lacking in sobriety and clear thought I find this book a little humorous because it reminds me of myself, when I first started running. Running is so fun - it's all encompassing, and it alters your thoughts in a way that you never would've predicted. There's a zen to it, a peace in the constant movement and inner-rage, and when you're good at it, it feels really good. Fixx should certainly be credited as one of the first popular authors to capture this side running.
At the same time, though, he takes the sort of attitude that running is the cure to everything. I can relate; I remember thinking that myself when I began running. You start to recommend running to all your friends, and think to yourself, "wouldn't the whole world be better if everyone just went out jogging?" It almost becomes like a drug in that manner, but returning to Fixx's book, the answer is most certainly "no", running isn't the answer to everything.
After becoming a very accomplished and proud runner, I sustained a running injury which doctors and physical trainers weren't able to treat. All the tests were negative, so I was just told to stretch, but it stopped me from exercising for more than 15 minutes; for the first time in almost 5 years I'm slowly starting to ease back, but it's still slowing me down (and I'm only 28).
This review of course isn't about me, but the point is that when you're always high on running like Fixx, it's easy to minimize and overlook such obstacles. Lost in his enthusiasm for the subject is good critical and investigative thought about the subject: there's no sober discussion about running's pros and cons (which likely extend beyond injury and affect the immune system); he doesn't cite medical research or doctors for the much of his advice; and a good portion of the book boils down to just the opinions and observations from someone who really likes to run.
In all fairness, Fixx does question running's healthfulness for about 1 page of his book; he mentions a conference with a few (just 4 or 5) studies reporting adverse running events. But without any elaboration on the research, or at least on those 5 presentations, he concludes that there's not enough evidence to suggest that it might be bad for you - a conclusion which contradicts his words just a few sentences prior, and which ignores a lack of research critically investigating such averse events. Surely if a stranger, who wasn't even a doctor, recommended that you take a new drug which hadn't undergone safety research aside from "just 4 or 5" studies reporting averse adverse effects, you'd think he was nuts.
On the other hand, it's rare for any popular exercise books to feature balanced discussion, even nowadays. Nonetheless, I believe that it's particularly important in this subject because running is notorious for causing injuries and because exercise is being recommended to more people every day. Even if the pros far outweigh the cons, a good argument should consider all points of view. And despite the fact that The Complete Book of Running is so old, a good argument is timeless, even in the ever-shifting field of science.
For a book about running, Fixx uses the first person an awful lot. Fixx is quick to relate his advice to his own personal experience, to the extent where it's not always certain whether he's just writing about whatever seemed to work from him, or whether he's actually giving credible and professional advice. At times he seems self-indulgent.
That's not to overshadow the books' bits of useful advice. He has some good tips about clothing and shoes, running in races, and he has some quite unique observations about the frame of a runner and the style of female runners. And moreover, the book certainly demands a place in American culture as preceding a brief boom in running. Other parts of the book touch upon other famous runners' styles and there's a peculiar section about the sites seen while running the Boston marathon - you may or may not find these interesting, but they are unique to this book.
In all honesty, maybe I'm just unaccustomed to the literature out there, and I am a bit bitter about never recovering from my injury. Nonetheless, to me it seems like Fixx's runner's high is apparent every page of the book; and while it may make for enjoyable and enthusiastic reading, some interesting philosophical discussion, and a few quirky tangents, the book is lacking in clear and sober thoughts and in critical discussion.
The first and still the best. This may be the oldest running book but it is still the best. This book is full of insperation written by a very good writer. This book can make you want to run and love it.
History but still worth it This is always mentioned as an historical book, but when you read it you will see that many things (more than 90% of the book) is very update and the basic structure of the book has been copied by other books. The interesting of this book is that it was written during the 1970s running boom and has much of the spirit of running that inspired many runners through the last 30 years. Jim Fixx and its history deserves the honor of having his book bought and his knowledge preserved. Good for beginners and intermediate runners. If you are a pro-runner, I believe you don't need to buy it, because you already have it.
WOW, OH HOW I REMEMBER THIS AWESOME BOOK!! WOW, I had originally purchased this books eons ago, in the early 80's and I had been jogging already for since 1976 when I was a teenager. The information in this book inspired me more than anything else about jogging. I LOVED THIS BOOK! I had lost it somewhere through many moves and life changes in my life and I had also quit jogging due to an illness I went through. I'm 48 now, will be 49 in a few weeks and I still believe in my heart that I'm a runner, a jogger. I'm purchasing this book TODAY and can't wait to read it again! If there is any book that encourages you with running, believe me, it's this one. It's a MUST HAVE FOR ALL RUNNERS [JOGGERS]!
LOVED THIS BOOK AN STILL DO I started running way, way before the "running craze" hit. This was in the late 1950 and very early 1960. Let me tell you it was pretty lonely out there. Little was known, shoes were very primitive and attitudes were even more primitive. All that changed and one of the primary movers of that change was this book and books like it. You have no idea how nice it was to know there were others out there. I purchased my first copy when it was first published and am still reading it to this day. Yes, some of the data my be a bit dated but to tell you the truth, not all that much. I stil run and what was true then is still pretty much the truth now. Cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
