In Review: Complete Book of Women’s Running

Posted by Jessica S on January 9, 2011 · 5 Comments 

Quick Summary:

This book takes a look at running from the outside in.  Whether you need advice on running shoes and bras, how to get started without getting injured, or how to keep going even after you’re an advanced runner, this book covers it.  Over 10 million women now call themselves runners in this country, and this book aims to help every one of them. 

My Reflections:

It was about two weeks ago when I got a call from Runner’s World.  They had a book offer for me–one of those “risk free trials.”  Normally, I would say just say no, but that evening I was in a good mood, had just finished another book, and was presently online buying a new sports bra.  Thus, their timing was almost eerily perfect.  So, I asked how many pages it was (extremely short how-to books usually end up being tossed aside as rubbish), and after being told “over 300 pages,” I said yes.

Not knowing what I was in for, I was extremely excited to see a high quality book arrive in the mail, and one with more words than pictures.  So, I snuggled up in my favorite reading chair, running sneakers still on, and dove into the first page.  By the time I looked up, I had read over half the book, and I had to quickly toss it aside and go feed my grumpy horses in the dark.  The writing was very fluid, and it was (obviously) very easy to get absorbed into the content.

The author, Dagny Scott Barrios, did a remarkable job explaining what to look for when buying shoes.  I don’t have a runner’s shoe store where I live, so being able to squat down and observe my own arches, now knowing what to look for was very insightful to me.  I feel a lot more confident shopping for shoes, just based on that little tid-bit of advise.  Obviously having a professional watch my footfall would be better, but I have scoured the internet looking for this advise, and it came to me through this book.

Barrios covered things to consider about running with dogs (considerations for the dogs, not just the owners) as well as tackling hills.  I especially loved the section in the book about water intake–how much is (or isn’t) necessary, and how to tell where you fall in the group. 

This is just the beginning of the book.  Later, Barrios goes into information about how to stay motivated while on the run.  How to keep yourself going just that little bit further, but how to stop yourself from going too far.  Truly all-inclusive, this book is a MUST for anyone who is just getting started into running, as well as people who have been runners for years. 

Sprinkled throughout the book are “Smart Tips” and snippets from the author’s own “Training Log,” which were very helpful, as well. 

I truly cannot give enough praise to Barrios.  I finished the entire book in two sittings (although, I wanted to get up and run about 1800 times from all the motivation I was absorbing). 

I cannot think of a single negative feature I ran across.  I suppose I would have loved it to be another 100 pages of craftfully written insights, but I suppose that enough is plenty.

This post was featured in the Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival #188.

Filed under Nonfiction · Tagged with book review, dagny scott barrios, exercise, fitness, health, runner's world, running, women