Programmed to Run

Rating:
Summary: The most complete and practical source on running technique.
Review: All of Miller's techniques and psychological self-talk have helped me run more lightly, smoother, and without injury. I no longer slog and gut my way through runs. I may not be as fast as the elite but I can run almost as efficiently and that helps me enjoy running more. I really like Miller's approach and attitude.

Rating:
Summary: Good first book
Review: I am a new runner... before I started training for a 1/2 marathon, I had only run 4-5 k on a treadmill, which I'd been doing on and off for about 2 years.

To be fair, I don't know a lot about running, and probably any book would be a good book for me. Thomas Miller does seem to have a lot of experience about running, and has certainly trained for and run a lot of marathons and 1/2 marathons. He has analysed running in great detail.

Things this book does well:

1) cover running technique (body part alignment, hands, feet, torso etc...)
2) cover breathing (rhino breathing - quite effective I thought)
3) cover the psychological parts of running (negative self talk and how to beat it - quite effectively too)

Things this book does poorly:
1) cover running equipment, shoes, "kit" (he mentioned a kit, but never says what it is).
2) cover how to create a training schedule (he talks about it a lot, but in a hand-waving way with almost no examples)
3) cover nutrition of any kind
4) cover running injuries, how to prevent them and how to treat them

Like another reviewer, I found that Miller spent too much time talking about his own experiences... that has a place, but Miller goes too far in a lot of places.

Unlike another reviewer, I found that the psychological aspects and mind-body control were useful. If you are a serious runner, and have been running for some time, this might not be useful, I'm not sure. As a beginning running, I find that it's helpful to know what to do when you feel like stopping in the middle of a run. This book worked for me, even if it's only been a short while.

Rating:
Summary: I will pass
Review: I bought two books which were published pretty much the same time - this one and explosive running. in comparison, "explosive running" is solid - technical, thorough and cover whole lot more ground on "running" while this book wastes two fifth of the chapters on those abstract thing on body mind control, performance programming ....

Rating:
Summary: I will pass
Review: Programmed To Run: A Biomechanical And Psychological System For Peak Running Efficiency by athletic coach and sports performance enhancement expert Thomas S. Miller is a thorough and practical guide to running faster and longer with less effort, by improving one's stride mechanics and mental focus for optimum personal performance. A superb manual for self-teaching good running technique, Programmed to Run covers everything from proper breathing to training the proper competitive mind-set for a good race. Programmed To Run is very highly recommended reading for everyone who regularly enjoys the activity of running, whether for active leisure, personal fitness, or in sports competition.

Rating:
Summary: Lots to think about
Review: The author through self exploration leads the reader to believe that it truly is mind over matter. I found the book to be well written, although at times a little too centred on the author's experiences. Overall a good read.

Rating:
Summary: A complete guide to running
Review: This is a great book with hands-on concepts for anyone that wants to improve their running performance. The chapters on technique are easy to understand and if you practice them, you will see results immediately in your running.
The chapters on mental performance technique are equally good and hard to come by. If you race, you know your mind often falls apart before your body does. Miller gives you many resources to keep focused on running.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to run faster and smarter!