This book by Jeff Galloway is definitely a classic. I have the older edition, but the advice for getting started running will never be out of date. Start slowly, give yourself plenty of time, and Jeff will even guide you through completing a marathon. Racing is not the goal of every runner, but the best part of the book is the schedules that help you train for any distance race, demonstrating that Galloway is not only an athlete, but a coach and teacher of the sport of running. Add in the advice on shoes, the focus on nutrition and the importance of balancing rest with training to avoid injury, and you will reach for this book again and again. I was able to use this book as a foundation for training for and successfully completing two full and two half marathons. I highly recommend it.