Joseph Puleo

Running anatomy : Your illustrated guide to running strength, speed, and endurance / Joe Puleo and Dr. Patrick Milroy. Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics, c2010

Disclosure: I got a copy of this book for free via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.

My qualifications to review this book: Back in the day I was an Army Master Fitness Trainer and was also certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a fitness trainer. I have been an on again, off again distance runner for over 35 years.

Review: Simply stated, this is an excellent book. Back when I was actively engaged in fitness training and acquiring resources I would have paid really good money for this book, assuming I had been able to peruse it beforehand.

The authors claim 3 goals:

1. "[T]he illustrations … are meant to aid the runner in understanding the anatomy impacted when the runner is in motion" and "to further the runner's understanding of how" the anatomy "work[s] to move the body." (vii)
2. Show the significance of strengthening the body via strength training. (vii)
3. Provide exercises that "will improve running performance and help to keep the runner injury-free by eliminating anatomical imbalances …." (vii).

The book does exactly what it claims and does it in a clear, comprehensive, and understandable way. The illustrations are excellent and support the text.

The opening chapters discuss "The Evolution of the Human Runner," "Cardiovascular and Cardiorespiratory Components," "The Runner in Motion," and "Adaptations for Speed and Terrain." Some resources spend more time on these topics but the presentation by the authors of this book are fully detailed, while being concise enough to leave more room for the heart of the work, which follows.

The next 5 chapters cover the "Upper Torso," "Arms and Shoulders," "Core," "Upper Legs," and "Lower Legs and Feet." Each chapter begins with a discussion of the appropriate anatomy, to include illustrations, moves into a discussion of why this area is important to a runner and what can go wrong, and then focuses on specific training recommendations. The core of each chapter is then comprised of recommended strength training exercises for the area. Each exercise includes discussion of proper execution, the primary and secondary muscles involved, the running focus, any safety tips, and any exercise variations.

The authors have done an amazing job of bringing together all of the important and relevant knowledge about a specific exercise via their accompanying descriptions and illustrations, and they have done so clearly and concisely. Back when I was actively pursuing this field I had to synthesize this sort of knowledge from many sources and could never find it all in one source, unless it was one that was poorly arranged and inconvenient to use.

The remaining chapters cover "Common Running Injuries," "Anatomy of Running Footwear," and "Full-Body Conditioning." These chapters, while also short, adequately serve as an introduction to the topics.

The one thing that I feel is seriously missing from the text are recommended sources, especially for the opening and closing chapters which are only able to serve as introductions to their topics. The authors must be familiar with quality sources to address these areas in more detail. Human Kinetics certainly publishes many fine books which should serve the purpose adequately.

I see that this book is one of many in Human Kinetics Anatomy Series. Other books include Yoga, Stretching, Dance, Cycling, Swimming, and so on. If these books are of the same quality as this one then they ought to serve as excellent introductions to the anatomy of, and strength training for, these endeavors.

Overall I highly recommend this book to any runner interested in the anatomy of their sport and a clear and concise description of how to incorporate strength training to improve their performance.… (plus d'informations)

This book will satisfy the recreational runner and competitive athlete, alike. It offers the reader a comprehensive approach to overall physical fitness and how it ties to the art of running.

Anyone interested in learning more about strengthening to improve running capacity should certainly pick up this book. An occasional runner may not need to read the book cover to cover, but will definitely benefit from the tips, illustrations, and supportive exercises to improve running performance.

We can all afford to learn a thing or two more about our bodies and how we move through space. Get this book. Read it. Then, get off the couch and go for a run!… (plus d'informations)

Running Anatomy offers a valuable reference work to anyone interested in running, ranging from beginners to serious athletes.

Introductory chapters present basics of exercise physiology, performance training, and kinetics, and discuss various issues that affect running performance.

However, the bulk of the book is devoted to 50 exercises designed to strengthen particular muscle groups. Here is where the book excels; the large color diagrams that accompany each exercise illustrate (using separate colors) the primary and secondary muscles trained by each. The exercises are not confined to lower limbs; on the contrary, they offer a full body workout, with separate ones devoted to upper torso, arms & shoulders, "core" (back and abdomen), upper legs, and lower legs & feet. Readers who are uncertain how particular regions of arms, upper torso, and abdomen constribute to running performance will find explanation under each exercise in special sections labelledd "Running Focus". The book also discusses running injuries and how to prevent them, as well as footwear and overall body conditioning.

The text is clear and straightforward; the diagrams are beautifully rendered; and as a whole, the work is full of accurate and useful information. Newcomers to running will find this work an invaluable resource. Although experienced runners and readers of Runner's World may be familiar with much of the basic information, they will benefit from having all this information in one place, along with the 50 exercises presented herein.

Running Anatomy is one of an extensive series of reference works published by Human Kinetics, which bills itself as "The Premier Publisher for Sports & Fitness". Others in the series focus include Swimming Anatomy, Cycling Anatomy, Dance Anatomy, Bodybuilding Anatomy, Yoga Anatomy, and others.… (plus d'informations)