Friday, February 27, 2009

A review and my first GIVEAWAY!!!

Yup, my first giveaway! I'm so very happy.

Caroline at Broadway Books kindly sent me a copy of Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon: How to Be Your Own Best Coach to review and give away.

The book is written by Brad Hudson and Matt Fitzgerald. Hudson coaches elite runners, including Dathan Ritzenhein, the top US finisher in the 2008 Olympic marathon. Fitzgerald is an accomplished triathlete who has written several running and triathlon training books.

From the publisher:

Filled with runner profiles, easy-to-read charts, and illustrative accounts from the top runners Brad coaches, RUN FASTER is the first user-friendly guide to creating an individual training program designed especially for runners of all speeds and of all ages.

There was a lot that I liked about this book, starting with the sub-title: How To Be Your Own Best Coach. I'm never going to have a running coach so the idea of becoming better at coaching myself appealed to me. Unlike many other training books that I've read, this book doesn't prescribe any set plan. Rather it offers a step-by-step guide to creating, implementing and monitoring your own training plan. Hudson believes that every runner needs to have an individual plan because every runner is unique.

Hudson talks a lot about assessing yourself as a runner and how what you learn through the assessment should drive your plan. His self-assessment plan outlines 10 factors that every runner should consider in developing their training plan. I found this self-assessment to be particularly useful as I looked inward to decide whether or not to continue my marathon training. It helped me to think about the many factors that influence running success. I think that sometimes we get fixed on achieving a particular goal, period. Hudson shows that, through self-assessment, we can become better at setting appropriate goals and plans to achieve them.

He is also a proponent of hill running, specifically hill sprints. As you can imagine, this hill lover could relate to that!

Most of all, Hudson writes in a very sincere style: I felt that he really wants to help people realize their running potential. Overall, I enjoyed the book and learned a good bit about my running style and what I should and should not be doing. I almost didn't want to give the book away!

But I am.

The Giveaway!

The winner of Run Faster will be selected at random. Entering is easy!

One entry: Leave a comment on this post
One entry: Follow me (if you already do, just note that in your comment)

I'll post the winner here on Wednesday. Be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Good luck and happy Friday!

~ Felice

81 comments:

Vava said...

Nice contest! Sounds like a good book. And I am now following your blog too! Sorry for the delay, but I tend to follow blogs without the aid of blogger...

Unknown said...

Please count me in for the book; sounds like something I could use.

Already a follower. :-)

Abby said...

Ooh, I am now officially a follower!

I've been on a running book kick recently, but haven't seen this one yet, so count me in :)

Julianne said...

Great giveaway Felice!! :-)

Oh and I follow you already!

Denise said...

Enter me, please. And I'm already a follower!

Chic Runner said...

YAY! What a great contest, and I'm already a follower. :)

Marlene said...

Sounds like a great book. Count me in. (I'm a follower.)

Have a nice weekend!

Aileen said...

I, too, am already a follower!

I have one of Fitzgerald's books already and LOVE IT. So I definitely want to read more!!! And in this economy, I could for sure benefit from learning to be my own coach!

Candice said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for doing the giveaway!

And I'm a follower!

Liz said...

Already a happy follower of the Happy Runner. :o) Thanks for your comments over in my webspace!

It's funny that you happened to pick up this book now and that it informed your marathoning decision.....I just started Friel's Triathlete Training Bible this morning while waiting at the doctor's office, and so far, it's much the same philosophy: we're all different, you need to do what works for you, rest is important, etc. It hasn't motivated me thus far (I'm only 2 chapters in), but it's at least brought me some peace of mind that whatever decision I make for this year's race calendar, it will be the right one for me.


Thanks for sharing your review! :o) Hope you have a great weekend.

RunToTheFinish said...

Of course I follow you!

I have really enjoyed a couple of books by Matt Fitzgerald, so this sounds excellent to add to the mix!

tfh said...

Sounds fascinating! Especially since I always insist on butchering-- er, personalizing-- my training plans as it is. (Oh, and I'm following you!)

Melanie said...

I would LOVE to rad this. Please enter me. I follow you as well!

Anonymous said...

Very cool! Happy Friday and enjoy he weekend!

I Run for Fun said...

Sounds like a great book...I am 100% self-coached too! Please put me in the running.
Oh, and of course, I am a blog follower of yours.

der5er said...

Sounds like a great book! I'm already my own coach, so I'd love to get better at it! I just followed you today!

joyRuN said...

AAAHH! You scared me at "hill sprints"! Talk about testing my max HR with that fun :)

Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good book, thanks for the review. I'm way into my P90X routine right now, but hope to pick up my running more soon!

Dr Wednesday said...

Is there tips for beginners? I already follow you- for all the inspiration.

K @ Running Through Life said...

Sounds like an awesome read! And, I do already "follow" you!

Andria said...

I would love a chance to win. Thank you

Anonymous said...

Please count me in! shadowsangell(at)hotmail(dot)com

susan1215 said...

Please enter me

lisaray said...

I've just started running, and would really like this book.

J said...

Ooo sounds like a good book! Just what I need! I already follow you too!!

speedygeoff said...

Hey I already follow you! Pick me! pick me!

UMassFen said...

Thanks for the contest.

chromiumman said...

love to win this

Sue said...

This looks like a great book! Thanks for sharing~

Anonymous said...

Sounds like something I could use
mlkskydive at aol dot com

mverno said...

i'm in it to win it

agordon10 said...

i'm a runner, so i'd love to read this.

ky2here said...

I wish it were warmer so I could get off the treadmill and onto terra firma.

The Laminator said...

Count me in for the giveaway. Yay!
And I've been a follower since the very beginning. Double yay!

Seriously, I think we are all our best own coaches...once you know the basics.

Anonymous said...

useful book
KawaiiNeko2008 (at) aol (dot) com

X-Country2 said...

Sounds like a great book! Pick me!

danosor said...

Please enter my name in this contest.I am a subscriber.

Sher said...

Count me in!
I love reading Marathon Mommy's blog.
Now, I'll follow you too.

Gabriel S-J. said...

Sounds like a great book. Great contest.

Twyska said...

Sounds like a great book!

Latter-day Runner said...

I'm now a follower. I'd love to get this book! My goal is to run a sub-4 marathon this year. I haven't started interval training yet, so maybe a book like this will help me.

mmentor said...

my best friends son is a runner, i'd love to give this to him

Mrs. Spencer said...

I would love to win the book...I am training for my first full marathon this spring!

Rach said...

Sounds like a great book! Just found your site and now I'm a follower!!

Robyn said...

Please enter me in your drawing! Sounds like a wonderful book. Thank you :-)

Lisa said...

I would LOVE to win this book! Thanks!

Eevi said...

I would love to read this book and I am your newest follower!

Jim Hansen said...

I have a a couple of Matt Fitzgerald's books. I particularly like his "Brain Training for Runners" book. I like to read what Brad Hudson's coaching plans are like.

Aron said...

pick me! :) i am already a follower!

Kelly(M&M) said...

Hey there!! You have a great blog. I am now a follower, even though I have lurked for a while through Marathon Mommies. You and I have very similar race times- pretty cool!!

(I hope I win the book-it sounds great!)

healthy ashley said...

Here's my comment!

...and I follow you! (Of course I follow you!)

kmorghan said...

I'd love to run a bit faster! Sounds like a good book.

daisy said...

I'm always trying to get my running gals to do hills, maybe this book would convince them!

30somethingmama said...

I just found your blog and I'm now a follower. I haven't had good luck with hills and I'm very interested in this book! I also need to increase my speed.

Lori said...

Thanks for sharing about the book. Even if I don't when, I think I'm going to have to pick up a copy. Sounds like a very good read. :)

Sarah said...

My fingers are crossed. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Monday!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

RunnerMom said...

Pick me, pick me! I can't possibly run any SLOWER, so a book about running faster is perfect for me.

5 Miles Past Empty said...

Oh man! I neeeeed this! I cannot lower my times. I am stuck! So if I don't win I guess I will have to go out and buy the book anyway!

Just became a follower and I am stoked to read more from you!
Amanda

Jinxy and Me said...

Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!

Melanie said...

This sounds like a great book for runners

Ang said...

So fun!!

Stacey said...

That sounds like a great book! I hope I am the winner!!

rlgrady said...

I love reading about running. It is very motivational, and gets me off my butt when I need a little push.

Thanks! :)

rlgrady[at]yahoo[dot]com

purplepassion126 said...

I am sure that this book will help me build up my mental and physical endurance. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I would love to learn how to improve my running. garrettsambo@aol.com

Julia said...

I would love to to improve my running too.

js3144[at]columbia[dot]edu

masonsgranny59 said...

sounds like a good book:)

mrstrooper said...

Sounds like an interesting book!

demmi said...

please enter me con5459(at)gmail(dot)com

Nickolay said...

This sounds like a book I would really like

jason@allworldautomotive.com

Denise S. said...

I love to read and I'd love to read this!

Janice {Run Far} said...

me me me... I want to be entered. and I am already a follower.... I need to do one of these giveaways too... I have a book I recieved for Christmas that I already owned.

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

Maybe a book like this would be the kick in the behind I need to get up & get moving!

zestywonderland@gmail.com

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I follow!

zestywonderland@gmail.com

Donna M. Clark said...

This book sounds like it will be one I will enjoy reading. And before too long, hopefull, using. Thank you for having this giveaway

Donna M. Clark said...

I follow you.

Rookie on the Run said...

Oooo... pick me! Pick me (at random, of course)! I'm a follower and would love the book. :)

/\Heather/\ said...

I so need htis. :-)

lilyk said...

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

Meg said...

I would love the read!

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