Free Running

Shortlisted for the 2015 Thwaites Wainwright prize for nature writing Richard Askwith wanted more. Not convinced running had to be all about pounding pavements, buying fancy kit and racking up extreme challenges, he looked for ways to liberate himself. His solution: running through muddy fields and up rocky fells, running with his dog at dawn, running because he's being (voluntarily) chased by a pack of bloodhounds, running to get hopelessly, enjoyably lost, running fast for the sheer thrill of it. Running as nature intended. Part diary of a year running through the Northamptonshire countryside, part exploration of why we love to run without limits, Running Free is an eloquent and inspiring account of running in a forgotten, rural way, observing wildlife and celebrating the joys of nature. An opponent of the commercialisation of running, Askwith offers a welcome alternative, with practical tips (learned the hard way) on how to both start and keep running naturally – from thawing frozen toes to avoiding a stampede when crossing a field of cows. Running Free is about getting back to the basics of why we love to run.

The revised edition of the bestselling ChiRunning, a groundbreaking program from ultra-marathoner and nationally-known coach Danny Dreyer, that teaches you how to run faster and farther with less effort, and to prevent and heal injuries for runners of any age or fitness level. In ChiRunning, Danny and Katherine Dreyer, well-known walking and running coaches, provide powerful insight that transforms running from a high-injury sport to a body-friendly, injury-free fitness phenomenon. ChiRunning employs the deep power reserves in the core muscles, an approach found in disciplines such as yoga, Pilates, and T’ai Chi. ChiRunning enables you to develop a personalized exercise program by blending running with the powerful mind-body principles of T’ai Chi: -Get aligned: Develop great posture and reduce your potential for injury while running, and make knee pain and shin splints a thing of the past. -Engage your core: Shift the workload from your leg muscles to your core muscles, for efficiency and speed. -Add relaxation to your running: Learn to focus your mind and relax your body to increase speed and distance. -Make it a Mindful Practice: Maintain high performance and make running a mindful, enjoyable life-long practice. It’s easy to learn. Transform your running with the ten-step ChiRunning training program.

This no-nonsense guide shows you how an understanding of anatomy and biomechanics, coupled with the latest strengthening exercises and rehab protocols, can keep you running injury-free for a long time to come. Each time your foot hits the ground while running, an impact force averaging three times your weight travels through your body at more than 200 miles per hour, causing your bones to vibrate and tendons to stretch. When you consider that the average runner strikes the ground more than 10,000 times per hour, this translates into a remarkable amount of force that needs to be absorbed, and explains why nearly 50% of recreational runners are injured each year. The purpose of this book is to show you that impact forces are not necessarily harmful. By modifying your running form and doing specific exercises to improve tendon resiliency, not only can you effectively absorb these forces, but you can also store and return a significant percentage of them in the form of elastic recoil. Besides reducing your risk of injury, efficiently storing and returning energy can allow you to run faster with less effort. With more than 200 illustrations and 300 references, this book reviews how to: Perform an at-home gait analysis to make specific changes in your running form that can reduce impact forces and improve performance. Decrease your risk of injury by identifying problems with strength, flexibility, and/or neuromotor coordination using specific functional tests. Incorporate new exercises to enhance the storage and return of energy in your tendons. Select the running shoe that is right for you. Treat 25 of the most common running-related injuries with the most up-to-date, scientifically justified treatment protocols available.

I Hate Running and You Can Too is a humorous, punchy, motivating guide to running longer distances than some might think sensible - whether that's a 5K or a marathon. Outside magazine columnist, chart-ist, and longtime runner, Brendan Leonard gets real on the love/hate relationship all runners have with the sport. He breaks down running in terms that speak to everyone who has ever struggled to get out the door and go for a run: getting comfortable being uncomfortable, how to start small and stick with it, that walking is a completely legitimate running strategy, and devising your own definition of success. Filled with 75 charts and graphs that give readers a sensible way to think about running, I Hate Running and You Can Too breaks down the reality of the training miles versus race miles, how to stay motivated, and what to do when faced with setbacks. I Hate Running and You Can Too shows readers that you won't always like running (sometimes you'll even hate it), but if you just keep going, you might learn to love it too.

With its acrobatic thrills and "no limits" attitude, free running is creating a sports revolution in our towns and cities.

Introduces free running, describes some of the stunts, and profiles atheletes involved.

Where ordinary people see walls and railings, some athletes see a challenge. Readers will discover who those athletes are—free runners. Using a mix of gymnastics and running, these daring few will guide you through the history of this high-flying world. Full-color photographs show the gravity-defying feats of free running, while educating readers on the science the sport. Each book also provides interactive challenges to encourage the exercise of both body and mind.

Draws on expert advice on how to limit pain and injury risks as well as minimize recovery and rehabilitation times, providing coverage of common injuries while providing a wealth of tips on everything from training and stretching to selecting equipment and maintaining a proper running form. Original.