The Beginning Runner's Handbook

Book excerpt: Become a runner--in just weeks! If you're eager to join the millions of recreational joggers out there, or just improve your ability, these 13-week walk-run plans show exactly how to go about it. Developed by sports medicine physicians, and refined through years of clinic testing, this absolutely basic program spells out precisely how the beginner should train every single day. Walkers get on the road to long-term health and fitness by improving their cardiovascular conditioning, while first-time runners start with a combination of walking and jogging until they reach their goal of continuous running for 50 minutes. Personal anecdotes address everything from motivation to injury. Soon you'll be out in the park or on the track, enjoying a run and prolonging your life!