The Complete Book of Running for WomenI read almost all of this, except for the section on shoes, which I sneered at, and the race training schedules, which didn't seem relevant since I won't qualify for a race for a hundred years at least. Re shoes: I wonder if runners will ever see the absurdity in asking someone who sells shoes for a living, probably on commission, for advice about buying shoes. Shoes a little worn on the outside of the sole? You need better shoes. You won't get advice on shortening your stride or practicing barefoot running on grass--you'll get sold new shoes designed to correct overprotonation and by the way, they'll need to be replaced every hundred miles. (If they're so good, why.... Don't ask.)
Shoes aside, her advice is good. She's a little paranoid about amenorrhea--it's mentioned at least eight times and there's a whole section about it--but probably she sees of lot of cases of it in her practice. In her diet advice she doesn't say much about sugar--maybe she assumes that anyone seriously interested in running isn't going to down three cans of coke a day. Most everything else seems right on. (I'm no expert but I've read a couple of books.)
Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this is a good book to dip into. Much, much better than the Runner's World guide I picked up. I had to give that on that one.
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