The popularity of the 5K running event is soaring these days. Nearly 8 million people competed in a 5K event during 2015 according to the official entity that keeps such statistics, Running USA. That is a significant number of people pounding the pavement in pursuit of a personal running best. Probably the hardest thing about the process is actually getting started! Fortunately, there are many “couch to 5K” types of books to help.
My wife and I have two small children, ages 6 and 10, and we love running with them. I really enjoy it – an after-work two-miler with my kids is just what the doctor ordered. I get to spend time with my girls, and they get to stay fit and active. A great book about starting a running program for kids is titled: “Young Runners: The Complete Guide to Healthy Running for Kids From 5 to 18.” Some of the challenges facing young runners are age and growth specific injuries such as shin splints and knee pain. “Young Runners” outlines training programs so that kids can avoid these pitfalls, stay motivated and even run their first 5 or 10K.
In the midst of having kids and living a very busy life, my wife has run nearly a dozen 5K races and even a half marathon! A couple of books and other resources have really helped her stay motivated, including Kara Goucher’s excellent “Running for Women” and a subscription to Runner’s World. However, a number of books have recently been published that target the busy Mom runner specifically. “Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across any Finish Line – and not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity” by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea is one. Speaking of 5Ks, McDowell and Shea say the following: “Many 5Ks cater to families with fun runs for younger kids and courses that older kids can tackle. You run, they run, and then . . . naptime for everyone in the afternoon.” Another recent entry in the canon is the book “See Mom Run: Every Mother’s Guide to Getting Fit and Running her First 5K” by Megan Searfoss.
If you want a good introduction to everything about running, try the “Runner’s World Complete Book of Running,” edited by Amby Burfoot. The most recent edition was published in 2009, and should be required reading for anyone starting a training regime. In the chapter “Oprah Did it, So Can You,” Burfoot outlines how a personal trainer, some weight loss, and a lot of persistence actually sent Oprah Winfrey on her way to running a marathon in 1994. The book also has a lot of emphasis on choosing the right gear — mainly a pair of nice running shoes: “The great thing about running is that you only need one piece of equipment.” Choosing the right shoe can be a complicated and confusing affair with all the varieties out there to choose from, but Burfoot keeps the process simple and straightforward. To supplement this particular title, one might check out a suite of similar offerings, including “Runner’s World Complete Book of Women’s Running” and “Runner’s World Complete Book of Beginning Running.”
Finally, for the beginning AND the more experienced runners who want to get a little bit more from their training programs, there is the near classic and well reviewed “Galloway’s 5K and 10K Running.” Jeff Galloway’s training programs are all over the internet, but the book gives the reader quite a bit more depth and explains theory when discussing running technique and his very popular “walk/run” approach to fitness. Also, please see Galloway’s frequently updated website for revised training programs and other fresh offerings: www.jeffgalloway.com.
I exhort you to get out and start running! Your body, mind and even your family will be the better for it. Seek out some of these resources to get started, and you will be on your way.
