The Art of Running Faster [Paperback]

I already have a shelf full of books about running, but most of them simply say the same things in different ways. This one is different. Julian Goater is a hugely intelligent athlete and coach who has taken the time and effort to think about what makes for successful running - from the technical aspects of posture and cadence to the mental aspects of how to get the most out of training and racing. He's integrated concepts from other disciplines into his approach and is not afraid to present new thinking and challenge accepted wisdom. He explains how his approach has worked for him and other runners, who span a variety of ages, backgrounds and aspirations. One of his main challenges is to get away from the tendency for all training to morph into similar sessions - similar in length and similar in content, producing, not surprisingly, similar results, and he describes how to go about increasing the variety and impact of training. Unlike many other books on running, it is extremely readable, being illustrated with examples of the points being made from all areas of running with occasional references to swimming and cycling, and I found myself inspired to go out and try some of the new ideas for myself. I'd be surprised if anyone finished the book without finding that they have tried some of the sessions Julian describes, but should you get to the end and want a sample schedule as a starting point, these are presented in an appendix. To quote from the book, "In training, often the aim is to experiment, throw caution to the wind, and find out what you're capable of doing. What you discover might surprise you." That holds for the book too....

I sat down at the computer this evening to write a review of this inspiring book and decided, first of all, to read the other reviews that have been posted. There were six in all and the trouble is I'm not sure how I can add to them! They all give unqualified praise to Julian Goater and his co-writer, Don Melvin. So my first remark would be - read all the other reviews! The book itself is divided into two Parts: Building the Base and Sharpening the Knife. What's interesting is that the first Part, in particular, makes use of Julian's experience as a coach as much as his career as an international runner. His advice is pitched at all ages and levels of runner in establishing a set of common principles to work to. The very production of the book - the size, the cover and the layout of the pages - makes you want to pick it up and read it. The chapters are logically organised and the writing is in a very accessible and conversational style with photos and highlighted points that altogether make it extremely readable. It is also not a book that you will look at once and then consign to the shelf. There are some absolute nuggets of thought-provoking ideas, information and advice that give it value as a reference that I know I shall keep returning to. As a former, very average club runner I had long since resigned myself to steady decline with the sole objective of keeping going as long as possible. However, I have already been inspired to try some of Julian's ideas, beginning with how to run a recovery session! It remains to be seen how much I can actually speed up but following some of the ideas in the book will certainly make the attempt a good deal more fun. I can't claim to have read every running book that's been published but this one is certainly different and it all seems to make perfect sense. At less than the price of a pair of socks, it is difficult to see how any runner or coach can possibly ignore it!

Julian's new book, just published, is written by an athlete who has been there, done that, worn the vest and often got the medal.

Very few people are placed better than Julian to write about how to achieve your potential in running with this thought provoking, motivational and often humorous book.

However, despite Julian's performance as an elite international athlete let's get one crucial matter out into the open, this is definitively a book for runners at all levels; joggers, (those casual runners who want to keep fit, lose some weight and jog a few miles a week), as well as competitive runners who want to do better next week than they did last week.

The chapters in the book are set out in a logical, readable form, interspersed with concise comments highlighted in the text with a short summary of the chapter at the end of each section. Julian focuses on the 5, (or is it 6?), Ss: speed, suppleness, strength, stamina, skill and psychology. The importance of the mind is emphasised; the author believes that many of us do not achieve our true potential because often we lack self-belief, that ability to challenge our mental boundaries which inhibit our performance in races. This is as true for the social runner as it is for the runner who races regularly and wants to run faster.

Whilst this is a book full of advice, guidance and challenges, it does refer to Julian's contemporaries, (notably Dave Bedford, Steve Jones, Charlie Spedding and Henry Rono), referring to their views of training and competing as well as those of the author. (As an aside, Spedding's book "from last to first" is a classic autobiography of a sportsperson, an average runner who strived to be better). Julian is a great believer in each of us being able to achieve our potential by listening to our body and being honest with ourselves. However, never "over run" or "over race" is a clear message, and Julian warns runners at all levels that sometimes they need to say "No, I'm not going out this week-end for a few miles, but thanks anyway" in order to maintain that freshness and eagerness for running throughout the year.

It is not all serious stuff. There is a lot of light relief. "The Art of Running Faster" contains some great anecdotes; the one about the Ethiopian runners leading in the World Cross-Country Championships who thought that they had finished after three laps of a four lap race made me laugh and cry at the same time.

Those of us who race and follow athletics know Julian was always a great "club man", whether for Shaftesbury or the R.A.F. Not surprisingly, Julian advocates getting involved in a club for several reasons, (particularly for advice, guidance, support and friendship), emphasising the social aspects for club runners at all levels.

In summary, this is an inspirational book. If you are a runner and want to be a better runner, then this book will make you want to put on those training shoes and kit and go out for a run. Very helpfully, Julian has included an easy to follow training schedules at the end of the book, (written for runners of all levels and ability).

You may not achieve the times that Julian and his colleagues achieved, but this book will give you the encouragement to make the best effort to do so. It's a great read from a great athlete and now a leading coach.