Overview:
Part 1: Before the Starting Line
Mark looks at who we are and how we are built to run. He explains anatomy in a simplified manner and how the parts work together, enabling us to move and run. Humans are meant to be running, and moving is critical to living a healthy and energetic life. In the last section of the book, Mark touches much of what we do today, leading to inactivity and being indoors when we get the most out of life moving and being outside.
Chapters in Part 1
- Our Bodies are older than we think
- Stand up and Breath
- Walk Before You Run
- The World is Flat If You’re a Foot
- The Springs That Move Us
Chapters in Part 2 – Principles and Practice
- The Elements of Style
- The Engine That Runs Us: Building Endurance
- Move More and “Exercise” Less
- Eating to Go the Distance: Nutrition and Health
- What’s for Dinner: Setting Your Meal Course
- Recovery is Training
- Running a Marathon
- The Runner’s High: The Mind of a Winner
- Outsmart Injuries with Prevention
Part 3: Running is For Everyone
The last section covers a variety of subjects such as women, aging, our connection with the outdoors, and community importance. The ideas of the community are very well covered.
Chapters in Part 3
- Women are Pulling Away from the Pack
- Young at Heart
- Healthy at Any Age
- The Nature Cure
- Running in Place: The health of our Communities
Mark’s book, Run for Your Life, complements our book, The Science of the Marathon, very well. They both serve different areas of running but show how you can train less and gain more. Please give these books a read!