If there was one word that could be used to describe this book it's `accessible'. The book is written in such a manner that anyone, elite athlete, beginner, coach, aspiring coach or PE teacher could use it to support the development of any running programme.
What I particularly liked about the book is the way Julian uses his vast experience both anecdotally and professionally to advise the reader of how to build up a programme, how to sustain performance and indeed improve performance, as well as looking at how to avoid, protect oneself from injury.
Julian makes running fun and uses his knowledge of the art of running and the key principles of the importance of hill training and cross country tradition which I remember fondly as how I got started and introduces us to how we can begin to shape performance through running technique and the essentials of stretching.
Throughout the book, you can glimpse the highlights or top tips; these allow the reader to succinctly put in prospective the chapters and give practical advice.
It's refreshing to read a book which reflects my principles to running fast, as a young athlete my success was honed on many of Julian's text, particularly on the need to stretch and improve one's cadence. He does this through key points, how to and coaching points ending each chapter with a key summary.
If you are new to running or an experienced coach you can't but see beauty in this new addition to the running library, I recommend it to anyone involved in the sport which gave such great athletes as Julian himself.
Thanks, this is a text book I will use time and time again, as a dad (to 2 aspiring athletes), team manager and school teacher.
Rob Cameron
Art of Running Faster