Customer Reviews (2)

A good introduction to Boston Marathon history
This book is a great coffee table book of all of the little stories that make up the rich history of the Boston Marathon. Each story is two paragraphs and covers famous runners, locations and aspects of the race. I had heard one of the stories here and another there, but this books does an excellent job of compiling all of them into one book. Its strength is its easy reading. It also features list of neat facts - winners, how many medical supplies, gallons of fluids, etc. go into this race. Its only weakness is that it is only and introduction and will not delve into some of the stories that could have much more detail. It is a must read for anyone looking to get an understanding of the history of this century-old race.

The Boston Marathon - A Century of Blood, Sweat, and Cheers
Each year the Boston Marathon, held on Patriot's Day relives the rich history of this race which is captured in this book. The history of the raceand different personalities from each of the communities unfolds as you
read each chapter from Hopkinton to Boston.

The Boston Marathon is unique in American tradition. ... Read more

Product Description
26.2 miles never seemed so easy as it will when you read and use Marathon Training. The 15-week program and training diary ensure success, whether you want to run your first or fastest marathon.

The runners’ writer, Joe Henderson, will instruct, equip, inspire, inform, and humor you through a training process that will maximize your potential and minimize your chances of injury. Each day you’ll receive a special training tip and instruction to aid your training preparation.

Take the guesswork out of your training. Marathon Training is the running companion and guide for going the distance better than you ever dreamed possible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Sound advise
I have read and used Hendersons marathon training program with some success ( 3.06 in 1992 ). The first long run is not 14 miles but instead it is assumed that you have run a half marathon and have trained and adapted to running 12 miles prior to starting this program. The program is simple, yet it works. The book itself is vintage Henderson, a great read.

This is not a training book
This book will not give you ideas on how to train for a marathon. Unless you are ready to run 12-14 miles this Saturday for your first long run it is not for you. The training guide show a 12-14 mile Saturday run the first week. Great advice for the beginners Joe.

This is a guide for you to fill out your miles as you run them not really a training program. It has very little substance on training and advice that is helpful to anyone getting ready for their first couple marathons.

The only good news is I bought it used on Amazon.com for $. If you want it you can have it for free, it will not help you. If you want a running diary to put your miles in their is a new thing called a calendar that you can put them in.

I have successfully run three marathons following this book
...and I am working on my fourth.I find the journal format to be very helpful, as well as the weekly workout assignments, articles, tips and recommendations.The three different training plans make this workable for different levels ofrunners.Although this book might not be ideal for an absolute beginner, it is a good one for the average runner who wants a simple, realistic way to prepare for a marathon without having to turn his or her life over to training.

A Daily Plan That Works!
I recieved this book as a gift shortly after committing to run a marathon with the Leukemia Society. I had little background and the idea of running 26.2 miles seemed daunting, at best.After an introduction that gave methe basics and helped make be a believer, I began to follow the schedule. The daily tips were great.I looked forward to writing in the book eachnight and checking out what was in store for me the next day.The varietyof workouts made it a pleasure to follow, and the science seemed sound. Most of all, it worked!I followed the plan again a 2 years later and hada great time at the Disneyworld Marathon.In fact, I'm buying a copy todayfor my wife, to help her with her first marathon!

a daily diary for your training program
this book was not what I expected. It's not a guide like higdon or galloways' books with example schedules. This book was written to be read page by page for 100 days while recording your progress. Some tips may be useful to some novice runners, the stories were okay. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Marathons contains everything you need to plan and run the marathon of your life. It details all of the race information you expect and more: Exhaustive course descriptions to guide you through the race; A comprehensive rating system to let you know what's in store; Details on race activities, transportation, costs, and hotels to help you plan; Contact information so you can get the latest news and entry forms.Amazon.com Review
So you've run the New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Franciscomarathons. Now what? Or maybe you're a first-time marathoner withcertain prerequisites, such as beautiful scenery, mild temperatures,uplifting crowds, and a fast course. The Ultimate MarathonGuide gets up-close and personal with 100 top destination and 80smaller, local races that will help you choose your next--orfirst--marathon. Harriers will find details ranging from courserecords to entry fees to landmarks you'll encounter en route such as"the country's oldest lighthouse" (Shamrock SportsfestMarathon). Course highlights allow readers to quickly determine theappropriateness of the event. For instance, a first-time marathonerlooking for beautiful scenery may be drawn to the Leadville MosquitoMarathon based on its "Course Beauty" score of 9 out of 10. However,the novice should be wary: "This mosquito bites! Actually, mosquitoesare the least of your concerns at the Leadville Mosquito Marathon,named for a recurring obstacle on the course--Mosquito Pass. Quitesimply the toughest marathon in North America, Mosquito runs above11,000 feet for 80% of the race." Ouch! The guide concludes with bargraphs showing per mile elevation gains and losses, preparing thebudding marathoner for those flat and fast stretches as well as themid-course Mt. Everest climb. --Cate Bick ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great for 1998
This was a very useful book when I bought it in 1999 to pick a marathon for 2000.Now, given how many marathons have changed their routes, increased their support, cancelled, etc., it's become outdated.I don't think there's a new edition out yet--I wish there was.

excellent guide, just a little out of date
"The Ultimate Guide to Marathons" is an excellent marathon resource for runners.This second edition was published in 1998 with information current up through 2000.A runner using this book as a guide needs to know that in five years a lot can change for a given marathon.A good example of this is the poorly managed Lakeshore Marathon in Chicago which recently had an issue of the course being measured incorrectly and being a mile too long.Information like this would be critical in any new edition of "The Ultimate Guide to Marathons".However, if you are able to accept this potential shortcoming of slightly out of date information and use this book as exactly what the title says, a "guide", then any runner can find a lot of value in this book.

This book ranks 110 marathons from across the United States and bases the rankings on such categories as fan support, race organization, course beauty, course difficulty, and how appropriate the race is for a first time marathon runner.The description of each of the 110 marathons includes sections on the history of the race, the race course itself, what sort of awards and accommodations there are, and other details about the race.This is excellent information.While every major marathon in the country is included in these rankings (as of 1998), there are also quite a few small marathons that make the list.As a Minnesotan I was pleased to see that all four Minnesota Marathons were included (Twin Cities, Grandma's, Med City, Walker North Country) and was surprised by Med City and Walker North Country because these are small marathons.W.N.C. in particular is a trail marathon and trail races are included and ranked right along with the big ones like Boston and New York City.

There is also a listing of approximately another 50 marathons that are typically smaller than the ones included in the ranking, and are "destination marathons", but as one that I recognized (Marathon to Marathon in Iowa) is not really a destination most people would want to go to, my guess is that these are just marathons that the authors were not able to fit into their ranking and that they ran out of time to get them included.I may be wrong about that, though.Either way, it is nice to see such a listing of marathons.I am aware of other regional marathons that were not included, but I do not know when these marathons were founded.

While the information provided in this book is several years out of date, the rankings and descriptions can be used as a guide to see if this is a marathon you are interested in running.If so, I would then recommend looking online at the race's website or perhaps finding another online marathon guide to see if there are any changes or significant drops in runner participation.But this book can be used as an excellent guide to get marathon ideas and if most major marathons are not changing their course or management you can expect that the rankings would stay fairly consistent overall.That makes me happy because Minnesota had the number 2 (Twin Cities, behind only Big Sur) and the number 13 (Grandma's) marathons according to these rankings.

-Joe Sherry

Good Reference - Needs Updating
I found the book to be a good reference, but I wish I had a later revision.

This *was* a great book...
...now it is seriously out-of-date.It reviews the 1998 and 1999 calendar years.Without an update by the authors it is, for all intents and purposes, useless.

I really do hope the authors get someone to publish an update, because it was (as the authors rightfully state) the ultimate guide back in 1997 - 1999.A shame.

A good book for planning your first marathon.
This book provides useful information to those new to the marathon game. While it is not a training guide, it does provide a comparative listing of the most popular marathons in the U.S. and Canada, including coursedescriptions, logistics, local hotels, and area attractions. Particularlyuseful is the 1 - 10+ rating system which includes Course Beauty,Difficulty, Race Organization, Crowd Support, and Appropriateness for FirstTimers. While this system is purely an objective one based on the opinionsof the authors, I have found them to be "dead on". My onlycomplaint is that while this book claims the be the "UltimateGuide", it omits most of the smaller marathons, concentrating on thebigger and more popular races. Overall, this guide is well worth the price. ... Read more

Product Description
The story of the Marathon campaign is an epic of the Ancient World. When the Ionian Greeks revolted against their Persian overlords in 499BC, the cities of Athens and Eretria came to their aid. The Persian King Darius swore vengeance and in 490BC a fleet of 600 ships packed with troops was sent to take revenge on the Athenians. At Marathon the Greeks met the Persians in battle and drove them in rout back to their ships. The moral effect of this victory was enormous – for the first time a Greek army had defeated the Persians and demonstrated the superiority of hoplite tactics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

More Archeology than History

At best, this book gives a satisfactory description of the Battle of Marathon.The author, Nicholas Sekunda, focuses too much on archeological research and not enough on the battle.He is clearly an expert in Greek history.Unfortunately, the archeological information is provided at the expense of telling a succinct narrative.

The author will describe a theory and then explain why that theory was discredited.On page 86, he discusses some statues associated with Pheidias.They are described as being made from the spoils taken at Marathon.Dr. Sekunda then states that the inscription on the statue was impossible as Pheidias was too young to have produced the statue at the applicable time.

In other instances, the author breaks the reader's chain of thought.On page 65, he describes the Athenian charge against the Persians.He then interrupts the narrative to describe how running in armor was introduced as an athletic competition.

More space was wasted in the chapter on "Visiting the Battlefield."The author provides road directions and the hours of operation for the Marathon museum.This type of information is useful in a travel magazine, not a history book.

On a positive note, the book contains numerous photos of ancient Greek pottery.The author does a great job of describing this art, such as the Oxford Brygos Cup, and associating it with the battle.The book also contains several black & white and color photos of Greek ruins as they appear today.Finally, the 3D bird's eye view maps are pretty good at outlining the phases of the battle.

The first part of the book provides an excellent narrative on the cause of the war. The various commanders are described in detail.For example, the author makes a credible argument that Kallimachos may have had more to do with the Greek victory than Miltiades, to whom history gives a great deal of credit.

Bottom line: too much time is spent on theories that may not be accurate.The reader will get a great lesson in the archeology of this battlefield.Unfortunately, the reader will only gain an average understanding of the battle itself.

Succinct and Rudimentary Intro to Battle
This book starts out, like most of the books in the Osprey Camapaign series, with a brief description of the geopolitical situation existing between anti-Persian Greek coalition and Persia. It then goes compares and contrasts the Greek and Pesian armies. With respect to commanders and numbers it does not do a bad job but with respect to tactics and average troop quality, however, it is weak. The book then continues with the Persian advance through Greece to Marathon. Finally the book (about 2/3 of the way through) describes the battle itself. Unlike most of the Osprey Campaign series it does not have much on the immediate consequences of this campaign although it does have a section on the battlefield for those having a desire to take an in-person tour.

The book has a number of weaknesses, including its rudimentary nature and the fact that its perspective is almost entirely from the Greek side, but for its size (96, about half of which are illustration) it provides a good succinct intro for those seeking to spend only an hour and a half or so on this topic. For those seeking more than a brief introduction (and more on the Persian perspective) a book like Professor Peter Green's "Greco-Persian Wars" would be highly recommended.

More Questions Than Answers.
Mr.Forczyk said it all. Granted that both the written and archaeological evidence is choppy at best. Still Mr.Sekunda failed to answer any pertinent questions. Yes, the Greeks were victorious and the Persians got hammered. We all knew that before we picked up this book. He does not give any insights into the how and why this campaign went as it did. He did not even present a cogent theory. I give the color plates and maps 4 stars and the text 2.

Iran
Saddly, this book was ommiting the whole history and sought to illsustarate that Greek were dominating force in the battle.

Archaeology, not Military History
Trying to write coherent military history about a battle that occurred almost 2,500 years ago is a daunting and problematic task.Written sources are few and often unreliable or fragmentary.Terrain can change so drastically over such a long period that simple things like determining the exact location of key events can be impossible.Artifacts such as weapons, equipment and human remains have usually deteriorated so much over the centuries that their use as interpretative tools is difficult and controversial.No one can argue that the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC - where Greeks defeated the first Persian invasion of their land - was a historically important action.Had the Greeks lost then or ten years later against the second invasion, there would have been serious historical repercussions on the development of later European culture and society.However, the task of writing a coherent Osprey campaign title on that subject is another matter.In Osprey's Campaign series volume 108, Marathon 490 BC, Polish archaeologist Nicholas Sekunda has decided to attempt this difficult task.Unfortunately, Sekunda's effort falls flat for a number of reasons - primarily because the volume is too oriented toward archaeological issues rather than military history.However another telling weakness is the slippery slope of interpretation built by every author who ever attempted to study Marathon; as Sekunda writes just before he begins his narrative of the battle, "the reader should be warned that virtually every account of the battle written reconstructs it [the battle] differently."If it is true as Sekunda suggests, that different authors could write different narratives of this battle due to the controversial and fragmentary nature of the evidence, then why should anyone read this account?

Marathon 490 BC begins with short sections on the origins of the campaign, opposing commanders, opposing armies and opposing plans.The campaign narrative is 55 pages in length, but the battle itself is covered in less than 6 pages.The volume concludes with a short aftermath, notes on visiting the battlefield today, a campaign chronology and a bibliography.Marathon 490 BC includes three 3-D "Birds Eye View" maps (the Battle of Marathon in three phases - deployment, Greek charge and Persian rout), and five 2-D maps (the Aegean in 499-492 BC, the campaign in the Cyclades, the campaign of Marathon, the plain of Marathon in 490 BC, and Marathon today).Three battle scenes by Richard Hook are also in the volume:Philippides before the Spartan ephors, the Athenian charge and the Athenian reach the Herakleion after the forced march back to Athens.

Reading Marathon 490 BC, several facts soon become apparent.First, that Sekunda is very well-versed in archaeology, very familiar with classical Greece and very familiar with the Marathon topography.Second, Professor Sekunda's methodology is erudite, but uninformative. He spends far too much time using the limited space of an Osprey volume to contest or illuminate various archaeological issues about the battle - issues that properly belong in an archaeological journal article, not a campaign summary.At the very least, Sekunda could have include some of his major points in an appendix, rather than choking the campaign narrative with tedious explanations of various diggings. Third, Professor Sekunda does not know how to write military history or to analyze facts of a military nature.For example, Sekunda advances the poorly-supported theory that the reason that the Persians divided their forces at Marathon was that they could not employ their cavalry advantage due to the possible Greek use of abatis obstacles.This is patently silly for several reasons that Sekunda obviously failed to grasp.The Persians were on the battlefield for almost five full days before the Greek army arrived, so the Persians could have employed their cavalry before the abatis were in place.Furthermore, where would the Greeks get the materials for abatis - Sekunda notes that the battlefield was mostly beach and marshland, with few trees.On the other hand, Sekunda also fails to ask the blindingly obvious question of why didn't the Persians employ obstacles to their front on the beach.Persian control of the sea meant that they had the time and the means to bring in material from elsewhere and construct earthworks, which would have hindered an assault by hoplites.On the main issue - why did both Persian flanks collapse under the Athenian charge - Sekunda offers not a wit of insight.Sekunda ends up telling the reader what he already knows - that the Greeks won - but he cannot explain why this occurred.

The only really strong point of this book is the order of battle data, which does a good job pointing out the relative strength, composition and disposition of each army.The three battle maps are decent, but given the very small area of the fighting and conflicting evidence, they really can't show much but general movements.In the end, Marathon is just one more of those historical events of which many of the pertinent facts have now been lost to posterity. ... Read more

Product Description
On Saturday, September 23, 1905, fifteen determined runners bolted at the sound of the starter's gun to begin an amazing journey of distance and endurance: the first Chicago Marathon. Huge crowds witnessed a thrilling race that had it all: action, disaster, suspense, a fallen favorite, and a cliff-hanger ending. It was epic, defining a new chapter in Chicago's athletic history. More than a century later, each year Chicago welcomes nearly 40,000 inspiring runners-from the world's best to complete novices-who will start, discover, battle, and ultimately finish something they once thought impossible, even ridiculous: the Chicago Marathon, all 26 miles, 385 yards. This book takes the reader into the marathon experience, including the sights, sounds, emotions, challenges, and achievements. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This book delivers
This book delivers exactly what it promises: an historical and contemporary photographic look at the Chicago Marathon.It'll give you an idea of what to expect if you're planning to run it, mile by mile, and a good sense of the history of the race in which you're participating.The text is slight, but sufficient for the book's aim.

Inspiring Insiders Guide With a Fascinating History
I've been running since 1977 and doing marathons since 1981 and thus I thought I'd "seen it all" when it comes to running literature. Yet this book breaks new ground. I've got a shelf full of runningbooks acquired in the passion of building up to some race or other: medical and training advice, history, personal stories, inspiration, and fiction.

The author has deftly combined all but the last into one work while adding an element (photography) where his special gift is on display. (Having run the event with a camera on numerous occasions, Britt's one-of-a-kind photos capture the "moments of truth" and emotion that define the intimate human drama of the leaders, the strivers and the "back-of-the-packers" just trying to finish.)

As a super-experienced runner (95+ marathons) and lifelong Chicago native, Britt knows whereof he writes in the advice he provides for tackling this race. Marathon neophytes as well as veterans will find valuable tips and tidbits amidst the photos. Britt's hard-won anecdotes about weather conditions and subtle course obstacles will help anyone to improve their performance, especially in the all-important realm of course visualization and mental rehearsal.

"Chicago Marathon: Images of Sports" also showcases the previously obscure history of the event through its lost roots in events of 1905-1909 -- an element I found utterly fascinating. (With the exception of one book on the history of the Boston Marathon, this is the only volume I know of to include such cross-generational perspective on a major running event.)

Those familiar with the city will see an entirely different landscape (dirt roads, no real suburbs, old cars, fewer people), peppered with a few familiar landmarks still standing. Those with even a passing a knowledge of fitness will be amused by the bizarre customs Britt uncovered in his research (e.g., strychnine and alcohol served by misguided helpers, a 96-mile Milwaukee-to-Chicago 'ultra' event, a race leader who lost by falling asleep at an aide station, choking dust from unpaved streets, freight trains that crossed the course almost halting the race in its tracks.)

While small in format, the book has the production values to hold its own on a coffee table, e.g., as take-off point for discussion (or post-race bragging -- gift-giving spouses take note!) As other reviewers have pointed out, the pictures are all in black and white, however I found the net effect was to draw comparisons between the early 1900's and early 2000's races. In one sense, not much has changed about the human demands of the marathon challenge.

Mr. Britt has done something unique here that will be of interest on many levels well beyond those running (or planning to run) the Chicago Marathon.

Perfect for the Chicago Marathon runner: past, present or future
If you have run the Chicago Marathon, plan to run it, or have been inspired by it, this book is for you.

I wish I'd had this book before my first Chicago Marathon. From a veteran who's run the race several times, this book nails the experience.

Loaded with 200 photos, it showcases the city's magnificent races of the 1900s (the first Chicago Marathon was in 1905) through today's world class marathons. Best, is the detailed 26.2 mile photo tour -- shot during the actual race -- with racing advice for each mile on the course.

As the author says, you can live a lifetime in a marathon; this book brings the extraordinary experience to life. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is packed with advice on technique, equipment, and racing tactics, Canoe Racing is the "bible" of marathon and downriver canoe racing. Both newcomers and experts will enjoy this thorough guide. Illustrated with action shots from across North America, it is designed for runners, cyclists, and skiers looking for a new sport; for recreational canoeists who may want to try a new sport; and for canoe racers who want to learn more about the subtleties of racing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Ins and outs of Canoe Racing and Paddling Technique
This is a great book.I purchased the book to understand as a kayaker looking to begin Canoeing after my recent kevlar canoe purchase for adventure racing. The book talks about all aspects of Canoeing: solo and double, drafting, forward stroke, j strokes, draw strokes, portaging...you name it and it is covered.

I did have to purchase a separate book for paddling navigation, but that is expected...this book is about racing.

Canoe Marathon Racing at it's best
This is a must have book for your better understanding if your a veteran or a new paddler, it doesn't matter! It's either a book of better learning from the best paddlers out there or it's a book of refreshment for those of us who have been around!

Excellent resource.
This book is well written and well organized.Topics include race tactics, training, technique, unwritten and written rules, and equipment.Higher resolution in the photos would have been nice, but most were adequate for the purposes for which the were included.

I recommend the book. ... Read more

Product Description
In easy-to-understand language, Benyo covers preliminaries, preparation, pacing and strategy, and much more.He helps runners tailor a general program to their own particular needs, and backs his recommendations with up-to-the minute resea ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Useful Preparation Guide in Preparing for Running a Marathon
Richard Benyo is an experienced marathon runner and ultra marathon runner.His writing style is easy to follow and very helpful.He talks of the pitfalls of bad exercise habits and talks about nearly every imaginable aspect related to running a marathon.I say "nearly" only because I have yet to have a question that his book hasn't answered.

I've twice went against his advice only to have his excerpts staring back at me as if to say, "See?I told you so.Next time follow what is here or you'll see, as I've written, what will happen."

The book is broken down, for easy reference, into various sections from "Twenty Questions 2 Months Prior to your Marathon" to "Lessons from Great Marathon Runners" excerpts on the day before, day of, and day after, and many other chapters that deal with subject matter ranging from injuries, diet, training plan and running beyond the marathon distances.

I refer to his book daily and in my training for my upcoming marathon, I feel much more confident with the ideas he has presented here which have become a sort of mantras in my focus to accomplishing my goal of completing a marathon successfully without injury.

Excellent help for my first marathon
I was never a runner but I wanted to run a marathon so a friend recommended this book.It is an excellent "how-to" manual and I followed it word-for-word.Benyo gives advice from day one through the actual races (mile by mile) and post race recovery.I hope this book makes it back into print because it is an excellent guide to running a first marathon. ... Read more

Product Description
This title has fewer than 24 printed text pages. Feline Red is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Robert Sampson is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Robert Sampson then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Amazing History!
I read this book when I was in middle school and I just read it again as an adult. It is truly, truly wonderful, taking you right back to this incredible epic struggle of the Greeks against the Persian invaders. There's so much history, so much culture, so much atmosphere in this book. Mary Renault brings these great people to life, in a direct and accessible way. And best of all, she shows us why this story is important, how our own culture, our own ideas of freedom, reason, and democracy came from that flowering of Greece so long ago, and how these ideas were forged and hardened in the battles against the Persians.

An Excellent Book and Author
SOMEONE, PLEASE REPRINT THIS BOOK!!!!

This is a wonderful retelling of a fascinating period in history.The writer was immersed in the study of this time period, as evidenced by her works.The writing is engaging and this is the best account of the Persian Wars for children, grades 4-9 or so.It surpasses Alfred Church's book, The Story of the Persian War.

A Lion's View
The book is difficult to find, but this vendor had it and delivered it sooner than expected.I will buy from them again.

Persian Invasion of Greece
An enthralling story, it tells of the crossing of the Hellespont by Xerxes' army and the battles fought against the invaders by the courageous Greeks; Pheidippides marathon run from Athens to Sparta and the heroic stand at Thermopylae by a handful of Spartans.The rich, detailed background of vengeful gods and venerable seers gives this brilliant version of the ancient myth a living realism. ... Read more

Product Description
Millions of children who are diagnosed with ADHD can reduce or eliminate their medication while vastly improving their quality of life-just by exercising more, according to Stephen C. Putnam, author of this landmark book on the subject.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become an epidemic, with an estimated 5 percent of American children now on prescription drug regimens and the numbers increasing at a rapid rate. Meanwhile, the average child gets less exercise than in past generations, thanks to television, video games, and other inactive pastimes.

Putnam, in testing his theories, brought together a wide range of studies, anecdotal evidence, and laboratory research, reaching a firm conclusion that for many ADHD children, an exercise regimen controls the condition as well as drugs-without the unwanted side effects. The result of that research is the new book, Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind: Nurturing Your ADHD Child with Exercise (Upper Access Books, $9.95). The findings include the following:

• Laboratory experiments have established that aerobic exercise has a chemical effect on the brain similar to that of Ritalin and other psychostimulant drugs, and the same ability to help people to focus their minds.

• ADHD has a variety of symptoms and causes, and neither exercise nor drugs is effective in treating all cases. However, in general,the children who respond the best to medication also respond the best to exercise.

• Psychostimulant drugs reduce a child's desire for rough-and-tumble play, thereby decreasing exercise and increasing the dependence on drugs. This can be turned around if activities involving aerobic exercise are worked into the child's schedule.

• While children usually need help from parents and others to become motivated to take up a regular exercise routine, the motivation-once it starts-is self-perpetuating. In other words, once children understand that the exercise regimen makes them feel better, improves social life, helps them with school, and provides other benefits, they pursue it with enthusiasm.

Putnam emphasizes that "This is not an anti-Ritalin book. The benefits of Ritalin and other medications for many children have been well established."He also notes that any change in treatment must be undertaken in consultation with the child's physician. Yet in case after case, he notes that by adopting a regular exercise routine, children have been able to reduce, and often eliminate, medication while improving social and academic life.

In addition to explaining the scientific issues, the book provides details on how to determine the optimum amount of exercise and the optimal schedules, plus numerous suggestions of ways to motivate your children to take up appropriate activities. "Motivation is the tricky part for most kids," Putnam says. "They're not going to exercise just because a parent is nagging them. But once they start feeling the benefits, they'll want to keep it up. Parenting is never easy, and every situation is different. In researching and writing the book, I tried to cover the wide range of situations that parents face. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

So So
I like and agree with the main point of the book, but feel it could have been stated in fewer words and given more practical tools and guidelines.

A convincing argument and a workable program
The first thing Putnam does in this calm, well-balanced and very accessible book is make the very reasonable suggestion that instead of labeling a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) we might better say that the child has a "Marathon Mind."Putnam goes on to make the strong argument that instead of treating the hyperactive child with Ritalin and other psychostimulants it might be better and more natural to try a program of aerobic exercise.

This makes so much sense that it is hard to believe that it isn't more often prescribed.Putnam hints at the reason: (1) It's not easy for a busy parent to supervise the exercise program, and hiring a personal exercise coach is expensive.(2) "[I]nsurance will more likely cover medication" than therapy or a coach. (p. 13)It should also be noted that Big Pharma is not motivated to conduct research into the effects of exercise on ADHD-labeled children since a positive finding would not favorably affect their bottom line.

Personally, I am highly suspicious of these new "disorders" like ADHD that HMO-driven doctors treat with drugs.There are legitimate cases, no doubt; but most of the time I suspect there is nothing wrong except that this is a child that needs a lot of physical activity and a lot of body/mind stimulation.That is that child's strength.He (most of those diagnosed with ADHD are boys) can be active and effective at a high energy level and take in a lot more from the environment than other kids can.He needs to be up and doing.Putnam sees "movement" as satisfying "the wanderer, hunter, farmer, and gatherer in all of us."This is the message from evolutionary medicine.We evolved in an environment that had us up and doing all day long.The child that craves activity and stimulation is perhaps the truly natural child; and it is the modern environment with its restrictive classrooms and exercise-stealing tools and vehicles that is unnatural.Perhaps the environment ought to be labeled as having PADD (Physical Activity Deficit Disorder).

Consider the program of the typical "soccer mom."Despite all her good intentions, her child really doesn't get enough exercise.First there's the ride to the soccer field, then there's sitting on the bench during perhaps most of the game, then the ride to Chuckie Cheese's afterwards, and then the ride home.Perhaps a couple of hours or more have passed and how much of that time was the child actually exercising?Maybe twenty minutes, maybe ten.

How about at school?How long does recess last?Putnam cites studies that show even a little exercise tends to allow the child to focus better.He even suggests that the very lack of movement forced on the child in the typical classroom situation is contributing to the symptoms of ADHD.He uses the term "proprioceptive feedback" to refer to a mind/body phenomenon that allows us "to adjust our arousal level as well as our sense of tranquility." (p. 22)By the way, I would like to see the amount of time devoted to physical education in our schools doubled.Not only would this help the child that feels trapped in the classroom, but would work against the growing problem of childhood obesity.

Putnam discusses what he calls "optimal stimulation" and analyzes the role of dopamine in an exercise program, and "the runner's high."He considers the wide range of needs that children may have and offers suggestions on how parents may help their child find the right exercise program.He considers motivation and the family dynamics that either foster or hinder the child's opportunity to exercise.

Putnam clearly believes that the use of drugs to treat a hyperactive child should be the treatment of last choice, and I couldn't agree more.Who knows what the long-term effects might be?Read this book and see how you as a parent might be able to make a healthy choice for your child.

Healthful, fun, and exciting ways to share activities
Stephen Putnam's Nature's Ritalin For The Marathon Mind: Nurturing Your ADHD Child With Exercise is a solid, "reader friendly" guide specifically written for the parents of ADHD children. Putnam offers exercise as an alternative therapy to medication for the control of ADHD symptoms. Healthful, fun, and exciting ways to share activities with one's child are discussed as well as the special benefits that a good fitness program has on the ADHD mind. Highly recommended reading for parents concerned with the problems inherent in behavior control medications for children; the solid precepts clearly laid out within the pages of Nature's Ritalin For The Marathon Mind are meant to be discussed at length with one's family doctor.

Marathon Mind - an apt analogy for any creative thinker
This book provides a common sense, lay-language approach not only to its intended audience - adults dealing with ADHD children - but also a general populous.

It's the simple and obvious that is so often forgotten or dismissed. Putnam effectively outlines how exercise impacts behavior, mental acuity, attitude and pleasure. While the book is intended to address the issues associated with ADHD, it is applicable to any parent, child, teacher or adult seeking possible avenues for relief and release. His casual writing style, anecdotal fodder and how-to approach makes this book an easy read and useful resource for anyone who deals with kids (or is a kid at heart).

Given the increasingly sedate nature of our culture, this book is an inexpensive and valuable resource for anyone trying to balance attitudes, actions and performance.

Of course, parents dealing with ADHD children have tremendous challenges. I've witnessed the trauma an ADHD family faces, particularly when medication is not effective and/or accepted. This book provides some wonderful possibilities for these frustrated, exhausted parents, to redirect and focus their child's intellect through exercise. Putnam doesn't claim (and carefully cautions readers to seek expert input) to offer a panacea, but does provide some interesting, documented and easily implemented ideas for encouraging and monitoring regular physical activity in the ADHD child with the goal of minimizing symptoms and encouraging excellence.

The Exercise Approach to ADHD
As a nurse working with children and adolescents in Residential Treatment I am aware of the many problems families, teachers, counselors, and medical professionals face related to ADHD and the myriad of other psychiatric diagnoses placed on our youngsters.

In "Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind" Steve Putnam has gotten the word out on the body-mind connection and the effect of exercise on the brains neurochemical system. More importantly, this is done in an easy to read manner making it possible for those in need to understand and to be able to develop a plan that is workable for them.

There is no one treatment for these children. A combination of medication, therapy, and a consistent daily routine is needed. Often exercise is completely neglected but can, as is pointed out in Putnam's credible book, address a number of psychiatric diagnoses while building self esteem, developing consistency in daily routines, and enhancing the general health of our youth. All of these issues need to be seriously addressed in our culture. The rationale to use the "marathon mind" in this positive, healthy way is completely plausable and could greatly decrease or make more manageable these problems for many children and their families. In some cases it may even eliminate the need for medication or placement outside the family home.

I hope the general public and the professionals working with our youth heed this important message. The book is an essential read for anyone living or working with children with these issues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very Helpful
I like this book very much, as it deals not just with basics, but also with the finer points of grammar that I realized to my chagrin that I had forgotten. One really has to delve into both syntax and vocabulary in order to get the meaning just right and not sound slightly "off" to a native Spanish speaker. After perusing this book I saw that my knowledge of the language had gotten lax and that I needed to really concentrate more on things that aren't stressed so much in basic grammars. It takes a lot of concentration and knowledge to speak a language correctly using longer sentences, and this book is an aid toward that goal. Taking several phrases and combining them into a coherent sentence using conjunctions, commas, etc., is not easy in spontaneous speech, así que conviene estudiar detenidamente libros de este tipo para fijar en la mente lo necesario para poder expresarse bien.

The Most Comprehensive Reference on the Spanish Language
You'll Ever Find... as well as a good read--I can't believe it's out of print!Probably most appealing to grammarians, however.The format invites you to envelop yourself in this beautiful language and its proper usage.Each teaching point is illustrated with phrases in English translated to Spanish or quotes from Spanish literature translated to English.I can't say enough about the timeless quality of this detailed reference.I've never come across a textbook that's such a pleasure to read.

Mandatory for serious Spanish study
Ramsey is the quinessential reference for anyone who is serious about learning Spanish accurately and correctly.This marvellous book has been integral in my personal library since 1960.I used it as a student, as a professor of Spanish and as a researcher.My original copy is now being used by a grandson in the wilds of Nebraska; hence, the need for an additional copy.
If there were more stars to give this review, I'd mark them down.Ramsey does not just provide the standard explanations, he gives the history and the technical aspects of the language.The book's arrangement makes research very easy and comprehensive.

A Must-have for Any Serious Student of Spanish
I've used this reference text since I started learning Spanish ten years ago, and it never fails me.It is best suited to those interested in grammatical mastery of the language, but is useful to any first-year student.It is well organized and easy to read.First published in 1894 and last updated in 1956, the book is entirely relevant to Spanish today.Its useful forays into etymology and grammatical history will leave you with a lasting understanding and memory of essential elements of the language. The book has been praised by educators and students for over a century.As the most recent reviser, Robert Spaulding, says in his introduction, "Down through the years Spanish teachers continue to refer to Ramsey as 'the ultimate and best accessible authority.'"It is my favorite Spanish reference book. ... Read more

Product Description
The Boston Marathon features a legendary course that is considered one of the toughest in the world. If you're planning to race Boston, you had better know what you're up against.

The course may look manageable, but as experts will tell you, it can be brutal. If you're not ready, if you don't understand the intricacies of the course, Boston can eat you alive.

This book takes the reader deep into the race course with a groundbreaking approach: a comprehensive mile-by-mile tour of the course illustrated with nearly 200 photos taken while running the race, comparative race splits, and advice.

From Hopkinton to Wellesley to Heartbreak Hill to the finish line, this book delivers the complete experience in images, analytics and advice to help you run a great Boston Marathon.

What can you expect when you run the Boston Marathon? Everything you need to know is here. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

New PR in Boston, thanks to this book
I ran a 3:09 in Boston this year, knocking 5 minutes off my previous best, a 3:14 qualifying time in Chicago. HUGE.

The photos, the course advice, the mile-by-mile photos and tips in this book really helped make the difference. Many thanks to the author.

Note: I also bought the author's new full-color book 'Boston Marathon 2010: Photos of Inspired Running'. Great photos of a great race. Highly recommended.

Boston Veteran's View: This book nails it
I have literally grown up with the Boston Marathon - from spectator on Heartbreak Hill to runner since the 1990s - and this book really nails it. Highly recommended.

My wife got this for me as a gift, and she's really happy with it, too, because for the first time, she can really `see' what it's like for me as I race Boston. A whole new understanding for her, of what it means to me.

The narrative and 200-photo race tour show what could almost be my race, it's that spot-on. It's like I'm there again, from the start to finish.

Not only is it great to relive the race with this book, it also makes me as excited as ever to race again this year. If you love Boston, this is for you.

Exactly what we've been looking for
I think this book is excellent, and my Boston-bound running friends agree. This book is perfect for us as we're preparing to run Boston in April.

Here's why we liked it. A truly unique and pragmatic approach compared to other Boston books: 200 photos, shot on the course from start to finish -- during the race -- and mile-by-mile pacing and split strategies give us exactly what we're looking for as we begin to plot our running strategy for race day.

The author, who's run Boston 13 times and is a professional photographer, knows the course, its challenges, opportunities, secrets, and it shows.

Strongly recommended for first-time and returning Boston runners, as well as those who want to run Boston someday. It's what to expect on the race day mile-by-mile, and that's exactly what you want to understand if you're going to run your best Boston. See you at the starting line in Hopkinton. ... Read more

Product Description
The History of Open-Water Marathon Swimming by Captain Tim Johnson, a registered professional engineer and licensed boat captain, covers swimming from the perspective of an active participant in the organization of the Manhattan Island marathon swim.The emphasis initially was on New York swims but was broaden to include the whole development of open-water swimming events worldwide.Early English and Austrian swims prior to Capt. Webb and prior to Lord Bryon are included.The author includes the role the New York Athletic Club played in the development of the modern swimming stroke along with comments regarding swimming strokes forgotten during the Renaissance.Illustrations and photos abound.The reason Alfred Hajos won the first swimming races in the 1896 Olympics and strategies employed by other swimmers.The history includes the development of baths, their alternatives, and the role they played in the development of the swimming arts.The outcry over the dire need for swimming education of the public at large and the response of the City of New York, swimming clubs and associations, and non-governmental agencies to this need.The story of the first person to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge as well as the story of the first person to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge and live is included.The irrefutable evidence that Annie Taylor was not the first person to go over Niagara Falls and live is presented.Cage swims and cage construction is discussed.The inside scoop on the Florida Strait swims from someone who was there in Cuba and on the swims.How Suzy Maroney cheated in her swims is but one of the stories about charlatans, pretenders, and swims gone badly.Every swim is covered with dates, times, and reference sources (over 700 references).The author suggests ways to address "assisted" swims.The first great American swimmer, Captain Boyton, entire career is covered in brief from his days as a lifeguard in New Jersey to a demonstration of his lifesaving suit before Queen Victoria, "swims" and receptions throughout the European capitols, his Irish activity and torpedo work for foreign governments, and his retirement to Coney Island.Why his invention is still needed today is presented.Secrets of the Manhattan swim are revealed by the author from ten years of trials that yielded up the current Manhattan Island record and how this knowledge could be applied to the English Channel.The author reveals the date when the next Manhattan marathon record attempt will occur.The computer program that revealed the first secret of the Manhattan swim is discussed and a formula to calculate a swimmer’s expected finishing time is revealed as well as how this knowledge was applied.Discussed in detail is the complete history of the Manhattan marathon swim, swims to and from the Battery, plus a swim record still held by Gertrude Ederle.Swim injuries are discussed and statistical facts about these injuries are reported that are alarming.The role swimming played in the struggle for freedom contrasted against today’s geopolitical policies and a call for a National Freedom Swim as commemoration. Above all, the book is packed with swims and swimmers galore, swims you couldn’t imagine, swim you’ve heard about but didn’t believe, and swims that have been forgotten and why.The swims that won the Congressional Metal of Honor are covered. The first Chesapeake Bay swim, the first Boston Light swim, the first Manhattan marathon swim, the first Alcatraz swim, the first Long Island Sound swim, the first Potomac swim, the first swim by an American in the Thames and the first competition ever held in the Thames, the first swim across the Baltic Sea, the first swim from Montauk to Watch Hill across Block Island Sound, the first swim to Block Island, the first swim across the Messina Straits, the first swim across the Mersey, the first swim across Gibraltar Straits, the first swim down the length of the Bosporus, the first swim across the Gulf of Finland, and the first swim ever recorded in a newspaper as well as the first swim every cancelled due to pollution.Animal swims: the first recorded shark attack, the dog that set a swimming record down the Hudson River, and a record night swim by an elephant.Swims that you will want to do and who to contact to schedule your next swim include: Key West, Tampa Bay, Bonaire, St. Croix, Cook Strait, Boston Light, other New England swims, Chesapeake Bay, British swims, professional swims, Gibraltar Strait, Palk Strait, San Francisco and other West Coast swims, Hawaiian Island swims, Catalina Channel, Fremantle-Rottnest, and the Irish Sea.And finally, swims that will just tear your heart out, you wish they had never gone in the water. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

History of Open Water Marathon Swimming
As a book covering the facts of Marathon Swimming history, it is quite okay. But tye layout is terrible. The book is printed on the worst recycled paper you can think of and the photos are extremely bad. I am disappointed tho have paid to much for such a lousy quality.

Work in progress
Several editions and revisions of this book are in print, which might not mean much to the general public. However, if you are an open water swimmer and the published rosters of successful swims mean anything to you, the various editions WILL make a difference.

A friend of mine has the 2004 edition, and I just received the 2005 edition. It would seem that, in more recent printings, the history of Catalina Channel swims has been reduced to one page...almost a mere footnote.

Over 100 pages of this 400-page book focus on the partly-current-assisted Manhattan Island swim, and reflect the author's bias, which further adds to my disappointment in this otherwise well-written history.

A more equitable history of open water swims and treatment of the sport, although sadly outdated, is given in Conrad Wennenberg's "Wind, Waves & Sunburn".

Interestingly, the list of customer reviews for this book is beginning to read like a "Who's Who" of long-distance swimmers.

Review of History of Open Water Mar Swimming
Has good background of open water swimming from antiquity to the present.Book is mostly about east coast and Europe with focus on New England and NY, since this is where author lived and swam.Amazing details in the stories, requiring much time for research by the author.No wonder it's taken over 20 years for author to write the book!By Carl Kawauchi.

Fantastic book on an ultra-extreme sport loaded with details
This is a fantastic book on an ultra-extreme sport loaded with details.Captain Johnson has obviously done much research on this excellent book.I highly recommend this book as it offers rare insights into the beginnings of this ultra-extreme sport.You do not have to be a swimmer to appreciate this fascinating book.

Awesome history for an awesome sport!!!
Captain Johnson has obviously put in a ton of time researching an awesome ultra-extreme sport.His ambition may be his undoing however, because I believe the more he researches, the more he'll find that he can add to this already hefty project. I can't wait to see how this book grows over the years as he adds yearly results and unearths other "lost" swims.I am also proud that he has decided to leave out the dubious efforts of "cage swimmers" and other kooks who claim to be swimming with other aids such as fins and wetsuits.I higly recommend this book to swimmers and non-swimmers who enjoy reading about lofty human endeavors! ... Read more

Product Description
A book for anyone who loves to run marathons, by someone who loves them enough to have started and finished 100 of them!

Jeffrey Horowitz didn't expect to fall in love with marathoning, but that's just what happened. He had never run a race, was not on his high school track team, and had never owned a pair of running shoes. Then, in 1985, he went out for a run and it changed his life. Eighteen years later he completed his one-hundredth marathon. This book is Jeff's story, but it is also the story of everyone who loves to run. It includes his training, his injuries, his best times, his joys, his friends, his failures. In some ways, it's an unusual story. How many other runners have finished 100 marathons? In other ways, it is the story of every runner who has found joy and satisfaction in a training routine, in reaching a goal, or in finishing a race. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Views from a mortal and with an emotional roller-coaster at the end.
I really enjoyed what Horowitz did with this book.He took the feat of running a marathon, which in itself is not that big of deal and wove it into a story that the everyday runner could connect with.I enjoyed reading the short synopsis of the many races he ran and felt like they were things I would say.His practical advice along the way also did not seem so "out there" like the other legends who write books.

Jeff's times and efforts were those I could relate with and with my 39 marathons behind me, I could see writing a similar book, however, only hope I would have half the writing grace!

The real story took place near the end.His approach of coming back to the question of "why run the marathon", proved very effective in the last answer.I will not ruin it for you and encourage you to take the three or four hours it will take you to burn through this very readable book.

Like the elevation profile of his 100th marathon the final chapters take you on a similar emotional roller-coaster.The book may cause you a brief tear when he talks about the loose connection he shared with his Dad and how he would run along the street peaking inside of the city bus to see if he could grab a glimpse of his Dad off to work, and how even to this day he looks and wishes he could see his Dad one more time.The emotions were juxtaposed against his emotions of running the marathon then again with coming to terms with what seems to be a sport changing injury and how he comes full circle.

I would love to know the rest of the story, because I'm sure it is still great one.He foreshadows a fantastic new beginning and one that running set the stage for great things ahead.I'll check out his website next.

ok, but he's a blowhard
It was an interseting book as far as reading about the many marathons he has run and traveled to. However, I felt like he was often patting himself on the back. He often had to comment on beating his friends in runs and races. He also talked at length about how wonderful it was to coach his team in traning . But to me he sounded condescending. I also have no idea the point of his father and mothers deaths had in the book. Maybe a mention to explain the concept of our parents and our own mortality but he was very indepth. Also, what's up with telling how his mother told him she laid down with his dad?? Weird! Anyway, it is inspiring to hear about his many marathons and to hear there are others he met out there with the same drive. But please Jeff, tone it down. You may want us to think you are an everyman, but it sounds to me like you think you are better than everyman!

Best Running Book!
Reading about running is important for runners. It gives a sense of other people's travails as they surmount the obstacles to reaching their goals.

Jeff Horowitz's My First 100 Marathons is truly inspiring. He writes extremely well, and gives one a sense of the human spirit, both in despair, and ultimately in achievement. If you have ever thought about running a marathon, you should read this book. Most of us will never run 100 marathons, but we can do so vicariously.

Read this book!

Several times I said "yeah, that's exactly how I feel"
I am 97 marathons behind the author, but I was able to relate to and enjoy his insight on running marathons.Jeff Horowitz thoughtfully describes what drives him to run and race.I think all runners who read the book will have lots of moments when you realize that he is perfectly describing our motivation and experiences.He accurately portrays why we push our bodies to the limit and then immediately begin planning our next challenge.He also has some interesting points about how running complements our work life and he also gives advice on running and relationships.Horowitz provides informative reviews of marathons all over the world that are better written than ones that are informally posted on websites.I have personally added the Mesa Falls Marathon on my list of future races based on his enjoyable experience and he gives a good personal account of how he dealt with the Medoc Marathon, where champagne and oysters replace sport drinks and gels.

Extraordinary journey of personal growth and giving!
When an author lets you into so many areas of his personal thoughts while taking on monumental challenges, the reader is afforded the wonderful opportunity to become emotionally attached and is rewarded with passion towards his achievements! Smiling with joy as Jeff takes us running around the world to remarkable places, recognizing his relationship with his father, the success of the "king of the hill", and the 100th!Jeff's outlook towards giving back, by training others who ran for charity is admirable. I loved the "why run the marathon?" laps and the tips at the end of each chapter. It is clever and most useful for anyone who wants to run; no matter the distance. Jeff's courage and attitude towards failure and success will certainly transcend to challenges in my life. What a story, what lessons, what a writer!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
The New York City Marathon Cookbook is far more than just a collection of 262 favorite recipes contributed by hungry runners. The first five chapters provide nutrition guidance for all endurance athletes who want to know how to eat well to prevent fatigue and optimize their health. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book, simple recipes, nutrition-packed
Ok, I don't run marathons.But my mom was training and started to look pretty tired.I bought her this book, and not only she she spring back to life after following these recipes and successfully completer her first marathon, but she found the recipes useful and sticks to them now that she's no longer training (it has been 2 years).Next time I visit, I'm jotting them down for myself.

Excellent
Ten years on and I still think this is the best when it comes to running nutrition and diets. The energy bars beat any Powerbar in my book, and the energy drinks and simple and useful. I use it from time to time to re-evaluate my diet based on how much I'm running. Love to see it updated!

Easy cooking for busy people!
Nancy Clark has become one of my favorite nutrition authors.This book is easy to read with basic nutrition advice in the first section.The second section consists of nutrition enhancing, simple to follow recipes that donot require much time or fancy ingredients.I tried many different bananabread recipes from different cookbooks and found the one in this book notonly the easiest, but also the best tasting.When I can't decide what toeat I pull out this book and always find some inspiration. ... Read more

Product Description
"Fred Lebow was a dreamer, the kind of dreamer who pursued his dream and made it a reality. And the world is still reaping the rewards." So begins this uplifting chronicle of a humbly born Holocaust survivor who parlayed natural marketing smarts - and a vision - into a major position in recent American sports. He started the New York City Marathon, an event that transformed footracing from an elite, austere sport into a wildly applauded, attainable pursuit.

Forging a path across the city's five boroughs, the Marathon covers a daunting 26.2-mile course. Ron Rubin's fascinating book tells how Lebow popularized the race. With a stroke of marketing wizardry he turned it into the world's largest block party: a gritty mix of urban theater and kindly entrepreneurship. It honored the spirit of the moment, imbued competition with joy, and celebrated play. In so doing, it put winning within the realm of every man and woman became a race for all runners. Lebow mainstreamed the notion of marathoning into popular culture; some half million Americans now run marathons. Finally, the book describes how Lebow scored his greatest personal victory by racing in the marathon he had created even after being diagnosed with brain cancer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

some print issues
Book was received right away. It was a new copy, but the print on some of the pages is too light to read.

editor, please!
While the subject is quiet interesting, the book is poorly written and edited.The author keeps on repeating himself over and over and over and over again.And again.One is reminded of college papers where a student is stretching a 2 page point over 10 pages to fulfill the length requirement, constantly restating the same thought with synonymous nouns and adjectives.Could have been a much more fun 150 page read with some good editing, or a great 10 page New Yorker article.The book does improve in the second half.

From One Who Knew Fred Lebow Well

"ANYTHING for a T-Shirt" captures Fred's character as an artist might do with a brush and paint. While describing Fred's life, the author delves into his motivation and goals. He skillfully shows how Fred Lebow, an immigrant from Romania, progresses to developing the most exciting mass participation sporting event in the world.

If you run, read this book! This is the best book ever written on Fred Lebow and marathon running.

From the Editor
I got to "meet" Fred Lebow and learn about his creation of the New York City Marathon and his impact on the world of distance running while working with author Ron Rubin's extensive material. "Fred Lebow was a dreamer...the kind of dreamer who pursued his dream and made it a reality. And today, more than thirty years later, the world is still reaping the rewards of his vision and hard work.... Fred Lebow's life was [truly] a story just waiting--and deserving--to be told." -- From the book's Preface.

Exactly what Fred's vision was and how he worked to bring it to fruition--the history of the marathoning culture as we know it today--is developed in the first 11 chapters of the book.

> According to KATHRINE SWITZER, who knew Lebow well:
"Lebow's lifetime creation, the New York City Marathon, parallels his life story, and nobody's told it better than Ron Rubin in 'Anything for a T-Shirt...'. Rubin shows us how this modest but complex man, who was himself exhilarated with the transforming effects of fitness, took an obscure footrace and turned it into an extravagant festival that brought joy to the world's most glamorous and competitive city and attracted millions of everyday people to distance running. It is a case study in sports marketing, event management and psychology..."

The remainder of the book is dedicated to the heartwarming story of Lebow's struggle with cancer and his momentous first running of his own marathon in 1992 -- a cancer survivor accompanied by a host of friends led by Grete Waitz.

> SWITZER's review of these final chapters states:
"The book's climax is superb, reeling the reader up very dramatically, day by day, then mile by mile. Rubin pulls no punches as to how Fishl-the name I always called him and the one he would return to before he died-ran in his own creation for the first time, between bouts with the brain cancer that eventually took him from us, on guts and will.'Anything' paints a vivid picture of Lebow's inherent survival determination, heard from a dozen concerned voices in his entourage. While the whole book is well-written, this chapter is dazzling."

As Dick Traum wrote in his amazon review, "If you run, read this book!" As a non-runner who had never heard of Fred Lebow before working with the book, I can add:

"EVEN IF YOU DON'T RUN, read this book." I came to know both Fred & Fishl through the eyes of the 120-plus people Dr. Rubin interviewed and the numerous authors of articles and stories written during Lebow's illustrious life and in his memory. His life is an uplifting story of hope and inspiration.

Everything I've heard so far indicates that this book is truly the inspiring, motivating & heartwarming tribute to Fred Lebow that Ron Rubin set out to create. A relatively non-athletic, academic-type university professor, Rubin is himself one of the millions of middle- and back-of-the-pack runners who would have never considered attempting a marathon had it not been for Lebow's "creation." He wound up running NY six times!

I look forward to reading what YOU think -- about my review and about the book! ... Read more

Product Description
The Marathon des Sables is billed as the toughest footrace on Earth. It consists of around 150 miles of running across scorching desert plains and peaks, in temperatures soaring above 40 degrees C. As if the distance, the heat and the terrain were not enough, the whole race must be completed carrying all the food and kit required for the seven days of the event. In this book, exercise scientist Mark Hines takes us through both his two years of training and the competition itself, as he goes from non-running optimist to ultra-endurance athlete. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An amazing journey that takes you for the ride
The author Mark Hines brings a whole new light on this serious event.
Anyone interested in fitness or a truly inspiring journey of ones mans approach to the toughest footrace on earth...this is for you.

I had no idea about the details ofthis event nor much on the marathon side of life, having never come close to completing one. This book does not miss a beat. Anything that you need to know about the Marathon Des Sables or how to prepare for it...this author covers it.

I loved the way the book is real. This is about one man who starts off hating running but wants to complete the toughest footrace on earth! Funny in itself. Mark brings his knowledge of the body and nutrition along with his humor and utter determination together to give us an amazing journey of self discovery and a want to succeed.

The detail that he goes into regarding what his body is feeling, to why he is doing it the way he is, leaves no question marks.

Truly a fantastic read.

Losing the will to live
Frustratingly longwinded account seemingly detailing every second of this man's preparation for the Marathon des Sables. Although the author has some experience in the field of exercise physiology he spends very little time discussing the nitty gritty of his training program or strategies to cope with the gruelling desert conditions. I expected this book to be a help to someone preparing for this event but found much of this book superfluous. Contains some outlandish claims, for example that running does not cause injuries. Would have benefitted from some judicious editing. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic account of the war between Persia's King Xerxes and the Greeks.Includes the battle at Marathon, the naval battle at Salamis, and the fight between the Persians and the Spartans at Thermopylae. ... Read more

Product Description
"In this crafty story of a cross-country race, numerical division accounts for the narrowing of the field. . . . All lessons should be this gratifying." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)

"Bang!" goes the gun. The race is on.

Eighty racers explode from the starting gate, determined to win The Great Divide. They surge ahead, rushing toward—OH NO!—the wide hungry mouth of a grand canyon that claims half the racers. And this is only the beginning. More dangers lie ahead, waiting to divide the group once, twice, three times, and more. Will there be anyone left to cross the finish line? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun, fast-paced rhyming math
Fun, fast-paced rhyming story enticing seven year olds to do math without even realizing what they have done.

Pictures match the story well.Lots of detail.

Good book.

An Adventurous Divide
Interested in taking a group of third graders on an adventurously dividing race from start to finish? This is the book for you!
The race starts with a group of 80 participants, that divide in half evertime they reach a new adventure in the race course.One half ends up in a mess, while the other half races on. Read the book to find out who wins!!
The story is written with rhythm and ryhme making it a fun read for your youngsters.And the illustrations are drawn with so much detail making it easy to connect to the text.
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