitive runner. The duo, co-authors of Road Racing for Serious Runners (Human Kinetics, 1999), have experience, credibility, and an ability to present scientific information in a readable manner.
Successful marathon running requires thorough, intelligent preparation. Advanced Marathoning is the only book you'll need to move beyond the basics and meet your goals?training smarter to run faster.
Marathons Books
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guideby Hal Higdon
Rodale Books; Published: 1999-10-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.75
Price in other shops:
What I Talk about When I Talk about Runningby Murakami, Haruki
Blackstone Audiobooks, Inc.; Published: 2008-07-01; MP3 CD; Book
Best price: $12.56
Price in other shops:
The Silence of Great Distanceby Frank Murphy
Windsprint Press; Published: 2000-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.52
Price in other shops:
The Marathon: Physiological, Medical, Epidemiological, and Psychological Studies (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences ; v. 301)New York Academy of Sciences; Published: 1977-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $157.96
Guinness Book of the Marathonby Roger Gynn
Sterling; Published: 1984-08; Paperback; Book
Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women's Sportsby Kathrine Switzer
Da Capo Press; Published: 2009-03-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.65
Price in other shops:
Advanced Marathoningby Peter Pfitzinger, Scott Douglas
Human Kinetics; Published: 2001-02-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.70
Price in other shops:
The Silence of Great Distanceby Frank Murphy
Windsprint Press; Published: 2000; Paperback; Book
Looniness of the Long Distance Runnerby Russell Taylor
Andre Deutsch; Published: 2007-01-02; Paperback; Book
The Competitive Runners Handbook (A Penguin handbook)by Bob Glover, Pete Schuder
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1983-08-25; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Mastering the Marathon: Time-Efficient Training Secrets for the 40-plus Athleteby Don Fink
Lyons Press; Published: 2010-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.69
Price in other shops:
The Competitive Runner's Handbook: The Bestselling Guide to Running 5Ks through Marathonsby Bob Glover, Shelly-Lynn Florence Glover
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1999-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Smart Marathon Training: Run Your Best Without Running Yourself Raggedby Jeff Horowitz
Velo Press; Published: 2011-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.59
Price in other shops:
Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletesby Monique Ryan
VELO; VeloPress; Published: 2007-03-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
Road Racing for Serious Runners: Multispeed Training- 5K to Marathonby Peter Pfitzinger, Scott Douglas
Human Kinetics; Published: 1998-10-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.01
Price in other shops:
Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performanceby Matt Fitzgerald
Velopress; Velo Press; Published: 2009-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.62
Price in other shops:
Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon: How to Be Your Own Best Coachby Brad Hudson, Matt Fitzgerald
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2008-07-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide: Advice, Plans, and Programs for Half and Full Marathonsby Hal Higdon
Rodale Books; Published: 2011-09-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops:
Lore of Running, 4th Editionby Timothy Noakes
Human Kinetics; Published: 2002-12-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.98
Price in other shops:
Daniels' Running Formula - 2nd Editionby Jack Daniels
Human Kinetics; Published: 2005-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.08
Price in other shops: