continuing education

Recommended Reading

by Nicholas Romanov, Ph.D.

You must be logged in to view this section.

Physiology of Running

The Lore Of Running (Tim Noakes)

When talking with the coaching community about what to read for professional education and development, I often find myself in a bit of a puzzle. It's not that I can’t suggest something, but with so many publications out there in physical education, sports, and fitness, it's tricky to recommend the right ones without knowing each coach’s specific interests and education level.

We all have our own ideas about what we need for our learning journey, don't we? That said, I’m excited to share my first book recommendation that I believe will really help you move forward in your educational development. This title is perfect if you're looking to gain knowledge about coaching in running, especially focusing on physiological foundations and training principles.

My first recommendation is the fantastic book by Professor Tim Noakes, “Lore of Running,” which was first published by Oxford University Press in Cape Town back in 1985. It quickly became a bestseller and garnered attention from the science, running, and coaching communities worldwide. Over the years, it has been updated a few times, adding new scientific insights and inspiring stories from high-performance runners. These tales really illustrate the tough journey to success and highlight the personal sacrifices athletes make to reach the top. This book, which I proudly have in all its editions in my science library, is an incredible resource for understanding human physiology as it relates to running and beyond. I frequently refer to the information in his books, as they provide contemporary knowledge that can be incredibly beneficial for coaches at any level, especially those focusing on endurance events.
I got my hands on my first copy back in the Soviet Union in 1991. Things were changing, and I managed to order one through a friend.

A few years later, between 1998 and 2000, I stumbled upon an original copy dedicated to Ed Burke at a used bookstore while I was in Colorado Springs, CO, serving on the USA Triathlon Federation coaching committee. We were working on creating a certification program for triathlon coaches because, believe it or not, there wasn’t a certification program back then! That find was pretty special! Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D., the guy behind The Science of Riding Faster, was a well-known name in the field. He was a professor and ran the exercise science program at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Then, a couple of years later in 2002, I teamed up with Prof Noakes to study the Pose Method of Running in South Africa at the University of Cape Town. That collaboration led to the publication of the Reduced Eccentric Loading of the Knee with the Pose Running Method in 2004 and I got my own signed copy of the book.
Discover the multiple editions of Lore of Running by Tim Noakes readily available online at AbeBooks, our favorite book store, as well as on Amazon. Yet, we warmly invite you to explore and support your local businesses by visiting a used book store in your neighborhood. We would love for you to share your exciting finds with us on the forum!