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No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running Review

I'm a beginning runner just ending my 5th week of training. When I started out, I picked up a lot of literature on the topic to learn new things that may help me progress. "No Need for Speed" was one of those items.

The author has a very laid back writing style that I found appealing. He also has a sense of humor and knows how to laugh at himself while giving helpful advice to others. I found it amusing how he refers to himself as a "penguin" because they waddle when they try to go fast.

I could really relate to his story about how he used to be unhealthy, overweight, smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, and didn't even like the thought of exercising, let alone going out and doing it. He shared how he got into walking, biking, and then running, which led to 5Ks and marathons.

He shares stories of his times trying to complete races but having to stop midway through because of an injury. He was embarrassed to have to stop until he met with the others who had to stop as well and they cheered at him for being smart enough to quit before he caused a permanent injury that may end his running career. He uses this background to show the reader it's okay to stop when you're feeling pain. You don't have to push yourself through it. He uses his personal stories for background a lot to illustrate a point he wants to make, and I think it really adds character to this book.

He gives a lot of good advice that people should take to heart, such as accepting and enjoying the body you have now, not the one you're aiming for in your mind. He says to enjoy where you are in your progress rather than focus on where you want to be. That sort of thing.

John Bingham is a very smart, humorous, and insightful person. I recommend his book to anyone who's interested in getting into running but not sure where to start or if they'd even be any good at it.

No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running Overview

"You don't have to run fast to be a real runner!"

John Bingham, "the patron saint of the back of the pack," commands "The Penguin Brigade"-- those thousands of dedicated runners who have learned that the greatest joy in their sport comes not from how fast they go or how thin they become, but from simply having the courage to take the first step.

Now Bingham shares the wisdom that took him from couch potato to columnist for Runner's World magazine. No Need for Speed explores both the why and the how of running for the rest of us. With information both practical (how to find the right running shoes for you, when to enter a race, what to eat before a run) and inspirational (focus on where you are instead of where you want to be, accepting the body you have, the beauty of being realistic about goals), Bingham extends a trusted hand and expert advice to beginners and veterans alike.

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Customer Reviews

new runner great book - jsprdh -
I just started running this year, and was looking for a good book to teach me things about running from a beginners perspective and then on to more advanced levels. This book delivers all of that and more. It is well written and makes a lot of sense.

For me, didn't live up to the hype - A. Reeves - Iowa City, IA United States
I've been running a grand total of 8 weeks, following a plan from Runner's World. I've stumbled upon John Bingham's column there and thought "No Need for Speed" would be fabulous to read for me, a slow beginning runner.

There's some funny stuff in there, and it's a fast, engaging read. I picked it up from the library last night and read it in a couple of hours. But not only is it geared for beginners, it's geared to beginners who've done little to no research on starting to run and who may have not even bought a pair of running shoes. If you're that kind of runner, then I definitely recommend this book with 5 stars!

But what he touts as info on what and when to eat are more like general discussion on needing to change your perspective on food rather than helpful guidelines as to how to actually change bad habits. Good change begets good change is kind of the gist of it, but even he doesn't lay that out that simply.

There was some good reminders about patience, to remind me to slow down and take joy in the running I'm doing rather than being frustrated by not yet being the runner I want to be. It actually convinced me NOT to run this morning, but to crosstrain instead and give one ever-so-slightly aching knee a rest. But since I've been doing my research about how to run for over 2 months, this book wasn't as helpful to me, so I can't rave about it the way so many have.

Great and positive guide for a novice runner. - Davor Begecki - Birmingham, AL
This is an oustanding book for beginner runners. I hated running but it is the simplest excersise to do. I have been using advice in the book for the past three weeks and everything going great. The advice is common sence approach to running that helps you build a good running base and psychological base for longer distance running. The book is filled with great motivation to get you out and running and it is lite in programs because the author feels you should build up a base at your own pace. Overall an excellet book for people not used to running but ready to try.

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Friday, September 17, 2010