These are the books that have had the most impact on my life, running, and coaching.

By Coach Chris Knighton

Introduction

This article contains my picks for the best books for marathon runners.

I have read a lot of books about marathon running. I have actually even written a book on marathon training. But despite reading so many running books, just a few have stood the test of time.

These are the books on marathon running that have influenced my life, running, and coaching the most.

These books will keep you turning from page to page and inspire you to run better than ever before.

If you are looking for a gift for that special marathon runner in your life, then each of these books will be a guaranteed hit!

Please note, some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning if you click through on a link and buy a product I may earn a small commission for the referral. This has not influenced the products I listed here at all, but buying through these links is a nice small way for you to support what I do.

Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth

I absolutely love Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth by Adharanand Finn.

Finn tells the true story of moving from the UK to Kenya to run with and learn from the world’s best distance runners.

Running with the Kenyans reads like a novel, is filled with exciting twists and turns, and uncovers the myriad of reasons why Kenyan runners are so good.

If you love marathon running, then this book is a MUST READ and easily makes my list of Best Books for Marathon Runners.

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon

—

Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory

Deena Kastor was a promising high school and college runner but her racing and training approach and mindset caused frustration and negativity which brought her to the brink of burnout.

Deena Kastor’s Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory tells the story of her career and how she overcame these mental hurdles to become one of America’s most successful marathon runners with accomplishments including winning an Olympic medal in the marathon and setting the American Record in the Marathon.

Deena’s book will definitely inspire you to train better and run faster in your next marathon!

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon

—

Consistency Is Key: 15 Ways to Unlock Your Potential as a High School Runner

Consistency Is Key: 15 Ways to Unlock Your Potential as a High School Runner by Jay Johnson is a simple and easy-to-read book intended for high school cross country and track runners.

I’ve actually purchased ten copies of this book myself to share with my high school cross country and track team, as well as my private high school athletes. W

e read one chapter per week and use it as a framework to develop our understanding of how to become a great distance runner.

While this book is written with the high-school reader in mind, this book is perfect for adult marathon runners as well and deserves this spot on my list of Best Books for Marathon Runners.

Each chapter clearly outlines one element of run training and mindset that will make you a better runner whether you are training for 5K cross country, road 10k races, or the marathon.

Jay talks about how building the aerobic engine, strengthening the chassis, and revving the engine most days is essential to have a long, consistent, and successful career in running.

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon

—

Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness

Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness by Scott Jurek was the book that got me excited about running and becoming an athlete in the first place!

I have been vegan since 2008 and learned about Scott Jurek, who is also vegan, when he was one of the world’s best ultra-marathon runners.

Named one of the greatest runners of all time, Scott Jurek has become a living legend.  

He has claimed victories in nearly all of ultrarunning’s elite trail and road events including the historic 153-mile Spartathlon, the Hardrock 100, the Badwater 135-Mile Ultramarathon, and—his signature race—the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, which he won a record seven straight times.

Scott has also taken the running world by storm with his 2015 Appalachian Trail speed record, averaging nearly 50 miles a day over 46 days—and the United States all-surface record in the 24-Hour Run with 165.7 miles: 6.5 marathons in one day. 

Scott is a passionate advocate for vegetarianism, he follows a 100% plant-based diet, which he credits for his endurance, recovery and consistent twenty year racing career.

Scott’s book, Eat & Run is a memoir of his life through childhood to running greatness.

Jurek also talks a lot about how food choices have made a big positive impact on his life and running performance.

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon

—

Daniels’ Running Formula

The Jack Daniels’ Running Formula is the book that inspired me to become a running coach.

This book was my bible when I first started coaching, and I still open up my paper copy every single week to consult one of its tables.

Jack Daniels’ Running Formula is very “math-minded.” If you want to know the science and math behind developing your own training plan or making a plan for others, this book has got you covered.

Daniels’ Running Formula has been updated multiple times throughout the years. I have the 2nd Edition, which is considered to be one of the best versions of the book, but all editions are popular.

This book is easily one of the best books for marathon runners and this book is a must have for any distance runner who wants to better understand their sport.

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon

—

How She Did It: Stories, Advice, and Secrets to Success from Fifty Legendary Distance Runners

How She Did It: Stories, Advice, and Secrets to Success from Fifty Legendary Distance Runners by Molly Huddle and Sara Slattery interviews and highlights fifty successful female distance runners from around the world and asks them the simple question, “How did you accomplish all that you did?”

The first part of this book is called “Four Keys to Being a Healthy Young Female Runner” and shares lessons from the authors about physical health, injury prevention, hormonal health, sound nutrition, mental health, and sports psychology.

This section is pure gold and I think female runners will find it well worth their time.

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon

—

Hansons Marathon Method: Run Your Fastest Method the Hansons Way

Hansons Marathon Method: Run Your Fastest Method the Hansons Way is the book that has influenced how I coach marathoners the most.

It clearly explains why the marathon is inherently different from shorter distance events like 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon, and therefore why training for the marathon requires a different approach.

This book taught me that most athletes do not struggle from a lack of speed when it comes to running the marathon.

Instead, it is by improving an athlete’s endurance that will lead him or her to succeed most at the marathon.

Hansons Marathon Method teaches a unique philosophy which earns it’s place on my list for the best books for marathon runners.

Hansons teaches that building endurance does not require 20 mile long runs for most athletes but does require a consistent marathon-specific approach to training.

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon

—

Run Faster Marathons: The Proven Path to PR

And lastly, my own book! Run Faster Marathons: The Proven Path to PR by me, Chris Knighton.

I wrote this book in my third year of coaching.

Run Faster Marathons takes the most important lessons I learned during my first several years of coaching and boils them down into an easy-to-digest marathon training manual.

If you’d like to learn how to develop your own training plan and do what it takes to not just finish a marathon, but to race your fastest, then check out my book!

Click Here to Order a Copy from Amazon