Running the Edge, by Adam Goucher with Tim Catalano, Kara Goucher’s Running for Women, by Kara Goucher with Adam Bean, RBR book reviews, by Jeff Benjamin, note by Larry Eder

                       

 

 

 

 

It is sometimes difficult for runners, whether they are elites,
beginners, both young and old, to find their one treasured,
inspirational book which can turn a person into a successful runner!
Many books have been written about either one specific topic pertaining
to sucess ( Diet, nutrition, stretching, strategies, workouts,
psychology) or taking these topics and putting them into one vast book.
Other great running books have included biographical works of the great
champions of the sport, which can inspire as well.

Adam and Kara Goucher
have decided to change that format. One of Americas’ most well known
running couples, the Gouchers (who have both qualified to compete in the
2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials in Houston in January) , along with
their friends, have published one book each with the concept of trying
to spread runnings’ gospel to the masses by attempting to incorporate in
their books all of the facets listed above, which is no easy task. 
Despite their different writing and conceptual approaches,these books
combine to do that extremely well.

 

Kara Goucher, through all of her experieinces as national and world
class runner, has embarked to be the bearer of spreading the idea of
achieving success in running, predominantly for women. Written with Adam
Bean, Kara’ Goucher’s Running for Women is part biography as
well.

Writing of her early developing years in the sport going back to
adolescence, Kara also interjects through her own development with “pit
stops” in the book where she then writes about a
training/nutrition/stretching/attitude lesson learned during that
time. Kara also answers certain questions about training and other
issues in these “Dear Kara” boxes in which a runner can find solid
answers to many common and uncommon questions.

This adds to many pauses
in the book, but, like in running a marathon, the pauses are of great
benefit filled with great knowledge from such a great competitor. It
also gives the reader a chance to totally absorb what Kara is tying to
get across, and, after digesting it, moving on to the next stop!
Included in these pauses are inspirational quotes, which are sprinkled
throughout the book by some of the greats in the sport, such as Emil
Zatopek, Billy Mills, Tom Fleming, Lynn Jennings, David Bedford and
others.

 

While this book is primarily written for female runners, male
runners will find benefits as well, especially when it discusses
strategies, training surfaces and nutrition. The quotes and questions in
the book transcend the genders as well, and may also be of benefit for
the male coach of a female athlete or team. Kara definitely gets across
to the reader about what a great ride she has so far in the sport, and
how the reader can join the fun as well!

 

Adam Goucher, writing with college teammate (and pretty good runner himself) Tim Catalano have tried a different approach in Running The Edge.
Their opening chapters in the book pertain to very little about running
but rather these traumatic, upheaval type experiences in their lives
which are told in a forthright manner.

Both Adam and Tim show that despite
these terrible episodes where lives were shattered (particularly in
Adam’s situation), both of them, independent of themselves sought to
find a positive quality in which they can escape from these instances.
They succeed, and claim that these situations, and their qualities to
fight off the shocking effects of these things, ingrained in their
psyche a desire to not only transform themselves into better runners,
but into better people as well.

Using their concept of  the “Six
Mirrors” derived from psychology, Buddhism, Alcoholics Anonymous, and
other influences, they bluntly, yet encouragingly, explain how they, and
anyone else, will be able to do this.

 

One would think this to be a very warped book, but both Adam and
Tim combine all these “ingredients” into a firm belief in its’
success.To back up their philosophies, they rely upon their own future
attempts at greatness.

They also show how other elite athletes such as
Alan Webb, Paula Radcliffe, Chris Solinsky, Galen Rupp and others, in
their first person paragraph accounts, show their physical and mental
well-beings having a link, sometimes very directly, to the concepts
promoted by Adam and Tim.

 

While both books are written in VERY different styles, the
combination of the Goucher’s dual books, are an essential part to any
runners’ library, whether male or female. While there is no so-called
“magic workout” written about in these books, Kara, Adam, and friends’
contributions to the mental and preparation aspects are of enormous
benefit.

However, the reader must be willing to buy into what the books
are trying to tell. Although in different styles, both books should be
able to achieve that for the reader. Most experts in the sport will tell
you that running for a goal requires just as much, and maybe more
mental than physical ability. With both of the Gouchers’ books in tow, the reader will feel, on a variety of levels, that nothing’s going to
stop them,or you, now!