Run Better

Book excerpt: A practical, illustrated, and scientifically grounded guide to improving your running technique and preventing injury, written by a kinesiologist. In North America alone, thirty-seven million people run regularly, and most suffer at least one running-related injury a year. Run Better sets out to help runners of all abilities run smarter and injury-free by reviewing the proper mechanics of running and the role of shoes; providing training programs (from 5K to marathon distances) that promote rest and cross-training for adequate recovery; offering 90 running-specific exercises and technical drills to build strength, reinforce proper posture, encourage flexibility, improve mobility, and optimize breathing; and explaining 42 common running injuries and the ways to prevent and alleviate them. Illustrated with more than 150 color photographs, 50 black-and-white line drawings, and 20 charts and tables, Run Better is an easy to use and authoritative running handbook for anyone who wants to improve their running efficiency and decrease their risk of injury.