Dawn Dais hated running. And it didn't like her much, either. Her fitness routine consisted of avoiding the stairs in her own house, because who really has the energy to climb stairs? It was with this exercise philosophy firmly in place that she set off to complete a marathon. The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women is a fun training manual for women who don't believe that running is their biological destiny but who dream of crossing the finish line nonetheless. It opens with a realistic training schedule and is chock-full of how-to's, quizzes, and funny observations, which Dais felt were lacking in the guides she had consulted. TheNonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women also integrates entries from Dias' journal, sharing everything would-be marathoners need to know about the gear, the blisters, the early morning workouts, the late-night carb binges, and most important of all the amazing rewards. Anyone can do a marathon. This book just makes the experience a little more bearable and a lot more fun.
List Price:
$14.95
Our Price:
$10.17
& eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
You Save:
$4.78 (32%)
Product Details
Author:
Dawn Dais
Paperback:
256 pages
Publisher:
Seal Press
Publication Date:
January 03, 2007
Language:
English
ISBN:
1580052053
Product Length:
8.16 inches
Product Width:
5.54 inches
Product Height:
0.77 inches
Product Weight:
0.7 pounds
Package Length:
8.1 inches
Package Width:
5.5 inches
Package Height:
0.8 inches
Package Weight:
0.7 pounds
Average Customer Rating:
based on 109 reviews
Features
ISBN13: 9781580052054
Condition: New
Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Average Customer Review: ( 109 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
289 of 330 found the following review helpful:
Funny and inspirational, but disagree with her training schedule Feb 02, 2008
By International Diva I loved Dawn's tone and writing style, and this is a very inspirational book and I recommend it to all women interested in running a marathon get it, but with one reservation - I have issues iwth the training schedule included in her book.
I'm truly concerned that she advises that a complete novice who doesn't even own running shoes could attempt a run a marathon with only four month's training. This is a recipe for potentially serious injury. And she provides an example of this herself -- she develops major knee pain, including at the beginning of her marathon before she even began running. Her actual marathon experience is one of someone who trained too quickly; at mile 13, she began to experience severe pain and had real trouble finishing among the "walking dead" at the back of the pack.
I trained to run a marathon in 2002 and I had four months to train, but I was jogging regularly and had been a long distance cyclist for several years. But I injured my back and tendons in my legs on my schedule. A doctor told me that this because my training was too consolidated.
I highly recommend this book if you're considering running a marathon, but if you are indeed a novice do three things before attempting to train:
1) Follow her advice to have a thorough medical checkup, although I will add that it's ultra helpful to find a doctor who is familiar with sports medicine
2) get a real-life coach/experienced marathoner to talk to before you beginn and ideally to supervise your training; you can talk to people at running speciality stores to find a good person and
3) check out a number of other marathon training schedules, such as Hal Higdon's novice schedule (which is a 7 1/2 month program) and another by coolrunning.com called "from couch potato to 5k) as well; it's another potential training program for beginners. (You can find both through Google.) Give yourself lots of time to train and ramp up slowly.
I just ran a marathon, and I was supervised by a university track coach. He designed a program that required me running regularly for six months before the half marathon, and an additional four months for a marathon, to which I added another month. Yes, 11 months. But I had a GREAT marathon experience - injury free, pain free and with a quick recovery.
But I have to say that her entertaining, straightforward advice about sports bras, great shoes, the importance of journaling and the miracle of Bodyglide makes this a very good book for beginners. Just research other schedules that work for you before you hit the pavement.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Should come with a warning label! Jul 25, 2011
By S. Broumley The author should be ashamed of herself for giving such horrible advice to the unsuspecting novice runners who will purchase this as an actual training guide!
With a training schedule peppered with such sage tips as: Masking your pain with over the counter medication - "Yes, Advil is a major food group" and Over training - "If it hurts to get out of bed in the morning, then you know you are training correctly" coupled with delightful adolescent remarks like: "...oh CRAP you have to run twelve miles next week", you're sure to be headed down the wrong path.
Some may find her irreverent writing style humorous, but the wealth of bad advice offered up in the first chapter convinced me to get RID of this book and focus on another written by professionals who actually gave cogent advice for training for your first marathon.
IF you buy this book, buy it for the joke that it is. If you are honestly looking for advice on training for your first marathon, look elsewhere. I'm currently reading and thoroughly enjoying The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer: The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
NEVER EVER advocate self-diagnosis!! Mar 02, 2010
By Beki*Lynne! This book was definitely funny and an easy read. Motivating, though? Not so much. After the 47th time hearing about her horrible, aching kneecaps and how much pain it was and how horrible training was and how much she hated it... Well, I wasn't so interested in a marathon (which should be the entire basis of the book, to motivate you to run a marathon!). It's a very good thing I was well on my way with my half marathon training when I read this book, otherwise I would've scrapped the whole thing altogether!
There were _several_ points that made me laugh out loud, and a couple pages I marked because they were worth rereading! But the thing that really disappointed me was that she actually advocated looking up your symptoms/aches/pains/injuries on the internet and self-diagnosing/treating!! Now, I know we ALL do it, but I just found it completely irresponsible of her and her publisher to actually TELL you to do that, where they should have been saying "SAVE YOURSELF A POTENTIALLY GREATER INJURY: GO TO A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL!!!" The act of publishing the book immediately made her somewhat of an "expert" and NO expert should EVER suggest just looking it up on the internet!
With that said, it was worth my reading as an already established runner. It was an enjoyable (for the most part) read, but definitely not something I would actually recommend to new runners or those that don't already have a solid support-group of other experienced runners around them that are willing to help motivate.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Please don't buy this book Jul 25, 2011
By Jim Travis Broumley I purchased this book for my wife, who has committed to training for her first marathon. I wish I hadn't. The irreverent humor and cursing in the book is not funny, and it offends. Beyond that, her "training advice" if you can call it that is absolutely negligent. Read the other one to three star reviews for more details. Don't be fooled by the people who for some weird reason think that this author if funny. They obviously aren't serious about running.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Not at all useful to help train. Jul 16, 2011
By bob The author of this book ran a half marathon followed by walking a half marathon and got horribly injured in the process (something about "losing" both kneecaps?). She is funny and relatable, but funny and relatable will not get you across the finish line. If you want a book to help you on your journey, think twice before purchasing this one.
based on 109 reviews
Funny and inspirational, but disagree with her training schedule Feb 02, 2008
By International Diva
Should come with a warning label! Jul 25, 2011
By S. Broumley
NEVER EVER advocate self-diagnosis!! Mar 02, 2010
By Beki*Lynne!
