Running Made Easy [Paperback]

It's motivational, it's inspiring, it's fun! It's Running Made Easy! And, quite simply, it's the friendliest running book on the block. Running Made Easy is designed to get everyone who thought they could never run on their way to a better body, bags of confidence and soaring energy levels. Its revolutionary running programme involves just 60 seconds of running at a time - and will take you from couch potato to fit and fab in just 10 weeks. It'll encourage you to knock aside every excuse you've ever made and celebrate every step you take towards a fitter, happier you. Packed with amazing real-life running and weight-loss success stories and advice, Running Made Easy also includes a highly motivating running diary and colourful fill-in charts to help you track your progress and see just how well you're doing. If you're ready to take up running, this book's ready to become your best friend.

We decided to write Running Made Easy because, although one of us is a speedy hare and the other a slow-paced tortoise, we're both equally passionate about running and keen to spread the word. We think that the secret of our enthusiasm is that we're continually finding new ways to make running fun, and that's what we want to share with you. While we were writing it, we got to talk to some amazing people who've gained an enormous amount from running, from Beryl who beat depression and agrophobia and now runs everywhere in a pair of fairy wings, to Julie who, at 19st, lost half her bodyweight through running. Julie kept a log of every run she did and even drew a weigh-loss chart to help keep her motivated. Inspired by this, we've included loads of colourful charts and a six-month running diary so you can use Running Made Easy as a workbook to help keep track of your running progress as you go from minute to mile (and even perhaps a marathon!) We hope you have just as much fun reading it as we had writing it.
LISA JACKSON & SUSIE WHALLEY

LISA JACKSON is deputy chief sub-editor on Zest magazine. An extremely reluctant convert to running, she's now an ardent evangelist and has run seven marathons in fancy dress: London (twice), Edinburgh, Berlin, Paris, Rome and New York. Born in South Africa, she lives in London with her husband Graham.

Running pace: Think of the slowest runner you know – then think twice as slow!

Running CV: I’m a late-onset runner. For 31 years I was a fully paid-up member of The Couch Potato Society. Exercise? No one can say they loathed, hated and detested it more than me. In fact, I never once failed to drive to the corner shop – which was all of a two-minute walk! Then in June 1998 I was blown away by the electrifying atmosphere of a 5K race that I’d very reluctantly been cajoled into doing. I was surprised by just how much of a kick I got from the crowds, the camaraderie and the cheering.
Soon afterwards, my aunt signed up for the Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, and I was consumed with envy. Terrified, I threw caution to the wind and entered, too. Again I was bowled over by the thrill of having dared to challenge myself to run 21km (13.1 miles). Six months later, I tackled the London Marathon and had one of the most memorable days of my life. From then on, I was unstoppable. Six other marathons followed, along with an alarming desire to run a marathon a year until the candles on my birthday cake resemble a bushfire.

SUSIE WHALLEY is features editor on Zest magazine. Having rediscovered running in her mid-20s after a long lapse, she's now run four London Marathons, and is currently planning to run the New York City Marathon. She lives in London with her husband Adam.

Running pace: Average – not exceptional – but getting faster!

Running CV: My earliest memories of running are of trotting off down country lanes with my dad to fetch the day’s baguette on family holidays in France. I wasn’t sure why, but even aged eight, with little legs that could barely keep up, I was desperate to follow in his footsteps and take up running. At school I waited eagerly for sports days, which I enjoyed just about as much as all the other girls hated, and every year I’d watch the London Marathon with tears in my eyes and dream of taking part.
My ambitions got shelved at university (wild nights out distracted me!), so when I decided to start training for the marathon aged 25, it felt pretty tough. My running partner Louise and I couldn’t even manage one lap of the park at first, but we ploughed on, completed our first 5K race (I was so exhausted I had to sleep for two hours afterwards) and eventually took on the marathon. Once wasn’t enough, and now the London Marathon has turned into an annual challenge that inspires and overawes me every time I do it.