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Riverside Road Runners

Riverside, CA 92516 US

RESOURCES AND READING RECOMMENDATIONS

Looking for the best running books to read? You've come to the right place!

​The Riverside Road Runners Reading List features a curated selection of books for runners of all levels. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, you're sure to find something to enjoy on this list.

The books on this list cover a wide range of topics, from training and nutrition to motivation and inspiration. There are also books about the history of running, the science of running, and the psychology of running.

Whether you're looking for a new book to read before your next race or just want to learn more about the sport of running, the Riverside Road Runners Reading List is a great place to start.

FEATURED SELECTION

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THE HUMILIATION TOUR
BY: JEFFREY RECKER

The Humiliation Tour is a riveting, sensational coming-of-age tale that follows the hilarious failures of two talented runners separated by time and connected by blood.
 
This fictional novel has been endorsed by RRCA, Colorado Runner Magazine, and legends in the sport, including Bill Rodgers. It has also received a 5-star review from Readers' Favorite, and to date, has the highest rating of any running-themed novel on Amazon. (4.9 rating). 
 
I’m hoping you can help me connect the novel to its natural audience – runners, by letting your club members know about it through your newsletter or website.
 
To learn more and order please visit:

The Humiliation Tour

BEST COFFEE TABLE BOOKS

26.2 MARATHON STORIES

by Katherine Switzer

I absolutely love this book. It sits proudly on my coffee table. It's such a beautifully inspiring page turner. Lovely photos with evocative writing. A must have.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Terry Fox & His Marathon of Hope

by Terry Fox

I've given this book to many runners as a gift. The story of Terry Fox is becoming well known but his legend is one that should continue to grow. The book is emotionally charged. There are pictures of Terry running, of the prosthetic leg he ran on, of letters he received from children all over the world. It's a beautiful tribute. If there is one book you should have, it's this one.
VIEW ON AMAZON

 

THE TRIFECTA OF TRAINING BIBLES

THE LORE OF RUNNING

by Dr. Tim Noakes

Arguably the book that says you've arrived at the 'serious' running scene. Lore's got it all.
VIEW ON AMAZON

ADVANCED MARATHONING

by Pete Pfitzinger

Take your marathoning to that next level.
VIEW ON AMAZON

DANIEL'S RUNNING FORMULA

by Dr. Jack Daniels

Daniels formula explains – like no other – the science behind your runs.
VIEW ON AMAZON

 

HEROES & HEROIC PERFORMANCES

TERRY FOX: HIS STORY

by Terry Fox

This is the official biography of Terry Fox. It'll put words to all the pictures you'll see in the first book shown above.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Roger Bannister The Four Minute Mile

by Roger Bannister

A personal and heartfelt account of the most stunning athletic achievement of the twentieth century From the legend who ran the first four minute mile.
VIEW ON AMAZON

MARATHON WOMAN

by Katherine Switzer

Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women's Sports
Katherine Switzer is famous for being the first woman to (illegally) run the Boston Marathon. She broke down barriers for women's running.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Alan Webb & the Quest for the Sub-Four Minute Mile

by Chris Lear

For more than three decades, not one American schoolboy had run a sub-4:00 mile. Then, in January 2001, Alan Webb clocked a 3:59.86 mile, the fastest indoor U.S. high school mile ever.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Terry: Terry Fox Marathon of Hope

by Terry Fox

I know this appears in the 'Coffee Table' section of this post but it's just that good. Terry was, in every sense of the word, a hero.
Buy this book as a two-part purchase for the amazing pictures and scrapbook images.
VIEW ON AMAZON

THE PERFECT MILE

by Neal Bascomb

In The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb, the New York Times bestselling author of Faster, presenst the riveting, true story of the three world-class athletes who individually became the first runners to break the four-minute mile.
VIEW ON AMAZON

A Father's Odyssey

by Terry Hitchcock, Peter Jessen, Kyle Gearhart, & Jeff Turner

75 Consecutive Marathons in 75 Consecutive Days will inspire you to remember that achieving what you are called to do is always possible
VIEW ON AMAZON

 

MORE TRAINING RESOURCES

Run Less, Run Faster

by Bill Pierce, Scott Murr, and Ray Moss

Finally, runners at all levels can improve their race times while training less, with the revolutionary Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (FIRST) program.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Explosive Running

by Michael Yessis

If you are a serious runner, you want to improve your ability to run faster and longer without injury. Many runners have bought better shoes or spent longer hours on the track trying to improve, only to end up frustrated with back and leg pain. But the secret to improving your run is simple--your stride is only as good as your physical abilities allow.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Healthy Intelligent Training: The Proven Principles of Arthur Lydiard

by Arthur Lydiard

Healthy Intelligent Training is for all serious middle distance athletes and coaches. This book is based on the proven principles of Arthur Lydiard, the Runner's World Coach of the Century.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide

by Hal Higdon

When the previous edition of Hal Higdon's superb training guide appeared, Grete Waitz, 9-time winner of the New York City Marathon, cheered: "Higdon's years of marathoning experience come through in this practical book. Aspiring or veteran marathoners will benefit enormously from its proven guidance."
VIEW ON AMAZON

Alberto Salazar's Guide to Running

by Alberto Salazar and RIchard Lovett

"Terrific for beginning runners. A fitness program that's simple and works."--Bill Rodgers, four-time Boston Marathon Winner, four-time New York City Marathon Winner
A Revolutionary Approach to Running for Fitness and Pleasure from One of the Greatest Runners of All Time
VIEW ON AMAZON

Running Times Guide to Breakthrough Running

by Gordon Bakoulis, Candace Karu

Breakthroughs in running can take many forms. For some, it's racing to a new personal record. For others, it means getting back into shape after a layoff or an injury. But for all committed runners, making a personal breakthrough is one of the most rewarding experiences in the sport.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Brain Training For Runners

by Matt Fitzgerald

Runners of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels can learn to maximize their performance by supplying the brain with the right feedback. Based on Fitzgerald's eight-point brain training system
VIEW ON AMAZON

Treadmill Training for Runners

by Rick Morris

The popularity of the treadmill is exploding. More and more runners are using the treadmill to train for all distances and for all reasons. This is the definitive book on treadmill training.
VIEW ON AMAZON

Total Heart Rate Training

by Joe Friel

Whether you are just starting a fitness program or are an experienced athlete, you can greatly benefit from paying attention to your heart rate during exercise. Heart rate serves as a window into the body, giving you minute-to-minute feedback on your physical condition based on all the factors affecting it
VIEW ON AMAZON

Running To Win

by George Sheehan

A running primer for both novices and veterans covers everything from selecting the right shoe to the spiritual dimensions of running, including "rules to run by" that will help maximize fitness and avoid setbacks
VIEW ON AMAZON

Alberto Salazar's Guide to Road Racing

by Alberto Salazar and RIchard Lovett

A complete program for taking runners to the next competitive level, from one of the world's greatest marathoners, distance runners' Hall of Famer Alberto Salazar.
VIEW ON AMAZON

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