What do you think?
Rate this book
Lore of Running
Lore of Running gives you incomparable detail on physiology, training, racing, injuries, world-class athletes, and races. Author Tim Noakes blends the expertise of a physician and research scientist with the passion of a dedicated runner to answer the most pressing questions for those who are serious about the sport:
-How your body systems respond to training, the effects of different training methods, how to detect and avoid overtraining, and genetic versus trainable potential -How to train for the 10K up through ultramarathon with detailed programs from Noakes and several leading running experts -How to prevent and treat injuries, increase your strength and flexibility, and use proper nutrition for weight control and maximum performance You'll also find a candid analysis of supplements and ergogenic effects and training aids. The book includes new interviews with 10 world-class runners who share their secrets to success and longevity in the sport. Features on legendary figures and events in running history provide fascinating insights. And that's just scratching the surface. Lore of Running is not only the biggest and best running publication on the planet. It's the one book every runner should own.
-How your body systems respond to training, the effects of different training methods, how to detect and avoid overtraining, and genetic versus trainable potential -How to train for the 10K up through ultramarathon with detailed programs from Noakes and several leading running experts -How to prevent and treat injuries, increase your strength and flexibility, and use proper nutrition for weight control and maximum performance You'll also find a candid analysis of supplements and ergogenic effects and training aids. The book includes new interviews with 10 world-class runners who share their secrets to success and longevity in the sport. Features on legendary figures and events in running history provide fascinating insights. And that's just scratching the surface. Lore of Running is not only the biggest and best running publication on the planet. It's the one book every runner should own.
943 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 1987
186 people are currently reading
4464 people want to read
About the author
Tim Noakes
48 books118 followersTimothy David Noakes is a South African professor of exercise and sports science at the University of Cape Town. He has run more than 70 marathons and ultramarathons, and is the author of the running book Lore of Running.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 19, 2019
I found the 3rd edition to be thorough and excellent. The 4th edition refined a few points, expanded others, and toned down what might be considered controversial condemnation of fad diets.
This is my basic running reference which I refer to for any serious running question. Although I bought it almost a decade ago, I continue to pull it off the shelf to answer questions. It is just so much more complete than other running books.
"The marathon is less a physical event than a spiritual encounter. In infinite wisdom, God built into us a 32-km racing limit, a limit imposed by inadequate sources of the marathoner's prime racing fuel - carbohydrates. But we, in our human wisdom, decreed that the standard marathon be raced over 42 km"
"So it is in that physical no-man's-land, which begins after the 32-km mark, that the irresistible appeal of the marathon lies. It is at that stage, as the limits to human running endurance are approached, that the marathon ceases to be a physical event. It is there that you, the runner, discover the basis for the ancient proverb: 'When you have gone so far that you cannot manage one more step, then you have gone just half the distance that you are capable of.' It is there that you learn something about yourself and your view of life." Marathon runners have termed it the wall. (Page 596)
I highly recommend his more recent book: Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports.
This is my basic running reference which I refer to for any serious running question. Although I bought it almost a decade ago, I continue to pull it off the shelf to answer questions. It is just so much more complete than other running books.
"The marathon is less a physical event than a spiritual encounter. In infinite wisdom, God built into us a 32-km racing limit, a limit imposed by inadequate sources of the marathoner's prime racing fuel - carbohydrates. But we, in our human wisdom, decreed that the standard marathon be raced over 42 km"
"So it is in that physical no-man's-land, which begins after the 32-km mark, that the irresistible appeal of the marathon lies. It is at that stage, as the limits to human running endurance are approached, that the marathon ceases to be a physical event. It is there that you, the runner, discover the basis for the ancient proverb: 'When you have gone so far that you cannot manage one more step, then you have gone just half the distance that you are capable of.' It is there that you learn something about yourself and your view of life." Marathon runners have termed it the wall. (Page 596)
I highly recommend his more recent book: Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports.
January 9, 2008
The bible of distance running. No one would ever read it straight through, but if you're serious about understanding your body and getting better, you should own it. Reads like a review of the academic literature at times, but also contains pages of engrossing stories and examples from the training of world class athletes.
November 20, 2019
When a book reaches its fourth edition it is a reason for questions. Some books are textbooks and might have included some typos or neglected to cover something clearly in the previous editions. There are cases when it is a well-earned release though, and the book Lore of Running is one of those situations.
Lore of Running is written by Timothy Noakes, MD. Doctor Noakes comes across as a somewhat well-informed man, but the only reason I say that is because he perpetuates the idea that Columbus proved the Earth to be round. When it comes to the human body, however, Doctor Noakes seems second to none in terms of knowledge. As far as I can tell, all fields of knowledge and human endeavor have a paradigm, a certain framework with which to view reality and test results. It is the same situation when it comes to human kinetics as the book calls it. I don’t follow the scene of human kinetics or kinesthesiology or whatever you call it, so I don’t know if these matters have been resolved or not. In this edition, there are several models of how muscle contracts and why we get fatigued in the first place. The one supported by the author is that of a Central Governor. Basically, we can only supply so much blood at a time with each pump of the heart. Since the heart needs its own supply of blood, there is a system in place to prevent the heart from overtaxing itself. This is a really interesting theory to me, and it makes a lot of sense. When I was younger, I thought that muscle fatigue was caused by the buildup of lactic acid, but Noakes addresses that as well.
Lore of Running is nothing less than a Runner’s Bible. It covers everything you could ever want to know about running circa 2001. As I mentioned in the second paragraph, it discusses the biochemical and physiological basis of running. It gets into a lot of detail, even covering the proteins that make up the muscles and how they are thought to contract. It covers the heart, maximum oxygen delivery, running efficiency and so much more. Since it covers running, its main goal is to act as a training guide for the runner or running coach. This is not really meant to be perused at leisure. This is a serious guide to maximize performance. It contains charts and graphs and is rigorously scientific.
Lore of Running also discusses training menus and how to train for a big race. It covers the training schedule of famous runners of yore. In so doing, it also demonstrates what not to do. It covers how to tell if you are over-training and what to do about that as well. It gives a lot of specifics. The book is written so that it is in metric, but that isn’t really a problem for me. I mean, Doctor Noakes is from South Africa, so I don’t really know what I expected.
Finally, the book covers criticism of running that came about in the 1970s. I guess some people just need to find something to criticize, but I can’t think of many habits that are more healthy than running. Trying to conflate running with addiction is rather spurious in my opinion. I will admit that some people do run to the point of injury, but usually, that doesn’t happen.
This book is a bit old, so I don’t know if anything changed in the world of Running since 2001, like a shift in our understanding of how the body takes in and uses oxygen or how muscles work or anything like that. I also don’t know if the ideas behind training have changed drastically. Either way, this is a really good book.
Lore of Running is written by Timothy Noakes, MD. Doctor Noakes comes across as a somewhat well-informed man, but the only reason I say that is because he perpetuates the idea that Columbus proved the Earth to be round. When it comes to the human body, however, Doctor Noakes seems second to none in terms of knowledge. As far as I can tell, all fields of knowledge and human endeavor have a paradigm, a certain framework with which to view reality and test results. It is the same situation when it comes to human kinetics as the book calls it. I don’t follow the scene of human kinetics or kinesthesiology or whatever you call it, so I don’t know if these matters have been resolved or not. In this edition, there are several models of how muscle contracts and why we get fatigued in the first place. The one supported by the author is that of a Central Governor. Basically, we can only supply so much blood at a time with each pump of the heart. Since the heart needs its own supply of blood, there is a system in place to prevent the heart from overtaxing itself. This is a really interesting theory to me, and it makes a lot of sense. When I was younger, I thought that muscle fatigue was caused by the buildup of lactic acid, but Noakes addresses that as well.
Lore of Running is nothing less than a Runner’s Bible. It covers everything you could ever want to know about running circa 2001. As I mentioned in the second paragraph, it discusses the biochemical and physiological basis of running. It gets into a lot of detail, even covering the proteins that make up the muscles and how they are thought to contract. It covers the heart, maximum oxygen delivery, running efficiency and so much more. Since it covers running, its main goal is to act as a training guide for the runner or running coach. This is not really meant to be perused at leisure. This is a serious guide to maximize performance. It contains charts and graphs and is rigorously scientific.
Lore of Running also discusses training menus and how to train for a big race. It covers the training schedule of famous runners of yore. In so doing, it also demonstrates what not to do. It covers how to tell if you are over-training and what to do about that as well. It gives a lot of specifics. The book is written so that it is in metric, but that isn’t really a problem for me. I mean, Doctor Noakes is from South Africa, so I don’t really know what I expected.
Finally, the book covers criticism of running that came about in the 1970s. I guess some people just need to find something to criticize, but I can’t think of many habits that are more healthy than running. Trying to conflate running with addiction is rather spurious in my opinion. I will admit that some people do run to the point of injury, but usually, that doesn’t happen.
This book is a bit old, so I don’t know if anything changed in the world of Running since 2001, like a shift in our understanding of how the body takes in and uses oxygen or how muscles work or anything like that. I also don’t know if the ideas behind training have changed drastically. Either way, this is a really good book.
May 13, 2013
This book has an amazing amount of information - more probably than some will want. Medical information, running history, many current popular training methods, treating injuries, eating, drinking, and much more. If you only own one running book this probably should be it.
Highly recommended for the scientific runner.
Highly recommended for the scientific runner.
September 26, 2011
Everything you could possibly want to know about running-and some pretty great stories, too.
May 9, 2010
Noakes is the fearless, relentless and indispensable expert on our sport. There is so much in this book. You'll go to it if you're exploring lengthening your tempo runs, or turning your focus to 5Ks, or wondering what mitochondria have to do with it all or feeling tenderness in your Achilles ... but you'll also go to it just because you love running and you want to read again about the training that brought Zatopek to that mind-bending 5000/10000/marathon triple-gold ridiculousness at Helsinki in 1952. Yes, what appears at first to be a book about the physiology of running has oodles of unparalleled history as well. In fact, this book has it all, everything you could want about running! Now, as I've run, read and talked more running I've become more willing to be skeptical of Noakes, not because he's frequently off-base, but because I'm following his own example. He's a bold researcher and emphatic commentator unafraid to take on conventional wisdom, fads and sloppy or lazy thinking. He might not always be right, but he's always informed and interesting.
November 8, 2011
Haven't read the entire thing, but this is the most comprehensive book about running EVER! Great, scientific information.
May 1, 2022
Synopsis:
Train often (all year long).
Slow start--gently go.
Distance first (speed last).
Train often (all year long).
Slow start--gently go.
Distance first (speed last).
Read
January 2, 2011I have to say that I believe there is no book that comes even remotely close to this book as far as expounding on running research. Its large size is daunting at first. It's not for casual reading. But if you want to learn what scientists have discovered over the past century about running, this is excellent. The author is well respected (sits on editorial boards for well regarded academic journals, is long-time faculty at University of Cape Town, has an MD, has run marathons and ultramarathons, etc.). And he is very fair about not making too strong of claims but rather letting the science speak for itself. Obviously, scientific knowledge is always evolving, so you have to keep that in mind. But this book lays it out there for you to judge.
Part of what the book is about is explaining various "models" that people have proposed over the years regarding what determines how well people can perform in running...or what limits their performance. Some say delivery of oxygen to the muscles (anaerobic model). Others say glycogen depletion in the muscles is most important. There are others. He explains these and explains his own model ("Central Governor") along with extensive scientific evidence to back it up. I could explain a bit about this model, but I'll leave that to another post if anyone is interested.
If you want light reading or extensive training regimens or someone's theories based on anectdotal evidence, this book is not for you.
Once you get into it, it's really not as daunting as it seems. There are also some very entertaining portions of the book, including one chapter in which he talks about runners who he feels have been most influential in the past century or two.
Anyway, as you can tell, I recommend this book highly. I will use it as a standard against which I will compare any running advice that people give me (and there's plenty out there!).
Part of what the book is about is explaining various "models" that people have proposed over the years regarding what determines how well people can perform in running...or what limits their performance. Some say delivery of oxygen to the muscles (anaerobic model). Others say glycogen depletion in the muscles is most important. There are others. He explains these and explains his own model ("Central Governor") along with extensive scientific evidence to back it up. I could explain a bit about this model, but I'll leave that to another post if anyone is interested.
If you want light reading or extensive training regimens or someone's theories based on anectdotal evidence, this book is not for you.
Once you get into it, it's really not as daunting as it seems. There are also some very entertaining portions of the book, including one chapter in which he talks about runners who he feels have been most influential in the past century or two.
Anyway, as you can tell, I recommend this book highly. I will use it as a standard against which I will compare any running advice that people give me (and there's plenty out there!).
February 2, 2009
This book answered a lot of questions I had as a runner. Especially concerning food & fluid intake, training methods, and problems like injuries and overtraining. As an older runner I also found it informative that he carefully documented a gradual decline in running speed with age--there's no way around that so we might as well get used to it.
But I thought that Noakes is fixated on the elites, who arguably are "different" from recreational runners. He goes into incredible detail about every aspect of elite runner's training and performance. I slowly lost interest in that stuff--it just doesn't apply to me.
Running is not only elite performance. It can be of interest to the general population for fun and fitness. In fact, there are many times more amateur runners than there are pros. But Noakes doesn't pay much attention to the majority of runners who are not elites. He's a brilliant researcher. I would have liked to have heard what he has to say about how running affects normal people.
But I thought that Noakes is fixated on the elites, who arguably are "different" from recreational runners. He goes into incredible detail about every aspect of elite runner's training and performance. I slowly lost interest in that stuff--it just doesn't apply to me.
Running is not only elite performance. It can be of interest to the general population for fun and fitness. In fact, there are many times more amateur runners than there are pros. But Noakes doesn't pay much attention to the majority of runners who are not elites. He's a brilliant researcher. I would have liked to have heard what he has to say about how running affects normal people.
December 24, 2009
First off, I should qualify my poor rating of this book as not a reflection of the book itself, which is well written and researched, with superb advice, and some serious exercise physiology education. Tim Noakes is one of the true epic modern exercise physiologists today and one of the most prolific writers to boot!
The book overall is probably a great starting place for new SERIOUS runners. Folks who want to achieve their best, whatever that best might be, not for someone want to run for fun. It's a serious time investment, but worth the money I paid. My biggest issue is that I couldn't apply much of the information to myself, possibly because I'm more advanced in my training, coaching and physiology knowledge. I already have my philosophy, so there wasn't much this added. However, it still added something, and for me, if I think it's worth reading, then it's worth buy.
The book overall is probably a great starting place for new SERIOUS runners. Folks who want to achieve their best, whatever that best might be, not for someone want to run for fun. It's a serious time investment, but worth the money I paid. My biggest issue is that I couldn't apply much of the information to myself, possibly because I'm more advanced in my training, coaching and physiology knowledge. I already have my philosophy, so there wasn't much this added. However, it still added something, and for me, if I think it's worth reading, then it's worth buy.
October 25, 2020
The one and only go-to book for any running fanatic or person who wants to know more about the science of running. It's written well and caters for the emotional journey of investing in such a long book. There is commentary from Tim, on the whole reasonable, however and rarely erroneous (i.e. that the marathon world record, predicted in 2000, will not be sub-2h very soon).
All the foundations are covered from physiological changes, nutrition, psychology, some debunking and training plans and overtraining.
All the foundations are covered from physiological changes, nutrition, psychology, some debunking and training plans and overtraining.
August 30, 2007
My fave for totally geeking out about running, which you would think (and you'd be right) is pretty dang simple. Noakes is just kind of kooky in an endearing way: Bernd Heinrich in a lab coat. But there's useful stuff in here, for sure.
June 9, 2008
This book has WAY more information on running than most people would ever wanna know! I find it as a useful "encyclopedia" of sorts if I have a running question.
September 21, 2015
The
book for the serious runner. No matter level or goals, this is the reference work for everyone. Incredibly comprehensive and detailed.
March 13, 2022
I cannot give this book anything other than 5 stars. Yes, it is hard to get through. And yes, some of it is dated. But man, this is the know-all-be-all bible of training studies. I learned about: the role of calcium, the determinants of VO2max (of which only one is aerobic) and why the musculature and metabolism is actually defining the VO2max and inherent talent, not the other way around. I learned about the greatest idols of the past (alternative training days of Zatopek or weeks of Ron Hill), the best known training philosophies of Jack Daniels, Lydiard, Sleemaker, Galloway, Pfitzinger, Costill, De Catellia, etc. and the all the numbers: percentage of added Oxygen Cost per incline gradient, headwind, an added 100gr on shoes, slipstream, etc. I walk away with more formulas to calculate training paces ans race predictions. He gave me definite answers on high carb diet, carb loading, glycogen depletion rate of the liver, advised fluid or supplemental intake. There we're graphs to show how different work-to-rest ratio's manipulate lactate levels and heart rate during different workouts, to guarantee the best training adapation without wasteful strain. The chapter on training the mind and advice for balance in life was really magnificent and worthy of 5 stars on its own. Enjoy the challenge, play as a child, smile, talk slowly, stretch. Learn from each race and have a hypothesis going into each training block. The battle for mature self-acceptance in the face of ego-satisfying activities: to commit but not fall into addiction. Even more so as a parent of coach, be egoless, control the emotions, don't turn it into a proving ground. His info on Running injuries is solid and, unfortunately, too recognisable. In the end, he emphasizes the limits of research and how your own feeling and bodily sensations are still the best test to judge pace and effort. What. A. Gem.
December 7, 2024
The Lore of Running is the textbook to read if you would like the science behind endurance running. Tim Noakes, the progenitor of the central governor model, takes the reader through the biological details of muscle function, oxygen transportation, energy system all the way through the detailed training plans.
I personally loved this book to debunk so many trite training statements. I feel like I have significantly levelled up my biological understanding of how the body works through endurance training and performance and can better understand how to support my body through these activities. What actually is going on with muscle contraction and relaxation, through the the role of energy zones in training, fluid and energy intake and what performance actually means.
I personally loved this book to debunk so many trite training statements. I feel like I have significantly levelled up my biological understanding of how the body works through endurance training and performance and can better understand how to support my body through these activities. What actually is going on with muscle contraction and relaxation, through the the role of energy zones in training, fluid and energy intake and what performance actually means.
March 7, 2018
I have to admit that this is one of the very few books I did not finish.
This book is full of information, very well researched, and fat.... I managed to read about half of it when I realized that by the time I am done, some of the information will likely have become erroneous. It's the kind of book you can read a little bit at a time, but then, it can take you forever to finish it. So after 4 years, time to admit I'll never finish it.
I will choose the easier way and look on the web any specific question I might have related to running.
This book is full of information, very well researched, and fat.... I managed to read about half of it when I realized that by the time I am done, some of the information will likely have become erroneous. It's the kind of book you can read a little bit at a time, but then, it can take you forever to finish it. So after 4 years, time to admit I'll never finish it.
I will choose the easier way and look on the web any specific question I might have related to running.
May 11, 2020
This is the definitive book on running. The canonical compilation of all things running. Noakes brings together studies and theories in a serious manner that shows deep respect for the reader. This book is not just for runner though! The information found within this tome can be applied across the spectrum of sports to any athletes delight. It took me a while to chip away at this bad boy, but it was well worth it. I do not recommend reading it cover to cover. Overall, I learned a lot from this book and will be putting its knowledge to good use.
August 1, 2022
I picked this up because I was at a bookstore, out of reading material and starved for running (had just been through covid at the time) - and this book was super cheap.
It was really interesting to read about the training philosophies and regimes of past long distance running legends. The plan arts on physiology, too, were useful, including the speculations on what exhaustion really "is".
The book contains some training plans which so far I have not been tempted to try out, partly because so much material is available online
It was really interesting to read about the training philosophies and regimes of past long distance running legends. The plan arts on physiology, too, were useful, including the speculations on what exhaustion really "is".
The book contains some training plans which so far I have not been tempted to try out, partly because so much material is available online
May 30, 2019
I spent a year of reading this book as English is not my native language. It was awesome, I really get many new insights into world of running. I believe this book can help everyone from hobby runers to elite, from school gym teachers to olympic trainers. Book is well structered and its written with humble premise that this is current state of running science and things may change when our understanding of physiology of human body during exercise and especially running will improve over time.
July 13, 2020
Lore is right. This tome collects everything you would ever want to know about running and more. Much more. Likely extremely helpful to people working in the sports medicine field and marathon runners, the Lore of Running was a bit less relevant to this runner of 5K's and middle school cross country coach. That said, I got some helpful ideas for workouts, stretches, and on site treatment for minor injuries.
December 28, 2020
A good read and a good reference. I read it twice and have referred to it many times. Lots of information about physiology, training, injuries, and more. I found the section the following sections to be the most useful: how to prevent and treat injuries, increase your strength and flexibility, and use proper nutrition for weight control and maximum performance.
It is an old book by now, so medical and sports science has advanced, but it does a really great job of thoroughly covering the basics.
It is an old book by now, so medical and sports science has advanced, but it does a really great job of thoroughly covering the basics.
March 29, 2020
This was comprehensive! I believe I will never need another book about running 🙃 To be honest, this is not a book for everyone. As a medical doctor, I read it page by page, fascinated by the amount of information collected there. But beware, it often reads like a huge collection of scientific research papers (but again, it was what I liked about it).
January 29, 2023
This book is the 900+ pages encyclopedia of running. Not the most entertaining to read and at times a bit dry, it covers every topic related to running in a sometimes overly detailed manner. However, I belive it to be a must read for any serious runner. I read the fourth edition, which is already dated at times but still contains valuable information.
November 14, 2024
A behemoth of a book. Like, orca big. I dropped it on my foot one morning. The bruise is still there months later.
Followed one of the pre marathon training schedules for 14 weeks, that was until I jumped out of a moving vehicle travelling around 70kph, narrowly escaping an alien abduction. It was one of those days.
A timeless book you can refer to throughout your life. Big but beneficial.
Followed one of the pre marathon training schedules for 14 weeks, that was until I jumped out of a moving vehicle travelling around 70kph, narrowly escaping an alien abduction. It was one of those days.
A timeless book you can refer to throughout your life. Big but beneficial.
May 7, 2025
The greatest running book of all time? This textbook of running has everything and anything you’d ever want to know from training advice and plans, to discussions of biology and chemistry at the cellular level, to descriptions of and solutions to injuries, to running history, drugs, physics, and everything in between. Tim presents every side of every issue and adds in his own expert opinion.
June 27, 2025
I didn’t finish all the book, it’s too long and in my opinion I took all most necessary parts for me, great book to read for have some additional knowledges for runners. I won’t recommend it for beginners as a first book to read. Better start with ‘Born to Run’ or ‘Eat and Run’ — that is the best for beginners in my opinion! Have a wonderful reading!!!
January 8, 2018
Many practical suggestions how to run properly.
Based on many-many researches, the author analyzed the best athletes in the world.
Recommended for every runner.
IMHO - the original version is too long, for non-professional athletes short version would be enough.
Based on many-many researches, the author analyzed the best athletes in the world.
Recommended for every runner.
IMHO - the original version is too long, for non-professional athletes short version would be enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews