Description
Revolutionize your running techniques! Learn how to run better and faster, with more energy while avoiding injury.
There is a science to running, and now you can learn about it too! Whether you are new to running, or have conquered a few marathons in your time, this runner’s guide will show you how to train efficiently, find a suitable running regime, and master the art of running for life!
Inside the pages of this running book, you’ll find:
– Explanations on the anatomy and physiology of the runner.
– Easy-to-read descriptions of how running involves every system in the body.
– A scientific breakdown of what happens under the skin at every stage of the running cycle.
– Featuring anatomy of common injuries and exercise programs for both prevention and recovery.
– 30 key exercises and how to perfect precision to optimize their benefits.
– Bespoke training plans for runners at all levels.
Expert-led insights backed by scientific research will show you how to start running, how to run faster, and how to improve your flexibility and gait for running efficiency and safety.
Included in the Science of Running are exercises and training programs that target each muscle to ensure you become a stronger, better runner. The clear CGI images show annotations to muscle mechanics so you know you are taking the right steps and perfecting technique.
Learn the science behind your body’s energy systems, proper hydration and nutrition.
From long-distance to marathon running, this sports book will completely transform your performance of injury-free running and help you to smash your goals one step at a time, proving the ideal running gift for the fitness fanatic in your life.
At DK, we believe in the power of discovery.
So why not dive deeper into our successful Science of series, where you can discover the research and scientific theories behind exercise and sport. Explore the anatomy of yoga to perfect your practice in Science of Yoga; or redefine your daily routine with Science of Living.
The luckiest women in the world (verified owner) –
Analyse your running style and learn how to enhance your gait for optimum efficiency and safety.
Transform your performance with exercises targeting strength, flexibility, and recovery – each exercise annotated to reveal the muscle mechanics so you know you’re getting it right.
Understand the science behind your body’s energy systems and how to train to maximise energy storage and conversion.
Follow training and exercise programmes tailored to different abilities and distances, from 5K to marathon.
Whether you are new to running or an experienced racer, this book will help you achieve your goals and stay injury-free.
Mrs S (verified owner) –
A hugely comprehensive book for people who really want to understand the science of running. Incredibly detailed and a chunky book. It’s full of pictures and explains thing clearly. It’s possibly not accessible to everyone as it is written at quite a high level.
It’s not the kind of book that you can sot and read in one go. You can dip in and out of it as a reference book if need be too which is good. If you’re serious about your running, but also serious about the best way to run and train (and love a detailed analysis!) then this could be for you.
Tony Spark (verified owner) –
This book contains really good information on all aspects of running. Even more importantly, it has incredible anatomical drawings labeling and color coding all the relevant muscles for various movements, stretches, and strengthening exercises. I have been an accomplished runner for years and have really studied the sport and have not seen a book of this detail and quality anywhere. Well done!
Bigstory (verified owner) –
Detailed and well written book covering all aspects of running. There is an abundant amount of illustrations and diagrams. These are fairly advanced concepts but broken down into easy to digest bits. The layout of the pages is pleasing to the eye, with just the right amount of info. You get a nice lesson on physiology and the human energy system in relation to running. You also get helpful advice on injury prevention and training programs. Excellent book for those just starting out or even for advanced runners.
Adhip Gupta (verified owner) –
Terrific book for anybody who’s serious about running!
Phoenix (verified owner) –
Always looking to improve and stretch my limits, I have been looking for tips and guidance from those who are above my current ability. I like how well this book is written and presented so all levels of runners can learn and grow from what is shared.
Pros
Well written and wonderful illustrations throughout
Actual book has clean, crisp pages and is well bound
Includes steps to improve performance
Great for the beginner and also the experienced marathon runner
Includes details of how the body reacts and functions during each phase of a run
Cons
None noted
Eppy Kyanya (verified owner) –
Great book.
Wyvintagirl (verified owner) –
I bought this book, one because I’m an anatomy junky and two, to better understand the anatomy of running, specifically. This book does that and more. The author goes into not just the anatomy of running and muscle actions but also the anatomy of different stretches for runners. Stretches for the glutes, thighs, calves and even the feet. There are stretching and running schedules in the book as well. Overall, I am impressed with this book.
The Drifter (verified owner) –
This is an amazing book for runners. It is like an encyclopedia of the running body. I highly recommend it!
darkbees (verified owner) –
Muy interesante. Trata varios temas de forma clara y con imágenes excelentes. Consejos sobre entrenamiento, ejercicios, lesiones, etc .Muy aconsejable para quien le guste correr y entender cómo funciona el cuerpo humano. Estoy encantado con la compra.
It’s Just Me (verified owner) –
This book offers the basics of running science. It offers tidbits of interesting and useful information with lots of good pictures. I prefer Anatomy for Runners: Unlocking Your Athletic Potential for Health, Speed, and Injury Prevention, by Jay Dicharry because Dicharry offers more depth – he dives deeper into every topic and has rather extensive research resources listed in the back. While Napier will state that research showed this or that result, he doesn’t direct you to the research itself.
Overall, I would only recommend this Science of Running book for those who are only interested in the basics. For them, I give it 4 stars. But that’s JustMe. (I received this product in exchange for an honest review, and that is what I have offered here.)
Shane (verified owner) –
This is a pretty detailed book on running. It has most of the info you’ll need. I like the part on different kinds of running injuries and how to prevent them. The only odd thing about the book is that the diagrams of people running sometimes almost look like naked people. Other than that, this is a good book if you want a decent resource on running!
sanoe.net (verified owner) –
I selected “Science of Running: Analyze your Technique, Prevent Injury, Revolutionize your Training” by Chris Napier for ME. However, some of the print is light and small which makes it hard for me to read. About 5 years ago, it would have been fine, but these days, it just doesn’t make for a comfortable reading experience. That’s the only reason why I took off a star.
That said, I ended up giving to a friend who runs regularly. He really likes the book. He likes the format and how the information is presented. He appreciates that it concentrates on preventing injuries. Some information he was already aware of but he said the combination of illustration with the information helps make it more digestible and memorable.
Sibelius (verified owner) –
Very detailed and technically dense book on the principles of running and covers a lot of ground from physiology, injury, stretching, training regimens and race preparation. As expected from a DK publication the volume contains full color illustrations on every page and page layouts are nicely executed to guide the flow of information. Paper is a thick matte type leaf so the color doesn’t quite pop but its a perfectly serviceable tome that targets its intended audience (serious runners) quite well.
Born to Review (verified owner) –
We are homeschooling as many families are this year. One thing my kids both don’t care much for is running. I thought I would check out this book and see if it would be at all helpful. So far I’m liking what I see and what’s great is this book also works to help explain the human body. You could easily tie in many section of this book into various science lessons. DK is a publisher that thus far hasn’t let me down. We are satisfied overall with this book and are more than happy to add it to our library.
Erik Gfesser (verified owner) –
This book is a great compliment to “Anatomy of Running: Analyze Your Technique, Prevent Injury, Revolutionize Your Training”, by Philip Striano, which focused on running stretches and exercises, but unfortunately deviated a bit into other areas that caused it to lose some of its focus (see my review). In contrast to this other earlier book, “Science of Running” actually provides relatively much less with respect to stretches and exercises, but shares the anatomical theme and so immediately reminds me of it.
What Chris Napier presents here is organized into four chapters: (1) “Running Anatomy”, (2) “Preventing Injury”, (3) “Strength Exercises”, and (4) “How to Train”. Additionally, each of these is broken down into several sections: (1) how we run, mechanics of movement, powering movement, controlling movement, and external factors; (2) injury risks, common injuries (patellofemoral pain, achilles tendinopathy, medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), plantar heel pain, iliotibial band pain, deep gluteal syndrome, gluteal tendinopathy, stress fracture, avoiding injury, running cycle, individual gait, running form, and running routine), dynamic stretches (forward leg swing, side leg swing, and calf stretch), drills (running As, running Bs, and running Cs, strides, bounding, and carioca), and recovery stretches (modified pigeon, TFL ball release, and piriformis ball release); (3) planning your drills, foot and ankle (foot doming, resisted toe, heel drop, ankle turn out, ankle turn in), hip and knee (hip hike, step down, step up, standing hip rotation, hip extension, traditional deadlift, single leg ball squat, hamstring ball roll-in, and lunge), and core (front plank with rotation, side plank with rotation, box jump, and single leg hop); and (4) why train?, your training goals, assessing your fitness, tracking your training, training tips, choosing and using a training plan, easy continuous running, fast continuous running, interval training, hill training, cross-training, and training programs (beginner 5k, beginner 10k, advanced 10k, beginner half marathon, advanced half marathon, beginner marathon, advanced marathon, and racing tips).
Other reviewers here comment that this just a simple beginner’s running book, but I disagree. I’m a longtime runner who began by running competitively in school for ten years, and who also continues to hit the trail on a daily basis, so I think I provide value to what the author shares here. However, whether readers will find what they need largely depends on what they are seeking in a running book. The vast majority of runners that I’ve met as an adult started as adults, and know very little about running and are typically solely interested in beating their personal record (PR) or personal best (PB).
While much of what I’ve learned as a runner came from my coaches and the personal direction that they provided, most runners simply don’t have this background. As such, this book combined with “Anatomy of Running” helps fill this gap. As with the earlier book, one of my favorite aspects of “Science of Running” is the phenomenal full-page, full-color illustrations, but unlike the earlier book I think this one is organized extremely well. It also explains the science of running well to someone like me who often does things out of habit.
Some minor personal qualms with this book didn’t prevent me from getting something out of it. For example, the author touts research that says dynamic stretching should be performed rather than static stretching, but I’ve been performing static stretching for a very long time and it hasn’t resulted in injury for me. The author provides a sidebar on footwear and injury prevention, and rightly argues that moving from “traditional” to “minimalist” shoes shouldn’t be an abrupt move, as I personally took about 2 months to permanently move from Asics to Altra, but while he mentions “heel offset” (otherwise known as “heel drop”), shoes from Altra technically don’t fit into either camp, as Altra provides both zero drop and significant cushioning with a foot-shaped design. Lastly, I don’t particularly care for the format the author used for the training programs in the back of the book, as he uses notation that I personally think complicates the presentation. Well recommended, however, overall.
Grace A. Johnson (verified owner) –
I ordered this to give my sister–who runs as a hobby–for Christmas. However, it’s a little over her head, so I doubt she’ll ever read it. I honestly doubt she’d ever read anything!
Apart from my sister, I really think this is a cool book for die-hard runners. It’s very in-depth and technical, uncovering all of the science behind running, just as the title implies. The illustrations are fantastic and so realistic, which makes things a little easier to understand. You’d have to be really into science to totally grasp everything, though.
Miguel (verified owner) –
Lo recomiendo sin ninguna duda independientemente de tu nivel o incluso si eres un profesional del running/entrenamiento.
Es una agrupación muy bien estructurada de todo lo que necesitas saber sobre el running.
Espectacular las explicaciones e ilustraciones de anatomía involucrada en cada fase de la carrera (también del calentamiento y estiramientos/entrenamiento/recuperación)
Llevo más de 20 años corriendo habitualmente (al menos 3 veces por semana) y haber tenido este libro me hubiera permitido mejorar bastante más y evitar algunas lesiones… pero nunca es tarde, estoy mejorando bastante aplicando lo que estoy aprendiendo.
AOIO (verified owner) –
For Running Nerds and Novices, This is the best book providing both inspiration and information to get you running the right way. I’ve read tons of running articles and books – this is the best ever!
TY (verified owner) –
I’ve been running for 10 years now, and during that time, I’ve had a subscription to Runner’s World for a couple of years, and I’ve read a number of books about running technique, training, and so on. “The Science of Running” is a good all-around reference work that covers a wide swath of running topics, though at a more shallow level. It seems to be fairly up to date, for example, moving past the fad of several years ago of landing on the front of the foot, which was supposed to reduce injuries. As this book notes, where you land on your foot seems mostly to influence what kind of injuries you suffer, foot/ankle versus knee/hip.
There are lots of useful illustrations in the book as well. Overall, this is a nice book to have around to look up any quick running-related topics.
Mindy (verified owner) –
I got this since my husband had recently began jogging in an effort to keep fit during COVID.
This book is really informative, and I like how everything is science-based. There are so many illustrations/diagrams to help with understanding and probably the most distinctive feature is how comprehensive it is. It talks about everything from gait, drills, tips to prevent injury, recovery stretches and human anatomy.
I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to do a deep study on running and best practices.
Tim (verified owner) –
This is an interesting book on running. It is well organized and easy to understand. Full of good tips to improve your running.
Matt (verified owner) –
Good book with good advice on exercises and diagnosing and preventing injuries via good training practices. Plans are a little unclear and the symbols require flipping back and forth often, making them hard to use.
Grady Heller (verified owner) –
I liked the book a lot, for many reasons. The book itself is well written and the illustrations were usually great both aesthetically and instructionally. I’ve been a runner for years, but bad coaching and thus bad habits led me to extensive injury. This book was instrumental in correcting many form deficiencies, and I like the provided training plans. Basically, my experience suggests that once you begin running half and full marathons, you need to be smart about how you do it if you want to avoid injury and strain; this book can help you train smart.
Ann (verified owner) –
The book is all about running, but what is different here is all the pictures on what is going on inside. It shows all the muscles and bones involved in movement and how it all interacts. It is very interesting and I learned a lot. Very helpful to understand the mechanics
DiegoKid (verified owner) –
Great book, very informative
Bhavesh (verified owner) –
Must have book if you are passionate about running
Alessandro Mazziotti (verified owner) –
Un libro completo per chi vuole approcciarsi alla corsa da un punto di vista più scientifico e migliorare la propria performance. Certo, richiede tempo leggerlo, assimilare i concetti e applicarli, ma ne vale la pena.
Bradley Nelson (verified owner) –
If you’re a runner, this book is great for understanding what your body is doing when you run. But it’s also great for understanding pain or strains that you might have. It’s a good basic overview that gives you a starting place to dig deeper. Good visualizations. There are several spots where it felt like it could have gone deeper, but otherwise pretty good.
lee walker (verified owner) –
A good and informative book but aimed at distance runners 5k and upwards. If you are interested in the sprint events it’s not really the right book.
Clayton Larsen (verified owner) –
If you run or want to run, this book is a must have. Gives great advice and guides but also explains the reason the advice and guidance is going to work. You’ll come away with a greater understanding of how the human body works and how running relates to it. You learn a lot initially but it remains a great resource to come back to and reference. Like a running handbook. It’s like having a running coach.
Yus (verified owner) –
Muy bueno, increíbles ilusiones
Mrs F Jenkins (verified owner) –
Brilliant book, unbelievable amount of information in it! Well worth the money
Andy (verified owner) –
I have been wanting to get into running but I’ve always been plagued with injuries. I’m in my early 30s and I’ve had knee issues since my mid 20s. This book helped me overcome nagging injuries and hitting 14 mile runs on the weekend is no problem now. This book helped me run my first half marathon with a time of 2:04 in September 2021. Half a year later I ran a 1:47.
This book is all you need to get started with running a 5k, 10k, half a marathon, and a full marathon. The training plans are split into beginner and advanced, I would recommend doing beginner at least twice before attempting advanced. I’ve only focused on half marathons but I’ve noticed it’s helped my shorter runs significantly. Following this book will make you a better runner. Happy running!
Prisca Kouakou (verified owner) –
As a beginner runner, I enjoy using the book for supporting my running journey. Very practical, it encompass all important aspects to consider when running from avoiding injuries to improve pace.
Kate (verified owner) –
This book and other Science Of books are great for your personal education or as a tool for practitioners. It explains complex concepts in easy to understand terms. To me, the illustrations are the best part. They accurately depict the human body while simplifying and highlighting what you need to know. As a D1 track and field athletic trainer, I use these books as visualization tools to help me explain certain concepts to my athletes.
Dr P K W Gilfedder (verified owner) –
A must for any serious( or not-take-yourself-too-seriously!) runner. This is a great help in understanding and treating all those niggling minor injuries that don’t quite need a trip to the physio. Each time I start getting a persistent pain spot I can usually find an explanation and advice on how to correct it from this book. Highly recommended!
Great even for students of anatomy too…
D L Holmes (verified owner) –
This book will help you understand your body and the most common injuries from running. I find it invaluable
Dean (verified owner) –
Very well-organized and full of good information. I borrowed it from our local library and liked it so much I ordered one for myself.
Sara Collins (verified owner) –
Delivered with care – a great book for my husband
Rich (verified owner) –
Amazing diagrams of the human body on almost every page with great explanations, a very useful book to me as I’m beginning my running journey
theenemywithin (verified owner) –
Having been a runner for 30 years I decided to have a shufty at the science behind what I’ve spent so much time doing.
I did red the book cover to cover. It’s now available for me to delve back in when I have a specific query.
Very easy to read and understand. Great coloured diagrams. The text easily makes sense even for someone such as myself who has zero scientific knowledge.
Plenty of info that makes you sit up and think about.
Good elements around injuries with the cause and how to support/train round/correct.
Even has training plans for all the usual race distances.
All in all I e found this a great book which will undoubtedly be used for reference for years to come.