Amby Burfoot has always been a pleasure to read, and this book is a really good quick read for any running, whether the baseline beginner or a lifelong runner. Burfoot has a lovely approach to running and is encouraging to runners of all levels. I liked his plans for half marathons and marathons and the book has inspired me to get back to running.

A great read - the running book I would have written myself! Full of sensible advice which is so nice to see written down, and an ideal book for anyone wanting to take up - or keep on - running.

Full review on my blog, link below.

https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2018/07/10/book-review-amby-burfoot-run-forever/

As a relatively new, yet older (38) runner, I quite enjoyed the variety of tips that Burfoot put forward. I also enjoyed how he interspersed them with his own personal history. Some are ones I was familiar with from reading some of his other writings or had heard from other writing runners, others were new to me. I particularly appreciated how he laid out intervals and his nuanced look at an athlete's diet. Running isn't black or white and there's a lot of gray areas, which he explored. I like how he laid this book out, both in overall chronology as well as within each section. The "chaplets" were structured so that you got enough information as standalones, but could also go further if the topic was of particular interest. I'll believe he's done with marathons if he doesn't toe the line at Boston next year.

I'd recommend this for newer runners, but more experienced runners would likely find the info to be things they already knew.

This was a terrific running book, aimed at basic ideas to get your running and keep you running. It's so easy to get distracted by needing the right gear and eating the right meals. Burfoot basically says ignore all that, do what feels goods, and if it hurts pay attention. His goal is to keep people running into their 70s and beyond and he puts little emphasis on speed or distance. I love his three days a week half marathon plan and plan to use it for my own fall half marathon. Highly recommended for a beginner runner or one who is overwhelmed by all the running advice out there.

A comprehensive book that's primarily great for beginners, who might be wide-eyed at all of the options and positively confused on where to begin in regards to running, but yields benefits for athletes of all levels of experience. There's so much to consider---shoes, hydration, socks, clothing, and Burfoot's book is strapped with at least a general answer on how not only to intelligently approach not just a structured training program (advice accumulated from his decades of running knowledge), but literally how to run, to get yourself going in forward motion.

I have conversations (they're infrequent, but they do happen) with runners (new or erstwhile ones, typically) that tend to infer that the sport of running is some kind of instance to where the speedsters and the endurance beasts hog the glory and the rest of the runners are just fodder along the roadway. Not only is there mountains of proof that such an idea is stupid, but Amby is here to help to throw his hard-earned research on the pile. Our bodies are made to play; we are engineered to run around, as is mentioned several times in the book. Obviously, as is markedly highlighted in the pages, one shouldn't view running as the panacea for poor life decisions like a terrible diet, nor should one directly focus on running as the only avenue through which to pursue longevity of life. If incorporated skillfully, however, running can be as rewarding of an effort as you'll find.

There's a ton of wisdom seeping through the pages here, and, as mentioned earlier, anyone, no matter their experience level, can glean something from it, whether it's inspiration to keep going from a running legend, a re-up on how to approach a training regiment, a satisfying (and healthy) inlet into the sport, or a combo of all three.

I must also add that, while Burfoot gives examples of training programs within, those (especially experienced runners) seeking super-detailed schedules should not get their hopes up. That's not the point of the book. Also worth mentioning is that Burfoot is trying his best to address the most pressing issues regarding running, and some of these answers may feel either too scorched-earth or feel like there's too much of a wide pass over a particular issue. Such is a pitfall of reading books with comprehensive knowledge about sports to deal out. Learn what you can, as much as you can, and proceed sensibly. If a subject feels like it's missing a puzzle piece, it probably is. That sort of intuition appears to be something that Burfoot looks to cement in all runners, probably much to the chagrin of medical professionals specializing in sports injuries.

Burfoot's writing has a manner to it that lets you pour through the pages, even when the technical jargon sneaks in there. It's not a very long read, and it's a recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Center Street for the advance read.