How To Get Better At Running

Two exceptional new books — Science of Running by Chris Napier and The Athlete’s Gut by Patrick Wilson — offer valuable guidance on how to get the best of out of your daily run, even if you are just a beginner

- Dharmendra D

Almost three years ago, after having run the Mumbai Marathon on a particularly humid day even by the sultry Mumbai standards of the past, I finished the marathon, and promptly proceeded to empty the contents of my stomach on the expansive (at least by Mumbai standards) Azad Maidan. And that was my 15th visit to Mumbai (that was the 15th edition of the event). You’d think that someone who had run nearly 30 runs of marathon distance or over would have learnt to manage his stomach, and look less clumsy. The only saving grace that day was that I was not the only one in such a state of distress. I only partially consoled myself that at least I didn’t end up in the medical tent.

The trouble with running long distances is that hardly anyone has it all figured out. Paula Radcliffe, who held the women's world record in the marathon until recently, famously did not finish the event at the Athens Olympics, despite being one of the favourites to win. Haile Gebrselassie, who held the men’s world record till 2011, failed to finish his marathon events in London in 2007 and Fukuoka in 2012, amongst several marathons that he started, but failed to finish even in the Top 3. Haile and Paula are just two of several former world record holders who have suffered from various injuries and stomach issues across races they didn’t finish at all, or didn’t finish in the Top 3. And we are but mortals.

There are two critical aspects to preparation in athletic events: the training that goes into getting into shape for the events, and the nutrition that goes into the athletes training for these events. There are other external aspects like equipment, and some like sleep, which are influenced by training and nutrition, but training and nutrition are more actively controllable. Arguably, the training part is the simpler one, at least by comparison.