This is a great book for beginning and experienced marathoners alike. It provides history, motivation, and a complete guide for everything from completing a first marathon to attaining a PR. Higdon has done a great job updating editions to keep up with nutrition products, such as gels and sport drinks.

I'm training for my first marathon and was given this book by my cousin who has run multiple marathons. I should say that I am in college and have been distance running since I was around 13. I run for fun, not really for competition and the idea of a marathon intimidated me because it seemed like such a far leap from what I am used to.

This book provides a lot of motivation but in ways I did not expect. I didn't realize upon getting this book that it was not only targeted to first time marathoners but also to people who really don't run. I found the provided training schedules to be a bad fit for my personal fitness. The novice schedules were too slow to start, and the advanced schedules were too intense. I also come from running 6, sometimes 7, days a week so only running 4 days is a problem for me.

Ultimately, this book is a great marathon book and I really enjoyed reading it. However, I do think it is targeted to the non-runner and wish it was a little bit more advanced.

Hal Higdon is one of the first names I heard when I started running. He's a true expert in a sport that can benefit anyone-no matter who you are.

I'm a pretty slow runner, but I like this book because it's welcoming. Higdon has helped thousands of people finish their first marathon and this book is putting years of experience on paper.

It's friendly even to beginners, and presents very specific ways to train for a marathon. It's idiot-proof and very, very forgiving.

This book is also a big shot of motivation, as well! Every time you pick it up it makes you want to go for a run-work toward that goal. I'd recommend this book to anyone. Not just people who want to run marathons, either-because it gives tips helpful for any runner from nutrition to clothing to pace and keeping yourself mentally in the game.

Sat and read this book all the way through in a sitting. Lots of fantastic practical tidbits for the first time marathoner, as well as those who have not quite qualified for Boston (yet). The August injury chapter was a favorite. Those sub 3 hour folks are probably reading something else anyways. His website is also quite good. Nice job, Hal!

Tons of great tips make this reference guide a must-have for marathon runners. There are also inspirational tidbits to get you back on the track.

Hal Higdon writes well and clearly has a lot of experience to draw on. He touches on all of the main points that you need to know about when training for a marathon. I have used it in my preparation as a reference and for motiviation.
When you read the book or use it for reference, keep in mind that Higdon is just giving you his advice and opinion based on experience. It may not work for you to eat as him before a marathon or run the distances he recommends, and you may need to try something different or get advise from other sources. Said I still read in the book from time to time as he is clearly a very competent gentleman.

Hal Higdon writes well and clearly has a lot of experience to draw on. He touches on all of the main points that you need to know about when training for a marathon. I have used it in my preparation as a reference and for motiviation.

I am planning to run my first marathon this summer and I found good advice for beginners and experts alike. A great read if you are serious about distance running.

Excellent reference book as I train for my first marathon. Good information on a variety of related subjects, including diet, distance training, speedwork, taper, and other practical advice for being successful in completing the marathon.

There is tons of helpful advice in this book from starting out to race day tips. I have read other marathon books and this is the most comprehensive guide including nice bonuses like pacing charts and more. I highly recommend it to those running your first or 10th marathon. It's full of helpful remminders and tips and is written in an attention catching way.

Hal is simply an excellent writer. He knows how to write for those who have been running for years and also appeals to those who have just started. After reading the first 3 pages, the non runner will easily understand why those crazy runners do what they do and the well established runner will be reminded why they do what they do.......it is fun, it is a part of what we do in our daily lives.

Picked up this book after running my first half-marathon and getting ready for my first marathon. It was great because it puts your fears at ease and doesn't talk down to the slower runner (I'm a 4-hour marathon runner). Good training charts.

The book is now 6 years old and there are a couple of places in which it is dated. The Chapter on nutrition only talks briefly about gels, and focuses more on sports drinks versus hard food. Also, the section on hydrating (drinking water during and after) is old-school and doesn't take into the recent studies on the effects of over-hydration.

But other than those two nits (both in the same chapter) the rest of the book is great. I still pick it up to give myself a motivational boost before a race.