Customer Rating:  
Summary: Technique from a Book? Bad idea.
Comment: I bought this book wondering if it would show me any tips to improve my running technique. The book does serve as a good introduction to running technique and I would suggest the book to a person who knows nothing on the topic. However, the book left me more convinced than ever before that one cannot improve technique from lessons in a book. Coaches exist for a reason and this is one of them. Runners who have great body and muscle awareness are not going to have major problems and thus are not going to need this book. On the other hand, runners who have poor body awareness are going to need a knowledgable person (a coach) to watch them run and identify the problem. So they don't need the book either and are better of spending their money on a coaching session. This book might be useful for a student taking a college course in coaching running but that is about it.
Beside this general complaint the book itself leaves a lot to be desired. The photographs in the book are rather poor. They are simply clips from a video and suffer from all the problems that causes. It was really mind boggling to me that the publisher was so cheap as to not pay for a still camera to take photos. The poor quality images make it difficult at times to really understand what the author is refering to in the picture. It is most unfortunate that the authors obvious knoweledge is hindered by this problem. Further, there isn't a modern fad (running barefoot, neuromuscler training) that the author doesn't fall for. It used to be "muscle memory" was all the rage. The book would have been stronger if these issues were left out as the author comes across as pandering.
All in all I think this is a book that might serve some useful purpose for a person who knows little about proper running technique. But for a person with difficulties it is not a substitute for a some sessions with a good coach.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Almost a good running publication
Comment: Almost. Yessis and Yessis (two authors) focus on the biomechanics of running, which is unusual and perhaps distinctive among publications - we've got the way to train, mostly from Jack D., and now this is an almost good book for telling us how to run. The descriptions of proper running style, and the exercises to achieve proper running style, are in the book.
But you really have to dig. What makes this book 'almost good' is that there is no structure or system to its presentation. Y & Y say what they have to say. Once. Twice, a different way. Third, a different way. And so on.
The redundancy is really not the bad point - the bad point is that there's so much laid out, it's hard to tell what you should do first. Doing it all, well, that would take eight hours a set.
Another bad point. There are far, far more 'non-examples' of runners displaying INcorrect running style than examples of runners displaying correct running style. For the typical reader (I presume I am among them), I want to see someone running right . . . not endless pictures of people who are running and are doing two, three, or four things wrong.
It seems like Y & Y have one favorite sprinter in the book who does it all right. Everyone else, be they your average marathon runner or the state high school 1,500 meeter champ or a nationally ranked 5,000 meter competitor, displays a running style per Y & Y that is "almost, but not quite, right."
The pictures are a great, great idea - but next version show us how to run, biomechanically, the right way. Give us pictures of people who either naturally or with training, are doing it ALL right. (A value-added add-on of course would be a DVD with video clips of runners running the right way.)
The explanations are helpful - but somehow, some way, please structure the presentation. Provide exercises per running element, or simple to easy, or beginner to advanced, SOME sort of organization that makes sense so that as readers we can figure out fairly easily what it is we each should incorporate into our workout schedule.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Add specifity to any running program
Comment: This book complete's any running book collection. It goes in depth into the biomechanics of running, specific weight training exersizes for breakthrough running, and specific stretching for runners. This book covers the information that most other books only breifly skim over. The knowledge that Michael Yessis shares in this book could be eaisily added to any running program, to make you a faster, and more efficient runner. I would reccommend this book to anyone who is serious about running and looking to add more specifity to their running program. If you want to run faster, and farther without getting injured this is a book for you.
Customer Rating:
Summary: How serious do you want to get about your running?
Comment: This book would be great for anyone who is serious about running and desires to find ways to increase performance. The sections that break down the actual mechanics of running are complicated, but I found them to be interesting. The sections on stretching and weightlifting exercises specifically for running are outstanding. The chapter on the effects shoes have on feet and the case for spending more time barefoot is also a highlight.If you are a casual runner who is happy and not interested in making running a top priority in your life, then I would personally skip this book. If you are "into" running and seeking a deeper understanding of what the mechanics of the run are and how to improve your run, then I cannot see how this book would not help you.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Comment: This book is everything the title says it is . . .explosive. I noticed benefits in terms of my speed and endurance from the start of training. I was also gratified to read the authors endorsement of barefoot running! If you are a serious runner seeking to improve your speed, endurance and running economy. This is the book for you. Tim
Anacortes, Washington
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