After learning of the popularity of Hal Higdon, I figured his advice could help me in my new found love of running. I recently started running after I discontinued my usual regimine of weight lifting. I love the intense feeling you get from running, and therefore seeked further advice and motivation for my new hobby/exercise program. This book gives great motivation advice and tips for keeping your running days strong. Although I don't even think about injury, because I am 19 years old, I enjoyed reading the areas of the book related to injury prevention and keeping the body strong. Very good book for motivation, but also for keeping a strong, stable, healthy lifestyle.

While my favourite 'beginning to end' books on running are still those written by Jeff Galloway, 'Smart Running' is a great addition to any runner's bookshelf, whether they're a beginner or a veteran. Unlike more plan or training oriented problems, 'Smart Running' eschews a linear start to finish approach for a more specialized 'question and answer' format. These are the questions that perhaps are left out of other books. The ones you'll ask yourself even when you're following a great training regimen. Stuff like, 'Does it *really* matter what fabric I wear running?' or 'Can I safely lose weight without depriving my body of the nutrients it needs?' Higdon covers all of these topics and more- you can tell he both knows his stuff, and is used to answering questions for all experience levels. He writes with a light touch and a sense of humour- just the sort of thing you want if you've just come in from a sixteen mile run and want to know if your body is supposed to be on fire or if you've permanently damaged something.

A fantastic quick reference guide for anyone who sometimes has a burning question they need answered right away.

This book is my speed. I am a LAZY runner and I think #1 you have respect for Hal. He's a runner's runner. He will motivate you to run using health facts and things like that. I generally only run for health because of the cardio aspect, but really, this book isn't only about running, its about a life style of health that uses running as a part of it. Its a domino effect when you start running, you start eating better to perform better, then you start doing strength training because you feel better about yourself and your work outs, before long you're like a health fiend looking at $400 shoes to run in. I really felt good about reading this book, and have 3 times now! Hal will inspire you to run, and get healthy all in one fell swoop. Great book, great motivation.