The best books that challenge the status quo about how to run

The title of this biography about the Australian maverick running coach (one Cerutty had originally planned for a book he never wrote) speaks volumes.

After decades of ill health, Cerutty defied medical expectations by transforming himself into a remarkable physical specimen in his mid-40s through diet and exercise. He applied his unorthodox ideas about running (heavy weights, galloping, sand dune running, spear-carrying, and a mainly vegetarian wholegrain diet) to those he coached – leading Herb Elliot to Olympic gold in the 1960 1500 metres.

Cerutty was a colourful, controversial character and Sims’ book is a gripping read. But what I really took from it was the importance of questioning accepted wisdom, of being playful and curious with your training. Of asking ‘what if?’

This must be one of the most widely read running books. For good reason – it’s a great read – exciting story, quirky characters – by an excellent journalist.

But at the heart of it lies one question: ‘Why does my foot hurt?’ McDougall’s quest to find out, his deep dive into the evidence underpinning many accepted aspects of the ‘science’ of running, is what influenced me as a runner, and as a coach.

Why do runners wear built-up shoes? Why do runners only move their bodies in one plane of motion and expect to have all-round fitness? Why do so many people lose the joy in running? Why don’t we eat salad for breakfast? If you read this book, and change nothing about your running, I’ll be surprised.

As an Alexander Technique teacher, Balk’s approach to movement is one of enquiry. What happens if I do X? How does it feel when I visualise Y? “Without awareness,” he says, “things cannot be changed.”

But don’t be fooled into thinking that this is an airy-fairy guide for people who don’t care about speed or performance. An accomplished masters athlete himself, Balk has applied the principles of AT to running with great results. I followed his advice and many of his words of wisdom remain firmly ingrained in my brain, two decades later. “Don’t run into the ground, run over it.”

American marathon legend Bill Rodgers is quoted on the back cover of Why We Run saying, “This is not a how-to book, it’s a why book.”

He’s right, and Heinrich answers the question of why through a fascinating blend of biology, anthropology, philosophy, and psychology. It’s both a universal inquiry and a personal one: the book gets its narrative thread from Heinrich’s build-up towards competing in a 100km race, through which we are introduced to his experimental training methods and the thinking behind them.

I’ll leave you to find out how the race pans out…

OK, so this dense tome about the science of running is not for the fainthearted.

Magness formerly worked with the Nike Oregon Project and spoke out about his suspicions regarding the methods of Alberto Salazar (who was later found guilty of doping allegations). The depth and breadth of his knowledge is immense and although his writing style isn’t perfect, there is so much to be learned within these pages.

My copy is littered with notes and underlines, and my coaching methods have undoubtedly been influenced by his training philosophy.