Kara Goucher's Running for Women - From First Steps to Marathons

If you are a serious runner, or are thinking about starting a running or run/walk program to keep fit and help you lose weight, forget about the traditional food pyramid--or today's low-carb diets. As noted dietitian Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., C.N.S., explains, the eating plan that best meets the needs of runners at all levels is based on a 50 percent carb, 25 percent protein, 25 percent fat ratio. Here Dr. Fernstrom details a realistic program, individualized for each person's activity level, that will enable runners to maximize their performance while maintaining long-term success at weight control.

In Runner's World The Runner's Diet, the reader will discover:

o Why the 50-25-25 ratio works best for runners--and even walkers

o How to match your eating pattern to your running style

o How to make use of a daily food and activity log

It's the simplest, fastest, most accessible way to fitness and good health known to woman. You don't need a partner, equipment, or even much time. Now, Claire Kowalchik, former managing editor of Runner's World magazine, answers every question about the overwhelmingly popular activity that builds endurance, melts fat, and even prevents illness. In this total running book for women, you'll learn:

• How to get started and stay motivated

• What to eat for optimal nutrition

• How to run during pregnancy and after menopause

• Why running is the most effective form of exercise

• How to prevent and treat injury

• What to wear -- from sports bras to running shoes

• How to prepare for everything from a 5K to a marathon

Building on the success of the popular Beginning Runner's Handbook, Marathon and Half Marathon shows you how to get motivated and set realistic goals, choose the proper shoes, eat right, build strength and endurance, and avoid sore muscles and injury. It also includes tips from elite runners on such subjects as motivation, consistency, log books, and running partners. Finally, the book describes strategies for how to change from a sedentary person to a runner, how to build the mental strength needed for distance running, and what to expect on race day.

Whether youre looking to run your first race or your fastest, The Runners World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training provides all the essentials youll need to reach both the starting and finish lines feeling healthy, strong, and ready to run your best. Based on the best advice from the editors of Runners World, this book will be your personal trainer every step of the way.

Inside youll find:

• Six marathon and half-marathon training plans
• Training plans for running multiple marathons and half-marathons
• More than two dozen workouts to build speed and endurance
• Three-day eating plans for weight loss
• The perfect carb-loading plan
• Tips on how to lose weight and shear minutes off your PR
• Secrets for relieving side stitches and knee pain, plus the worlds greatest postrace stretch!

There's plenty of conventional wisdom on health and fitness-but how much of it is scientifically sound? The truth is: less than you'd think.

In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, physicist and award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson tackles dozens of commonly held beliefs and looks at just what research science has-and has not-proven to be true:

Should I exercise when I'm sick? Do I get the same workout from the elliptical machine that I get from running? What role does my brain play in fatigue? Will running ruin my knees? To lose weight, is it better to eat less or exercise more? How should I adapt my workout routine as I get older? Does it matter what I'm thinking about when I train? Will drinking coffee help or hinder my performance? Should I have sex the night before a competition?

This myth-busting book covers the full spectrum of exercise science and offers the latest in research from around the globe, as well as helpful diagrams and plenty of practical tips on using proven science to improve fitness, reach weight loss goals, and achieve better competition results.